Growing up, Connor Farrell was causing his family’s grocery bill to skyrocket with how much milk they bought.

Farrell, now the Bandits faceoff specialist, said he would drink a gallon of milk every day. His diet led to him being one of the biggest guys on the field whenever he’s playing.

When Farrell joined the Bandits on March 6, he helped the team change its luck in the faceoff circle and turn around last season after starting 5-6, helping them to win six of their last seven games to finish the regular season and then go 5-0 in the playoffs to win the 2024 NLL Championship.

Bandits.com caught up with Farrell to talk about his love for milk and Game of Thrones, faceoffs, and how his purple belt in jiu-jitsu helps him on the field.

How’d you get the nickname “The Milkman?”

During my first year playing pro field lacrosse, we had this interview, and they were asking me how I was one of the bigger guys on my team and it was because I always drank a gallon of milk a day growing up. So once everyone found out I drank a gallon of milk a day growing up, they started calling me ‘The Milkman.’

What was your favorite type of milk to drink growing up?

Two percent, whole, anything. Mostly two percent.

Being a faceoff specialist, you aren’t on the field a lot, how are you trying to make an impact from the bench?

Say someone had a bad play, just try to pick them up. I’m only on the field 10 seconds at a time, if that, so I’m just trying to do my part and be a good teammate when I’m not out there and just pick everyone up. If they make a great play, I’m there high-fiving them, congratulating them and if they make a bad play, just trying to pick them up, and get ready to go for the next one.

What do you think about while you’re on the bench?

I’m watching the game or if I maybe lost a faceoff beforehand, I’m thinking of different techniques, or what I have to do differently to win the next one to get the MVPs the ball. That’s my job. I get those guys like Josh and Dhane the ball, they’re the best.

How are you trying to get in the other faceoff man’s head?

I really don’t talk much. I don’t talk smack or anything to the other faceoff guy. Whenever I go out there, I just want to win every faceoff. I’ll do whatever I can to win each one. I tell everyone that facing off is 80 percent mental. You have to make sure you’re dialed in, ready to go. I really don’t talk much to the other faceoff guy. Maybe a joke with him while we’re waiting for the commercial break to end. But other than that I really don’t talk, I’m just focused on getting ready to win that ball.

What’s the key to winning a faceoff?

The best way to explain it, it’s kind of like a wrestling match. You’re using every muscle in your body, from your feet to your forearms, to your wrists, everything. I think against Ottawa, I lost maybe five in a row to start. It is a mental battle. You just have to shake those off and do what I know how to do, and then get back and win the ball.

How many faceoffs would you say you do a week?

Maybe about 500 a day. It’s crazy. I own a gym on Long Island, so I’m training kids all day, every day, so it’s probably more than 500 a day. I’m taking a lot.

What’s the biggest tip you give to the kids you train on how to win faceoffs?

A lot of kids expect to be good quick. It takes time. You have to really put the work into it. Like some people that really don’t know what facing off is. They think it’s just that you have to move your wrist down, but it’s a whole lot more than that. You have to really work on your technique. It takes time. If you don’t put in the work, you’re not going to get better, right?

How much do you think the head of your stick matters into winning faceoffs?

Yeah, big time, honestly. My go-to is the StringKing Mark 2F. I think that’s the best one. Like I said before, facing off is mental and I feel like if I don’t have that head, I’m not going to face off as well as I’d like.

How does being a purple belt in jiu-jitsu help you with faceoffs?

It helps me out so much because, if you see, whenever we get caught up in, like a tie-up, we’re literally rolling around like it’s a wrestling match. It’ll help me out with conditioning. First of all, having a good condition when playing the game, taking 30, 35 faceoffs. Also, my weight distribution, how I’m moving my weight and all that. I love jiu-jitsu. I try to do it two or three times a week. I go to this place called Monster in Smithtown on Long Island and they’re the best.

Why jiu-jitsu?

I wrestled all through middle school, high school. I tried to wrestle in college, but I couldn’t play three sports. I was only able to do two. It’s kind of similar to wrestling, you’re just adding all the chokes. But I think it’s a good way to sweat. It’s great cardio.

You’re a Game of Thrones fan, what were your thoughts of the ending of it? (Spoilers below.)

I wish John Snow ended up being the king. I didn’t like how that ended. I wish it was a little different. But that was a great series. I love Game of Thrones.

Have you tapped into House of the Dragon?

I have. Me and my wife watch it all the time whenever it’s out. I want them to do a little spin-off on the Stark family. I like them the best. Winterfell is kind of like Buffalo with all that snow up here.

If you had a dragon, what would you name it?

I’d have to come up with something really good for that. All these dragons have intimidating names. I don’t know, I’m stumped. It would need to be something really good.

A big part of your identity with fans is obviously the nickname, your stature, but obviously the hair as well. How much money would it take for you to have to cut it off?

Some people have offered me $1,000 to cut it off, but I can’t cut it off right now. Everyone knows me for my long blonde hair. I just got a little bit of a haircut, though, so it is a little shorter. I just cut a few inches off. But once I’m done playing, when I retire, that’s when I’m going to cut it all off.

How long does it take me to style it in the morning?

I don’t even style it, I just comb it. I just do one comb, maybe 10, 15 seconds.

Football is what you started off playing in college, but then you made a bet with your friend that if he could last 10 seconds in a wrestling match with you, you would join the lacrosse team. Why did you follow through?

Just being an athlete, you like the competition, you like the challenge., I knew it wasn’t going to be easy playing two sports in college, you’d have to go to back-to-back practices and go eight, nine hours without eating after burning so many calories. I think just the challenge really caught my eye, and I wanted to see if I would be able to do it, and then see if I’d be able to excel in both sports.

If you weren’t playing sports, what would you be doing?

I’m a big fisherman. I love fishing. I love snowmobiling. I like doing all that stuff. I love fishing in the summer, like from May to October, I can do that all day long and be out on the water.

Where’s your favorite place to fish?

Montauk. Catch some monster tuna out there, some mahi-mahi. I never really got into freshwater fishing. I like the salt water. I go for the big ones with the big monster tunas and all that.

Do you keep the fish?

Yeah, I’ll keep them and I’ll eat them. It’s best when you go out, you’ll catch it, and then you’ll bring it home and cook it right away. The best fish you’ll ever have. You catch it and within an hour and a half, you’re already eating it. It’s amazing.

With your profile, your nickname and the wrestling background, is a WWE career in the mix when you retire from lacrosse?

I’d love that. I think I’d be great at it. I’d love to do that.