The Story of Tucker
Tucker, the son of former Bandits player Shawn Williams, lost his battle with Burkitt lymphoma in 2014. In response to Tucker’s diagnosis while Williams was playing for the Buffalo Bandits, the franchise and city of Buffalo rallied around Tucker and the Williams family by hosting the first-ever Tucker Out Lymphoma Night on April 5, 2014. The annual game has continued here in Buffalo ever since and has raised over $150,000 for pediatric cancer care in Tucker’s honor since that first night. Tucker is remembered for his “Braver than Brave” spirit in his fight against lymphoma, with the original superhero logo designed by a member of the extended Williams family featured on the front crest of the jerseys. The official color of lymphoma awareness, lime green, is featured prominently on the jersey.
Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup
The Buffalo Bandits, Oshawa FireWolves, and Las Vegas Desert Dogs announced they will battle it out for the second annual Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup during the 2025-26 NLL season. The multi-game in-season series won by the Bandits last season honors the life of Tucker Williams and his 11-month battle with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Tucker is the son of Desert Dogs head coach and general manager Shawn Williams and the younger brother of FireWolves forward Dyson Williams.
“This Cup is a huge honor for our family, we are grateful for the competing teams and all the hard work that goes into this.” Shawn Williams said. “From the very first Tucker Out Lymphoma Night in Buffalo to the second annual Tucker Cup, the lacrosse community has been unbelievable. Tucker’s legacy continues to inspire, and we are so grateful for the support in raising awareness and making a difference.”
This series builds on the legacy of Tucker Out Lymphoma Night, which was started in 2014 by the Bandits. The first event took place in April of that year, as the Bandits rallied around Tucker and the Williams family during his courageous fight. Over a decade later, this meaningful initiative has expanded to a multi-team competition that will bring together the lacrosse community to honor Tucker’s memory and raise awareness and money for lymphoma research and pediatric oncology. Ways you can help will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Being able to carry on Tucker’s legacy through the Tucker Out games and the Tucker Cup is so special for our family and the lacrosse community,” said Dyson Williams. “It’s always emotional, but once the whistle blows it’s time to represent Tucker and play as hard as we can.”
The Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup brings together three teams with deep ties to Tucker’s story: the Buffalo Bandits, where the initiative began; the Oshawa FireWolves, where Tucker’s older brother Dyson is a star forward for his hometown team; and the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, where Shawn Williams serves as head coach and general manager.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 11 years since we lost Tuckdog at the age of eight,” Bandits senior director of lacrosse operations Scott Loffler said. “But even though he’s no longer with us, his spirit and message live on through these games and this cup – be braver than brave, and live more, laugh more, love more.”
Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup Schedule
The competition will span three games across the 2025-26 NLL season, featuring matchups among the FireWolves, Bandits, and Desert Dogs.
- Saturday, January 3 | Buffalo Bandits vs. Las Vegas Desert Dogs – Tucker Out Lymphoma Night | Bandits – 15 Desert Dogs – 13
- Saturday, January 31 | Las Vegas Desert Dogs vs. Oshawa FireWolves
- Saturday, April 18 | Oshawa FireWolves vs. Buffalo Bandits
The results will be posted here once each game concludes.
Standings and Tiebreakers
| RANK | TEAM | W | L | OTL | POINTS |
| 1 | Buffalo Bandits | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Albany FireWolves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Las Vegas Desert Dog | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Point System:
- 2 points for a regulation or overtime win
- 1 point for an OT loss
- 0 points for a regulation loss
In the event of teams finishing the series with the same number of points, the following tiebreakers will be applied in order:
- Head-to-head winning percentage between tied teams: The team with the better win-loss record in games played directly against the other tied team(s) will be ranked higher.
- Head-to-head winning percentage vs. common opponents played the same number of times: Performance against shared opponents will help distinguish the teams’ rankings.
- Head-to-head goal differential: The difference between goals scored and goals conceded in games between the tied teams will be evaluated. (If three or more teams are tied, this tiebreaker only applies if all tied teams have played each other.)
- Strength of victory: This measures the combined win percentage of all teams defeated by the tied teams, accounting for repeated victories against the same opponent.
- Strength of schedule: The combined win percentage of all opponents faced by the tied teams will be calculated, with repeated matchups counting multiple times.
- Leaguewide goal differential: The difference between goals scored and goals conceded in all Cup games.
- Goals For: Total goals scored in all Cup games.
- Goals Against: Total goals conceded in all Cup games.
- Coin toss: If no distinction can be made using the above criteria, the final tiebreaker will be a random coin toss.This system ensures fairness and emphasizes team performance across all matchups while honoring the competitive spirit of the Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup.
A Legacy of Unity and Inspiration
“This Cup is a huge honor for our family,” said Shawn Williams. “From the very first Tucker Out Lymphoma Night in Buffalo to this new Cup, the lacrosse community has been there for us. Tucker’s legacy continues to inspire, and we are so grateful for the support in raising awareness and making a difference.”
Dyson Williams added, “It’ll be an honor to compete in a Tucker Out game and for the Cup as we try and carry on Tucker’s legacy”
Scott Loffler reflected on its origins and growth: “We started Tucker Out Lymphoma Night to rally around Tucker and the Williams family during a challenging time. Seeing this initiative evolve into a multi-team Cup is a testament to Tucker’s impact and the strength of the lacrosse community.”
Tucker Out Prinatable Placard
