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Behind the Scenes, Buffalo Bandits, MSL, National Lacrosse League, Peterborough Lakers, Road to the Presidents Cup, Senior B, The Life

Kyle Clancy returns to lacrosse from neck injury, playing with Norwood James Gang

Kyle Clancy (second from left) with his Peterborough Lakers rookie of the year award in 2010.

Three years ago, Kyle Clancy scored 21 points in 6 games in his rookie year with the Buffalo Bandits. That summer he was the Peterborough Lakers rookie of the year and third leading scorer and he won a Mann Cup with the team.

Two years ago, Clancy stepped in when John Tavares was unable to start a game in the National Lacrosse League playoffs and scored 4 goals and an assist. He followed that up with a solid and reasonably productive summer with the Lakers, notching 13 goals and 23 assists in 16 games.

Last year, he was out of lacrosse with a chipped vertebrae in his neck after rolling his vehicle in bad weather. So getting back on a lacrosse floor is a big step for Clancy, and he’s enjoying his return to the game. For now, that is happening with the Norwood James Gang of the Ontario Senior B league. He has scored 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 points, helping the James Gang to a perfect 3-0 start to their season. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League

Bandits’ 2013 season had positives and negatives, but one outweighed the other

The work of Jay Thorimbert (75) on faceoffs and loose balls made him one of the Bandits' best. (Photo: Dan Brodie)

The headline states the obvious for the Buffalo Bandits. But the way it works in professional sports, the National Lacrosse League included, is that scrutiny comes with the territory. Especially when your 6-10 season leaves you as the only team not participating in the NLL playoffs and it’s your first absence from the postseason party since 2002. But as Budd Bailey of The Buffalo News points out in his season recap of the Bandits, there are plenty of positives to draw on as well. The Bandits head into the offseason with plenty of questions to answer and issues to address. Power play production was down; way down. Goaltending was an issue, and the constant shuffling of players — 31 for the season — definitely had an effect. But Dhane Smith, Shawn Williams and Jay Thorimbert were beacons of light in a season that didn’t have much of it.

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Washington Stealth

Week 16 NLL Player of the Week Awards: Evans, MacIntosh, Grimes, Smith

For the fourth consecutive week and sixth time this season, Minnesota Swarm's Jordan MacIntosh has been named Transition Player of the Week (Photo: Minnesota Swarm)

The National Lacrosse League has announced Player of the Week awards for Week 16 of the 2013 NLL regular season which featured eight teams in four games last Saturday.

In front of a record-breaking 19,070 fans, the Buffalo Bandits dropped their 10^th game this season and missed the post-season for the first time since 2002 as the Rochester Knighthawks defeated the Bandits.  Scoring seven fourth quarter goals secured the Mammoth’s spot in the playoffs as Colorado beat the Minnesota Swarm for the second time this season.  In the fourth Battle of Alberta, the Calgary Roughnecks returned to their winning ways thwarting the Rush’s chance of being league leaders with an overtime win in Edmonton.  Bouncing back from 2012 which saw Washington miss the playoffs, the Stealth not only secured a berth a few weeks ago, but acquired a home field advantage when they defeated the Philadelphia Wings. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

NLL playoffs: Knighthawks and Mammoth are in, Bandits are out, Swarm head east

Johnny Powless and the Knighthawks squeaked into the playoffs to defend their NLL championship, edging Buffalo 10-9. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

The Rochester Knighthawks won their do-or-die showdown with the Buffalo Bandits to reach the National Lacrosse League playoffs, edging Buffalo 10-9. The Colorado Mammoth downed the Minnesota Swarm 16-14 to earn the fourth seed in the West. They’ll face the Calgary Roughnecks in the first round of the playoffs after Calgary beat Edmonton 12-11 in overtime to win yet another West Division regular season title. And Washington clinched home playoff dates for themselves and Rochester by beating Philadelphia 15-11. And with all that, perhaps the biggest winners were the Swarm, who–thanks to Buffalo missing the playoffs and Minny owning the Bandits pick that will now be first overall in the 2013 entry draft–won the Logan Schuss sweepstakes. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks, MSL, National Lacrosse League, Off the Rug, The Life

Week 7 of the GM Talks on the Off the Crossebar Podcast; this week Bandits GM Steve Dietrich and his worst game, Hall of Fame career and an NFL Back-up QB.

Steve Dietrich (left) with Troy Cordingley at Chugger's Hall of Fame induction. (Photo: NLL.com)

One of the toughest GM jobs in the National Lacrosse League could very well be the one bestowed upon Steve Dietrich. After Darris Kilgour was relieved of his duties last off-season, the former Bandit goalie was welcomed back to Banditland and was immediately thrust into the spotlight. How do you improve an aging roster that has been struggling to find chemistry, symmetry and consistency ever since winning the 2008 NLL title game on their home floor? It’s all about a hunger for redemption for Dietrich and that comes from building through the draft and finding the right pieces to the puzzle. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Staff Pick 'Em, Washington Stealth

NLL Week 16 Staff Picks

Both still vying for a playoff berth, the Buffalo Bandits host the Rochester Knighthawks Saturday at 7:30pm EST (Photo: Bill Wippert)

The final weekend of regular season National Lacrosse League action features eight of the nine teams in four games all on Saturday evening.

Kicking off the night, the Buffalo Bandits (6-9) host New York rivals the Rochester Knighthawks (7-8), both of which are still vying a spot in the playoffs.  Also hoping for a playoff berth, the Colorado Mammoth (6-9) head to Minnesota to face the Swarm (7-8).  In the last of four Battles of Alberta, the Calgary Roughnecks (8-7) head north to face the Edmonton Rush (9-6).  In the final game of the weekend and the final game of the regular season, the Stealth (8-7) welcome in the Philadelphia Wings (7-8) to Washington. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks

Week 15 NLL Player of the Week Awards: Dawson, MacIntosh, Miller, Critch

For three consecutive weeks and for the fifth time this season, Minnesota Swarm's Jordan MacIntosh has been named Transition Player of the Week (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

The National Lacrosse League has announced Player of the Week awards for Week 15 of the 2013 NLL regular season which featured all nine teams in five games last Saturday and Sunday.

Playing back to back games in Alberta, the Rochester Knighthawks punched their ticket to the playoffs with a win against the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday before dropping Sunday’s matinee against the West Division leading Edmonton Rush.  The Minnesota Swarm also clinched a playoff berth with a road win against the Colorado Mammoth.  The Philadelphia Wings won the series against Toronto, winning the second of three matchups this season in an overtime thriller.  In a do or die game, the Buffalo Bandits held off elimination with a win in Washington against the Stealth. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Pick 'Em, Rochester Knighthawks, Washington Stealth

Who Ya Got? NLL Week 16 Fan Picks

The Rush and Roughnecks close out their regular seasons facing off in the final 2013 Battle of Alberta (Photo: Dale MacMillan)

National Lacrosse League East Division leaders Toronto Rock failed to secure their spot as league leaders when they lost their last regular season game to the Philadelphia Wings.  Later on Saturday, Minnesota won the first of the Swarm’s week 15/16 home and home series against the Mammoth in Colorado.  In only their third trip to Calgary, the Rochester Knighthawks picked up their first win at the Saddledome, edging out the Roughnecks in a close battle.  In the fourth game on Saturday, the Buffalo Bandits snapped their six game losing streak win a win against the Washington Stealth.  On Sunday, the Edmonton Rush regained first place in Shanny’s Power Rankings as they got only their second home win of the season and postponed Rochester’s playoff hopes. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

Philly’s in, Buffalo’s alive, Minny’s on fire and Evans is a scoring champ (almost)

The Minnesota Swarm are ready for the playoffs after downing Colorado last night. (Photo: Minnesota Swarm)

The National Lacrosse League season continues to throw us curveballs. Last night’s twists and turns included a late, game-tying penalty shot goal, an overtime playoff-clinching win, a team without its captain continuing to rip it up, and a team that looked dead coming decidedly to life to resuscitate its playoff hopes. Philadelphia overcame a penalty shot goal by Kasey Beirnes with 1:12 to play, resulting from a too many men on the floor penalty, to win 10-9 on Jordan Hall’s overtime marker and clinch a spot in the post-season. In Denver, the Minnesota Swarm pumped in goals early and often as they dumped the Colorado Mammoth 17-12. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Staff Pick 'Em, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

NLL Week 15 Staff Picks

East Division leading Rock head to Philly to take on the Wings in Toronto's last game of the season (Photo: torontorock.com)

Week 15 of the National Lacrosse League features five games featuring all nine teams.  In the first of four Saturday games, the Toronto Rock (10-5), playing their last game of the regular season, head to Philadelphia to take on the Wings (6-8).  Both looking to get out of the bottom of the Western Division, the Minnesota Swarm (6-8) head to Colorado to face-off against the Mammoth (6-8) for the first game of the pair’s week 15/16 home and home series.  In the first game of their western road trip, the Rochester Knighthawks (6-7) travel to Calgary to take on the Roughnecks (8-6).  Also making the trip west, the stuggling Buffalo Bandits hope to snap their losing skid in Washington against the Stealth (8-6).  On Sunday, the defending champion Knighthawks continue their western road trip as they face their 2012 Champions Cup opponents, the Edmonton Rush (8-6). READ MORE »