Buffalo Bandits win third straight title, become winningest team in NLL history

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — For the third straight season, the Buffalo Bandits are NLL champions, topping the Saskatchewan Rush 15-6 in the deciding game 3 of the NLL finals. With their win, the Bandits have won seven league titles, the most in league history passing the Philadelphia Wings and Toronto Rock, with each team having six titles.

"There were some question marks as to who the better team was on and watching social media it seemed like they thought they were better than us, so it was just nice putting a stamp on that, that yeah, we're still the best team in this league," head coach John Tavares said. "We played them four times including the regular season and we beat them three and they beat us one at their place, so, I think if there's any question mark who the best team is we proved it tonight."

2024 NLL MVP Josh Byrne led the way for the Bandits on Saturday, scoring four goals and adding five assists. 2025 NLL Offensive Player of the Year Dhane Smith had three goals of his own and three assists in the win. Chris Cloutier, who was activated from IR, also had three goals for the Bandits.

"At the beginning of the game I said we want 15 (goals) tonight because I believe in this group and I really believed we were knocking on the door," Smith said about the Bandits offensive explosion. "But it's due to our defense for holding open the door and playing our game."

The Bandits, who fell behind just 24 seconds into the game, stormed out of the gate to start the second quarter with four goals in the first three minutes. The Rush scored the next three goals and made it a 7-6 Bandits lead heading into halftime.

But in the third quarter, the Bandits pulled away and secured their third straight championship. Coming out of the half, the Bandits scored six goals in the third quarter while shutting out their opponent. In 15 minutes a one-goal lead turned into a seven-goal lead. At that point it was clear the Bandits were on their way to another championship.

"The end goal every year is to win a championship and to do it for the third-time in a row now is pretty unheard of," NLL Finals MVP Ian MacKay said. "To kind of cement ourselves in history with this and to be able to do that is an unbelievable feeling."

As he always does, Matt Vinc was phenomenal for the Bandits and a pivotal piece in the team's title this season. Vinc, who played college lacrosse for Canisius, has now won six NLL titles, and three with the Bandits.

"He means the world to this group," Smith said about his goaltender after the win. "I know he's probably thinking about retiring but I feel like he could just sit in net and we'll be fine, you know what I mean? So, hopefully we can talk him out of that and hopefully we can get some beers in him and hopefully talk him into one more year. But honestly I'm forever thankful with whatever his decision is because I feel like we wouldn't be a championship team without him."

The Bandits will have a championship celebration parade in the upcoming days, but the details have not yet been finalized or announced.

"To have that target on our back and to step up game after game after game, this is the ultimate reward for sure," MacKay added.