Mcmahon Named Coach

Former NLL Coach of the Year Bob McMahon was named head coach of the Colorado Mammoth on Wednesday. McMahon, who replaces Gary Gait behind the Colorado bench, spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Arizona Sting. McMahon was head coach of the Albany Attack from 2002-2003, compiling a 22-10 record. He was named Coach of the Year in 2002 after leading the Attack to a division title and a Champion's Cup Final appearance.In McMahon's four years with Arizona, the Sting represented the West Division in the Champion's Cup Final twice.

Resitarits Signed

Frank Resetarits signed a one-year contract with San Jose on Friday. The standout forward from University of Albany was the first player selected by the Stealth in the 2007 Entry Draft at fifth overall.

Recently named a first-team All-American, he finished second in goals (3.17 per game) and third in scoring (4.44 points/game) in the nation. Resetarits was also the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year, scoring 57 goals and 23 assists for 80 points, the third-highest single-season total in the program's history. He led UAlbany to the NCAA quarterfinal round for the first time in the program's history, and a school-record 15-3 mark.

"We are thrilled to have Frank with us for the coming season, and feel he will be a huge part of our offense," said Stealth assistant GM Doug Locker. "He is a very talented player who brings great size to our offense. We believe that he is a perfect compliment to work with Jeff [Zywicki] and Luke [Wiles]. Frank has always achieved at a high level in every situation he has played in, as he was not only a first Team All American at Albany, but also scored over 40 goals in his last season of junior lacrosse in St. Catharines."

A formidable attackman in the field game, the Western New York product has also taken the time to learn the nuances of the indoor game.

"Frank played junior lacrosse (for St. Catharines) in the same program that I played in during my junior days", said Stealth President and GM Johnny Mouradian. "He also had his first experiences watching the indoor game in Buffalo in the early 90's, while I was serving as GM of the Bandits. I'm glad that our paths to San Jose have some similarities".

San Jose opens its season on January 11 when they host Calgary at HP Pavilion.

Sting Sign Jamie Rooney

Arizona signed forward Jamie Rooney to a one-year contract this week. The five-foot-ten, 180 lbs. Arthur, ON native was originally drafted by Buffalo in the third round (21st overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft, before signing a free agent contract with Calgary in 2006.

Rooney saw action in nine games in Wellington, Ontario, this summer playing Senior B, recording 17 goals and 21 assists. Rooney has not yet played in an NLL game.

Hmm

Question: I know I ask every year.When do tickets go on sale ?


Answer: From today's article in the Buffalo News.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/b...ory/166058.html

New season tickets may be purchased starting next week by calling 855-4444. Season ticket renewals will begin in October and information regarding individual game ticket sales will be forthcoming soon.

The Bandits will hold training camp for veteran players Nov. 10-11 at HSBC Arena. An open practice and autograph session are in the works for shortly after Thanksgiving.
__________________

League Schedule

The National Lacrosse League has announced the schedule for the 2008 regular season. Opening night is on Saturday, December 27th at 8 p.m. as the New York Titans host the Chicago Shamrox at Madison Square Garden. The second game of the season-opening weekend shifts to the west, as the Colorado Mammoth host the Portland LumberJax at 9pm ET.

The defending league champion Rochester Knighthawks open their home schedule on January 12th against Chicago, before continuing their home slate on January 26th when they meet the Arizona Sting at Blue Cross Arena in a rematch of the 2007 NLL Championship Game.

The expansion Boston franchise opens on the road at Edmonton on January 12th, before hosting their inaugural home game at TD Banknorth Garden on January 19th against New York.

All eyes will be on Edmonton on the weekend of March 15-16th as the hometown Rush host the Rochester Knighthawks on Saturday, March 15th, followed by the 2008 NLL All-Star Game on Sunday, March 16th. The contest between Rochester and Edmonton will mark the first ever meeting between the two clubs as Edmonton General Manager and Head Coach Paul Day faces his old club for the first time.

Each of the league's 14 teams will play 16 games (eight home & eight away) over 17 weekends from December 27th through April 19th, followed by the 2008 Champion's Cup Playoffs.

All times are listed as Eastern.

WEEK 1

Thursday, December 27
Chicago at New York - 8:00 PM

Saturday, December 29
Portland at Colorado - 9:00 PM


WEEK 2

Friday, January 4
Rochester at Minnesota - 8:00 PM
Calgary at Arizona - 9:30 PM
Colorado at Portland - 10:30 PM

Saturday, January 5
Buffalo at Chicago - 8:00 PM


WEEK 3

Friday, January 11
Rochester at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
Minnesota at Toronto - 7:30 PM
Calgary at San Jose - 10:30 PM

Saturday, January 12
Portland at New York - 12:30 PM
Buffalo at Philadelphia - 7:30 PM
Chicago at Rochester - 7:35 PM
Toronto at Minnesota - 8:00 PM
Arizona at Colorado - 9:00 PM
San Jose at Calgary - 9:30 PM
Boston at Edmonton - 9:30 PM


WEEK 4

Friday, January 18
Rochester at Philadelphia - 8:00 PM
Portland at Arizona - 9:30 PM

Saturday, January 19
New York at Boston - 7:30 PM
Minnesota at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
Calgary at Edmonton - 9:30 PM


WEEK 5

Thursday, January 24
Arizona at Portland - 10:30 PM

Friday, January 25
Colorado at San Jose - 10:30 PM

Saturday, January 26
Buffalo at Toronto - 7:00 PM
Minnesota at Philadelphia - 7:30 PM
Portland at Boston - 7:30 PM
Arizona at Rochester - 8:00 PM
New York at Chicago - 8:00 PM
San Jose at Colorado - 9:00 PM
Edmonton at Calgary - 9:30 PM


WEEK 6

Thursday, January 31
Philadelphia at New York - 7:30 PM

Friday, February 1
Toronto at Boston - 7:30 PM

Saturday, February 2
Arizona at Edmonton - 9:30 PM
Calgary at San Jose - 10:30 PM


WEEK 7

Thursday, February 7
Edmonton at Colorado - 9:00 PM

Friday, February 8
Philadelphia at Boston - 7:30 PM
Chicago at Minnesota - 8:00 PM
Arizona at Calgary - 9:30 PM

Saturday, February 9
New York at San Jose - 4:00 PM
Toronto at Rochester - TBD

Sunday, February 10
Buffalo at Minnesota - 4:00 PM


WEEK 8

Friday, February 15
Boston at Toronto - 7:30 PM
Chicago at Philadelphia - 8:00 PM
Calgary at Colorado - 9:00 PM

Saturday, February 16
Toronto at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
New York at Rochester - 7:35 PM
Philadelphia at Chicago - 8:00 PM

Sunday, February 17
Edmonton at Arizona - 4:00 PM
San Jose at Portland - 6:00 PM

Monday, February 18
Minnesota at New York - 1:00 PM


WEEK 9

Friday, February 22
Toronto at Philadelphia - 8:00 PM
Colorado at Portland - 10:30 PM

Saturday, February 23
Buffalo at Rochester - 7:35 PM
San Jose at Edmonton - 9:30 PM

Sunday, February 24
Toronto at New York - 12:30 PM
Minnesota at Chicago - 3:00 PM


WEEK 10

Friday, February 29
Colorado at Arizona - 9:30 PM

Saturday, March 1
Rochester at Toronto - 7:00 PM
San Jose at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
Minnesota at Boston - 7:30 PM
New York at Philadelphia - 7:30 PM
Calgary at Chicago - 8:00 PM
Edmonton at Portland - 10:30 PM


WEEK 11

Saturday, March 8
Rochester at Boston - 7:30 PM
New York at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
San Jose at Colorado - 9:00 PM
Arizona at Calgary - 9:30 PM
Philadelphia at Portland - 10:30 PM


WEEK 12

Friday, March 14
Chicago at Toronto - 7:30 PM
Boston at Philadelphia - 8:00 PM
New York at Minnesota - 8:00 PM
Buffalo at Calgary - 9:30 PM

Saturday, March 15
Rochester at Edmonton - 9:30 PM

Sunday, March 16
2008 NLL All-Star Game at Edmonton - TBD


WEEK 13

Friday, March 21
Colorado at Calgary - 9:30 PM
Edmonton at Arizona - 10:30 PM

Saturday, March 22
Portland at San Jose - 3:00 PM
Philadelphia at Toronto - 7:00 PM
Chicago at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
Boston at New York - 7:30 PM
Minnesota at Rochester - 7:35 PM


WEEK 14

Thursday, March 27
Boston at Minnesota - 8:00 PM

Saturday, March 29
San Jose at Philadelphia - 7:30 PM
Boston at Rochester - 7:35 PM
Toronto at Chicago - 8:00 PM
Portland at Edmonton - 9:30 PM
Colorado at Arizona - 10:00 PM


WEEK 15

Thursday, April 3
Chicago at Colorado - 9:00 PM

Friday, April 4
Buffalo at Boston - 7:30 PM
Calgary at Edmonton - 9:30 PM

Saturday, April 5
New York at Toronto - 7:00 PM
Boston at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
Rochester at Chicago - 8:00 PM
Philadelphia at Minnesota - 8:00 PM
Arizona at Portland - 10:30 PM

Sunday, April 6
Edmonton at San Jose - 7:00 PM


WEEK 16

Friday, April 11
Arizona at San Jose - 10:30 PM
Calgary at Portland - 10:30 PM

Saturday, April 12
Edmonton at Toronto - 7:00 PM
Buffalo at New York - 7:30 PM
Chicago at Boston - 7:30 PM
Philadelphia at Rochester - 7:35 PM
Colorado at Minnesota - 8:00 PM
Portland at Calgary - 9:30 PM
San Jose at Arizona - 10:00 PM


WEEK 17

Friday, April 18
Rochester at New York - 7:30 PM
Edmonton at Colorado - 9:00 PM
Portland at San Jose - 10:30 PM

Saturday, April 19
Philadelphia at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
Boston at Chicago - 8:00 PM
Toronto at Calgary - 9:30 PM
Colorado at Edmonton - 9:30 PM
Minnesota at Arizona - 10:00 PM

New Jumbotron?

How did I miss this? The boys at USRT point out that the Buffalo News’ Band blogger beat reporter Tim Graham had big news the other day about a new toy for Sabres/Bandits fans:

HSBC Arena is having a large, high-definition video scoreboard and ribbon boards installed in time for the regular season. The system will be similar to the astonishing setup used by the Bruins in TD Banknorth Garden.

That is truly great news, and it shows a willingness on the part of the arena to spend some of that dough the fans have been pouring into the HSBC the past couple years

Draft Analysis 2

The Bandits didn't make any draft picks until the third round, but they certainly kept busy as GM/Head Coach Darris Kilgour pulled the trigger on three trades. Buffalo dealt #10 and #22 overall to Calgary for defenseman Ian Llord. A first-round selection by Philadelphia in the 2006 Entry Draft, Llord played in 11 games last season before he was dealt to Calgary in last month's Taylor Wray deal.


Brandon Swamp was dealt to Buffalo for a 2008 first round pick literally moments after he was selected in the second round by Minnesota
Buffalo also acquired Brandon Swamp, who played one season for SUNY Potsdam before renouncing his remaining NCAA eligibility. Swamp was selected at #18 overall by Minnesota, and traded almost moments later for #27 overall and Buffalo's 2008 first round pick. Kilgour then dealt #37 overall to Philadelphia in exchange for goaltender Ken Montour, who served as Buffalo's backup keeper in 2002 and 2006.

The Bandits finally drafted Wallaceburg, Ontario native Chris Lalonde at #39, and followed by selecting Jon Mason from Roanoke College at #65. Mason, a native of Orangeville, Ontario, led the NCAA last year with an incredible 76 goals and 15 assists. Buffalo completed their draft by selecting Brent Wiotowicz of Hamilton, Ontario, at #67 overall.

The Corn Maze

Draft Day Trades

Boston head coach Tom Ryan kept busy at Saturday's Entry Draft, pulling the trigger on five trades before the first round came to an end.

Ryan converted the #1 pick into five players, as he dealt Boston's first and third round picks to New York for the third overall selection and Matt Alrich, a versatile player who can play on both sides of the field.

Boston then selected Six Nations' Craig Point at #3, and shipped him and Darren Halls (who was acquired from San Jose in last month's expansion draft) to Minnesota for #8 and #11 overall, Brock Boyle, and a third round pick in 2008.

Point scored 11 goals to lead the Iroquois Nationals. "He's got an incredible skill level," said one NLL General Manager before the draft. "He is a good playmaker and scorer, he can finish. He could make an immediate impact on a team with less depth."

The expansion club followed by dealing #8 to Rochester in exchange for UMass grad Jack Reid, a promising young defenseman who resides in Boston, and #28 overall, before finally drafting their first player -- Orangeville's Matt Lyons -- with the 11th pick.

That pick was actually owned by Toronto at the beginning of the day. Minnesota dealt Kasey Beirnes, a six-year veteran who scored 23 goals last year, to the Rock in exchange for the #11 overall pick (and #52 overall) to help entice Boston into dealing Point and Halls.

Confusing enough?

Ryan and company made two more deals, sending veteran Jake Bergey to Philadelphia for #32 overall and a conditional 2008 third rounder. Bergey, who is the son of Philadelphia Eagles great Bill Bergey, was plucked from the Wings roster in last month's expansion draft. The 33-year-old forward has 227 career goals in 120 games for Philadelphia, where he has played his entire nine-year career.

Boston also dealt #15 overall to Edmonton for #20 and Dan Finck. A native of Halifax, Finck, who previously played two seasons in Philadelphia, was released by the Wings in January and signed by the Rush to a free agent contract five days later. The 26-year-old defenseman had nine assists and scooped 45 loose balls in 12 games with Edmonton.

The outburst of trades had a domino effect, with the first round lasting over an hour as teams continued to trade to jockey for position.

Chicago dealt #5 overall and Zach Heffner, a 25-year-old defenseman who played nine games last year, to San Jose in exchange for Callum Crawford, Andrew Burkholder, #12 overall and a 2008 second rounder.

Crawford scored 10 goals in 13 games for the Stealth last year, while Burkholder, a 23-year-old transition player who scored 17 goals in his rookie season, lands on his fifth team in his fourth year in the league.

Portland sent 27-year-old forward Kelly Hall to Calgary in exchange for #16 and #24 overall, and dealt #23 overall and a 2008 first rounder to Minnesota for Spencer Martin and Michael Kilby. Martin scored 14 goals last year, while Kilby led the Swarm in penalty minutes with 56.

Buffalo dealt #10 and #22 overall to Calgary for 22-year-old forward Ian Llord, and #37 overall to Philadelphia for 27-year-old goalie Ken Montour. Llord was selected by the Wings in the first round of the 2006 draft, and was dealt to Buffalo in last month's three-way deal that sent Taylor Wray to Philadelphia.

Buffalo: Draft Review

What a day it was for the Buffalo Bandits in Denver for the 2007 NLL Entry Draft. The picks and players are as follows...
2nd Round- Brandon Swamp (SUNY Potsdam0
3rd Round- Chris Lalonde (Wallaceburg, On)
5th Round- Jon Mason (Roanoke College)
5th Round- Brent Wiotowicz (Hamilton, On)

-Trades brought Ken Montour to Buffalo in exchange for 2008 picks as well as Ian Llord

-The first pick in the draft was Jordan Hall of U of Delaware

-Former Hamburg Bulldog Frank Resetarits was drafted 5th overall by San Jose

Overall Grade: B so far but if the Champions Cup isnt in Buffalo this year, next year dosent hold much promise in terms of the 2008 NLL Draft

Bandits Trade For Montour

The Buffalo Bandits traded there 37th selection in the draft for Philidelphia goaltender Ken Montour which could possibly lead to a position battle between him and Mike Thompson. If you were a real Bandit fan you would open an account on wingszone.com or if you have one already welcome to the site and make sure you open the webcast on nll.com (click on the button under the picture of Jordan Hall)

Trades Bring Lord And Brandon Swamp

The Buffalo Bandits gave up this years 1st pick 2008, 1st and second picks (conditional)and get the great young defenseman Ian Lord and Calgary's 3rd round pick. They then traded to get Brandon Swamp from SUNY-Potsdam.

Free Draft Webcast

The National Lacrosse League has announced that a live webcast of the 2007 Entry Draft will be available at the league's official website, www.nll.com. The draft takes place on Saturday, September 1st at 4PM Eastern. The webcast will be free of charge and powered by B2 Networks. B2 Networks enters its third consecutive season of providing live webcasts of all National Lacrosse League regular season and playoff games. Fans will see the new faces of the NLL as the drafted players are welcomed by their new teams. The webcast will include interviews with the newly drafted players as well as team executives. This marks the second consecutive season in which B2 provides a live and free webcast of the Entry Draft. B2 provided a webcast of the 2006 Entry Draft, which was held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The webcast can be viewed on any computer with a high-speed internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher.

The 2007 Entry Draft takes place on Saturday, September 1st in Denver at Pepsi Center, the home arena of the Colorado Mammoth. The six-round draft begins at 2PM Mountain Time, and is free and open to the public. The activity at Pepsi Center begins on Friday, August 31st, when the league will hold a combine for players graduating from U.S. colleges. The league has invited several of the top prospects to participate in the combine at Pepsi Center and meet with coaches and general managers from around the league. The combine begins on Friday evening at 7PM Mountain and is also free and open to the public.