Room with a view
As the Buffalo Bandits prepare for another season, changes brought by a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the National Lacrosse League (NLL) Players Association and NLL Owners are expected to impact the team. The Bandits, who recently celebrated their third consecutive championship, will soon add a seventh championship banner at KeyBank Center.
Scott Loffler, senior director of lacrosse operations for the Bandits, commented on the effects of the new CBA: “The parameters of the new CBA will definitely have a more negative effect on the Bandits than any team in the NLL, especially in the short term, and we are already seeing that with the recent departures of a couple of players.” He added, “However, for league sustainability, we needed to fix a few things. And quite frankly, we probably need to fix more. But at the end of the day, we need other teams to play against, and if we continued on the trajectory we were on, the pool of franchises would shrink to a point where we would not have a viable, sustainable league.”
Bandits captain Steve Priolo also addressed how the agreement could affect player retention: “I feel this CBA was focused on slowing the big monetary jumps players have seen over the last couple of years. And trying to slow Buffalo down as one of, if not the highest, money-makers in the league, from keeping our team together.” He noted that despite these challenges, “Fortunately, we have a great front office and a lot of players that live in the market that will give the Bandits many different options to keep our team together.”
Following months of negotiations resulting in a 13-page outline covering various issues, training camp preparations began as over 30 veterans, rookies and hopefuls arrived in Buffalo for physicals and athletic assessments.
Ryan Rajk, head athletic trainer for the Bandits, described this process: “The morning session of the physicals includes orthopedic exams conducted by the doctors, which involve checking all joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles.” He continued: “Then they undergo a general health screening with a completed EKG to monitor heart rhythm, blood pressure, eye test and overall health similar to an annual checkup with a primary care physician.”
Rajk further explained concussion protocols: “Next we conduct a series of concussion tests to establish a baseline in case of a head injury during the season. This includes SCAT 6, Impact computer test and King Devick—all required by the league.” These baseline assessments document any past injuries; X-rays or additional imaging may be required depending on individual situations.
After medical clearance is given by staff physicians based on these tests—including orthopedic review and concussion protocols—players can participate fully in practices and games unless lingering issues persist.
Afternoon sessions at Impact Harbor Center involved strength and conditioning coaches guiding athletes through various fitness tests such as timed running shuttles (3 × 300-yard shuttles; 3 × 150-yard shuttles), force plate testing and mobility screenings. The regimen also included push-ups; countermovement jumps; squat jumps; strength testing; box single-leg step downs; and flexibility evaluations.
“The athletes are timed during running tests and undergo mobility assessments to identify potential weaknesses in joints or muscles enabling targeted stretching or strengthening to help prevent future injuries,” said Rajk. “This physical testing evaluates each athlete’s condition and measures their training progress throughout summer and early fall.”
Many NLL players spent their off-season participating in summer leagues or competing elsewhere. Priolo reflected on his time following another Mann Cup win with Six Nations Chiefs: “Post-Mann Cup I was focused on recovery. This Mann (playoff run) was physically difficult but last two weeks have been back to my regular routine getting ready for camp.”
Training camp begins November 1 in Brampton, Ontario. Preseason games include matchups against Calgary on November 8 at 1 p.m., followed by Georgia at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena on November 22 at 8 p.m. The regular season opens November 29 at KeyBank Center with a banner-raising ceremony before facing off against Georgia Swarm.
