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1999 Season Recap
Only one word can describe the Buffalo Bandits' 1999 season: disappointment. Disappointing to the fledgling league, which could have used a strong Bandit franchise to boost the entire league. Disappointing to the players, who, no matter what they tried, seemed like they could do nothing right. Disappointing for their fans, who were eager to see a return to old-time Bandit lacrosse, and upset when the return failed to happen. Disappointing to the franchise, which watched more and more disgruntled fans walk away. The season started well enough for the Bandits, traveling to Philadelphia and knocking off the defending champion Wings in an overtime thriller. Consecutive losses -- a humiliating home defeat by the Baltimore Thunder, and a one-goal loss at Toronto -- were followed a weekend sweep of Syracuse and New York in late January, leaving the club with a solid 3-2 mark and sole possession of third place. However, problems already had emerged. Goaltender Marty O'Neill was erratic in goal, and he was soon benched in favor of 1998 first-round pick Matt Disher. The young netminder showed flashes of brilliance, but he, too, had difficulties throughout the season. Meanwhile, the mental errors that plagued the Bandits even in their championship years were starting to cost the team valuable chances at victory once again. A series of these allowed Philadelphia to rally and eventually defeat the Bandits in an early-February rematch at Marine Midland Arena. Catching the Baltimore Thunder sleeping during midseason, Buffalo was able to steal a 16-15 road victory in the last weekend of February. Things were looking fairly well in Banditland, with the team holding a 4-3 record and likely to qualify for the postseason. Soon, though, it would all go away. With all three games in March to be played at home, one would think the Bandits were in great position. One look at their season thus far would show the opposite -- they struggled at home, having only one win in three tries, and that win was against the lowly Syracuse Smash. The Bandits lost in succession to New York, Rochester, and Toronto. Three home losses, two by one goal and one of those an overtime defeat, left the Bandits 4-6 and in deep, deep trouble. So deep in fact, team leader and original Bandit Darris Kilgour, likely in his final season, asked to be traded, so he could have a shot at winning one more title before hanging up his stick. The day after the Toronto loss, and just minutes prior to the trading deadline, Kilgour was the primary player of a blockbuster trade, in which he went to Rochester, the Knighthawks' Chris Driscoll joined the Bandits, and two other players and three draft picks switched clubs. Even with their chances so dim, the Bandits came out and fought hard against their next opponent -- ironically, the Rochester Knighthawks. Buffalo couldn't stay with the Knighthawks in last few moments, though, and lost. With nothing to play for but pride, the Bandits stumbled through a "meaningless" 14-11 loss to Syracuse to complete the season at 4-8, out of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and finishing with its worst record ever. 1999 Buffalo Bandits Roster
# Name Ht Wt Age Exp College
1 Matt Disher (G) 6-3 215 22 R None
2 Ryan McDermott 5-10 185 22 R Nazareth College
4 Brian Silcott 5-11 205 33 4 Nazareth College
5 Steve Fannell 5-10 188 27 3 Niagara College
9 Bob Henry 5-11 190 25 1 None
10 Mike Hasen 6-0 167 26 3 Brock University
11 John Tavares 5-11 185 30 7 D’Youville College
12 Jamie Batley 6-0 197 31 2 UMBC
13 John Rosa 6-2 213 28 3 Univ. of Windsor
14 Tim Bomberry 5-11 263 27 R None
16 Rich Kilgour 6-0 185 29 7 Nazareth College
19 Andy Ogilvie 6-2 215 33 R None
20 Shaydon Santos 6-1 200 23 2 Brock University
21 Neil Doddridge 6-0 195 29 7 UBC
22 Travis Kilgour 6-2 250 25 4 None
24 Matt Steinwald 6-5 200 24 R None
26 Matt McClean 5-11 195 24 R VMI
34 Chris Clark 6-3 210 23 1 Michigan State
40 Troy Cordingley 6-0 170 31 6 Lakehead University
43 Darris Kilgour 6-0 210 28 7 Nazareth College
44 Dean Cecconi 5-10 180 29 6 St. Clair College
53 Chris Panos 6-0 200 24 2 Hofstra University
98 Mike Mooradian 6-0 190 31 2 Niagara College
Chris McCarten 6-0 210 23 R Syracuse University
Marty O'Neill (G) 6-0 190 34 7 None
John Rigas Owner
Kurt Silcott General Manager /
Dir. of Lacrosse Operations
Les Wakeling Head Coach
Ted Sawicki Associate Coach
Todd Champlin Trainer
Tom Keefer Equipment Manager
Age refers to age as of beginning of 1999 season (26 Dec 1998)
1999 Buffalo Bandits Schedule and Results DATE OPPONENT BUF-OPP W/L REC POS ---------------------------------------------------------- Dec 25-27 -open date- 0-0 t-2 Jan 1- 3 -open date- t-3 Fri Jan 8 @ Philadephia 7:30 18-17 OT W 1-0 t-1 Sat Jan 16 BALTIMORE 8:00 15-22 L 1-1 4th Fri Jan 24 @ Toronto 7:00 10-11 L 1-2 t-5 Fri Jan 29 SYRACUSE 8:00 17-16 W 2-2 2nd Sat Jan 30 @ New York 7:30 12-11 W 3-2 3rd Fri Feb 5 PHILADELPHIA 8:00 11-13 L 3-3 t-2 Feb 12-14 -open date- t-2 Feb 19-21 -open date- t-3 Sat Feb 27 @ Baltimore 7:35 16-15 W 4-3 t-2 Sat Mar 6 NEW YORK 8:00 12-13 L 4-4 4th Mar 12-14 -open date- 4th Sat Mar 20 ROCHESTER 8:00 11-17 L 4-5 t-4 Sat Mar 27 TORONTO 8:00 12-13 OT L 4-6 t-5 Sat Apr 3 @ Rochester 7:35 13-15 L 4-7 6th (1) Sat Apr 10 @ Syracuse 8:00 11-14 L 4-8 6th ---------------------------------------------------------- (1) Eliminated from playoff contention (3 April) Bandits record breakdown: vs BAL 1-1 Friday 2-2 vs NY 1-1 Saturday 2-6 vs PHI 1-1 Sunday 0-0 vs ROC 0-2 Other days 0-0 vs SYR 1-1 After win 1-3 vs TOR 0-2 After loss 2-5 home 1-5 December 0-0 road 3-3 January 3-2 overtime 1-1 February 1-1 1 goal 4-3 March 0-3 2 goals 4-5 April 0-2 after bye 2-1 second game* 1-0 * Second game of a multiple-game weekend. Go see a Bandits game! Buffalo Bandits Tickets to see the Buffalo Bandits play at Marine Midland Arena can be purchased through the team at the phone number above. The parking ramp adjacent to the arena is reserved for the use of season ticket holders. Public parking is available around the arena on Perry, Scott, and Exchange streets. Directions: Take the New York Thruway (I-90) to Exit 53 (I-190). Go north on 190 to Exit 5 (Hamburg Street), then turn right onto Hamburg Street. At the second traffic light, turn right onto South Park Avenue. The arena is just ahead on the right. Alternatively, take I-190 to Exit 6 (Elm Street). As you exit, bear to the right and turn right onto Seneca Street. At the first light, turn right onto Michigan Street and follow over the bridge. The arena will be to your right. Most of all, enjoy the game! Seating diagram of Marine Midland Arena, courtesy of Arenamedia. Map of the area, courtesy of Mapquest. (approximately centered on arena location) Alter characteristics of Mapquest map above. |
