The forthcoming jersey signifies one of the greatest franchise eras in NLL history. During the original run, Buff McCready resigned after three losses in the Bandits first three games ever in franchise history. Les Bartley was asked to step in after being the team's scout. This would begin a milestone that will likely be untouched.
This move began a 22 game win streak including two consecutive championships in 1992 and 1993. Seasons today are twice as long (16 games from eight) and a team sometimes got a first round bye whereas there are always three playoff games won by a championship team.
Les Bartley would see the final year of the original jersey and final year at the Memorial Auditorium end with a third ring (over Philadelphia, again). This is where a transition began moving from "the Aud" down the street to (then) Marine Midland Arena. They would make the championship game in 1997, but saw a change in coaching the following year as Bartley and Jim Veltman were picked up by the Ontario Raiders who moved to Toronto the following year (1999) and continued Bartley's Hall of Fame career. In the year of Bartley's departure was the last non-playoff year for Buffalo. But since then, the Bandits have made it back to the Champions Cup game in '04 and '06 before getting the ring in '08 (which so evidently was the last dressed game for HoF goalie Dallas Eliuk before retiring).
Then came along 2011, the 20th season. The retro jerseys were unveiled in an open practice am month before (December 2011). These were worne for the season operner which was at home against Toronto. The Bandits would win 15-14.
Diagonals were common for the (then) Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL). The Baltimore Thunder (now Colorado Mammoth) and New York Saints (now defunct) also used the same design except the difference in color. It also has the original logo, which was only to be succeeded by the current one do far. It is almost identical to those of the original as Reebok was not in the indoor lacrosse industry at that time. No matter, it was great to see these brought back!
-Ricky
This move began a 22 game win streak including two consecutive championships in 1992 and 1993. Seasons today are twice as long (16 games from eight) and a team sometimes got a first round bye whereas there are always three playoff games won by a championship team.
Les Bartley would see the final year of the original jersey and final year at the Memorial Auditorium end with a third ring (over Philadelphia, again). This is where a transition began moving from "the Aud" down the street to (then) Marine Midland Arena. They would make the championship game in 1997, but saw a change in coaching the following year as Bartley and Jim Veltman were picked up by the Ontario Raiders who moved to Toronto the following year (1999) and continued Bartley's Hall of Fame career. In the year of Bartley's departure was the last non-playoff year for Buffalo. But since then, the Bandits have made it back to the Champions Cup game in '04 and '06 before getting the ring in '08 (which so evidently was the last dressed game for HoF goalie Dallas Eliuk before retiring).
Then came along 2011, the 20th season. The retro jerseys were unveiled in an open practice am month before (December 2011). These were worne for the season operner which was at home against Toronto. The Bandits would win 15-14.
Diagonals were common for the (then) Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL). The Baltimore Thunder (now Colorado Mammoth) and New York Saints (now defunct) also used the same design except the difference in color. It also has the original logo, which was only to be succeeded by the current one do far. It is almost identical to those of the original as Reebok was not in the indoor lacrosse industry at that time. No matter, it was great to see these brought back!
-Ricky
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