Buffalo Bandits Resign Five Players

The Buffalo Bandits came to terms with five athletes to keep them in Banditland — pending league approval — the team announced Wednesday. Most notably, captain Steve Priolo will be a Bandit for the next three years.

Paul Dawson, Justin Martin, Matt Spanger and Nick Weiss signed one-year deals.

The Bandits drafted Priolo in the second round of the 2009 draft and has currently played the third-most games in franchise history with 218 and second in loose-ball recoveries with 1,337. He’s second all-time with playoff game appearances (32) and loose-ball recoveries (244) in the playoffs.

Now, something like “grandpa status” is activated as he’s getting ready for his 15th season in Buffalo.

He had 13 points last season and 120 loose-ball recoveries in 18 games but led the team with 24 forced turnovers — good for sixth in the National Lacrosse League. 

Priolo won gold at the 2015 and 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships with Team Canada.

Dawson was picked up from the Colorado Mammoths back in March and played in 19 games last season between his former team and the Bandits. He had one assist and 13 loose-ball recoveries in the five games leading up to the NLL Cup, which marked his fourth NLL Cup win.

The Oakville, Ontario native played in 266 games on eight different teams throughout his 18-season career and has managed 96 points in addition to 929 lose-ball recoveries. Dawson has played in 29 postseason games and mustered up 10 points, 82 loose-ball recoveries, and caused 15 turnovers. 

He was originally drafted by San Jose Stealth in 2006.

Martin is coming back to Buffalo for his eighth season after being selected 13th overall by the Bandits in the 2016 NLL Entry Draft. He won his second consecutive NLL Cup with the boys in Orange this season and played in all five postseason games.

Another Oakville, Ontario native, Martin played in 15 games with the Bandits during the 2023-24 season. He blocked nine shots, had three assists, and collected 23 loose balls. In 106 career games, he’s managed 13 points and 171 loose-balls.

Spanger, a 6-foot-4 defenseman, has spent the last five years with the Bandits and is back for another season. 

The Toronto native played in 10 games last season and totaled six points, 33 loose-ball recoveries, and 12 forced turnovers. In 85 career games, Spanger has managed 44 points and 335 loose-ball recoveries. He appeared in six playoff games during Buffalo’s championship tour in 2023 and recorded two points.

Spanger was originally drafted by the New England Blackwolves but acquired by the Bandits in Sept. 2018.

The ink on the contract makes it official — it's a decade-long relationship between Weiss and the Bandits!

Although, next season is Weiss’ 11th in the NLL.

The 6-foot-2 transition player was drafted 17th overall by Vancouver in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft prior to joining the Bandits before the 2014-15 season. He’s totaled 147 points and 826 loose-ball recoveries thus far into his career.

In 26 playoff games, he’s managed 22 points and 127 loose-ball recoveries.