After being swept out of the 2016 NLL Championships by the Saskatchewan Rush and the losses of Bandits veterans Jay Thorimbert and Chad Culp to the New England Black Wolves during the off season, Buffalo Bandits General Manager Steve Dietrich and head coach Troy Cordingley headed into the 2016 NLL Draft searching for some fresh up and coming talent to add to their burgeoning roster. After the draft was over, Dietrich and Cordingley selected the best possible players they believed in that added youth and depth to every position.
Heading into the 2016 draft, the Buffalo Bandits began the night with seven possible draft selections with three of them coming into the second round. With the 13th overall selection in the draft, the Bandits selected 5’11 defenseman Justin Martin from the University of Guelph Gryphons. Martin appeared in 12 games with the Gryphons during the 2015 season and was named to the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association All-Canadian team.
With their second selection in the second round (16th overall), the Bandits decided to trade their selection to the Rochester Knighthawks in return for 5’11” transition specialist Brad Self. The 2016 lacrosse season turned very fruitful for Self as he recorded 21points (8G, 13A) during his fall season with the Knighthawks and another 34 during his summer season with the Major Series Lacrosse Peterborough Lakers.
With their third and final selection of the second round (18th overall), the Bandits selected the first overall goaltender of the draft with 5’11” Kevin Orleman from the Delta Islanders of the BCJALL. In three games during the regular season, he recorded two wins with a GAA of 8.17 and .774 save percentage. During the Minto Cup though, he unfortunately recorded two losses with a GAA of 10.35 and .802 save percentage. Orleman will give the Bandits some much needed depth at the position with an aging Anthony Cosmo.
With their third round selection (31st overall), the Bandits selected 6’0” forward TJ Sanders from Penn State. During his senior season, Sanders finished third on the team in points with 43 (28G, 15A). His 124 goals overall throughout the course of his collegiate career ranked Sanders second all-time on Penn State’s career goal-scoring list.
With their fourth round selection (39th overall), the Buffalo Bandits selected 6’2” midfielder Bryce Brochu from Wheeling Jesuit University. During the 2016 season, Brochu led the Cardinals in scoring with 58 points (28G, 30A) and was named to the 2016 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association/Nike Division II All-American team.
With their fifth round selection (47th overall), the Buffalo Bandits selected 6’1” righty forward Drake Smith from the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves of the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League. During the 2016 season, Smith led the Braves in scoring with 59 points (20G, 39A) and interesting enough is the younger brother of Bandits forward and 2016 NLL scoring champion Dhane Smith.
For their sixth round and final selection of the evening (52nd overall), the Buffalo Bandits selected 6’0” forward Logan Holmes of the Windsor Clippers of the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League. Over the past two seasons with the Clippers, Holmes has been a scoring machine. During the 2015 season he recorded 113 points and during the 2016 season he led the league in scoring with 145 points. Plenty of upside and could really be a decent lock as the sleeper pick of the draft.
