The Buffalo Bandits picked up many solid rookies in both the draft and in the free agency pool. Here is the Bandits rookie breakdown.
Jerome Thompson (Forward)- One of the most significant free agent signings in my opinion was that of Jerome Thompson. Jerome is the second eldest of the famed “Thompson Brothers” (others being Jeremy, Miles, and Lyle) who took the lacrosse world by storm. After originally being drafted 25th overall by the Bandits in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft, the 5’11 200 pound lefty forward did not make it past training camp cuts that year under then-head coach Darris Kilgour. This did not discourage the Onondaga Nation Native, who went right back at it and played year after year in the Sr B leagues. Most recently when he won the Presidents Cup with the Onondaga Redhawks, where he tallied 30 points (17g+13a) in four regular season games in the Can-Am league, and additional 31 (16g+15a) in eight of the Presidents Cup games. After the completion of the preseason, Thompson put in a total of nine points. Out of all the rookies, Thompson can be the most effective.
Corey Fowler (Forward)- Fowler can be a transitional star in my opinion. He’s been honing his skills in playing in the winter Canadian Lacrosse League (CLax) where he put up 10 goals and 33 assists in 8 games, leading his Niagara Lockmonsters into the playoffs. There, he led Niagara in playoffs points with three goals and five assists, and helping the Lockmonsters capture their first CLax Creators Cup. In addition to playing in CLax, Fowler has played the last two summers with the Sr B St. Catherines Saints where in 2013 he put up 46 points (18g+28a) in 9 games with an additional 23 (8g+15a) in playoffs en-route to a Presidents Cup national championship. He backed a stellar 2013 Sr B season up with another impeccable 2014 performance that saw him score 66 points (16g+50a) in the regular season, with an additional 12 points (5g+7a) in three playoff games. These stats aren’t even including his monstrous first full season in the MSL where he scored 33 points (16g+18a) for the KW Braves. Fowlers speed and offensive prowess is one of a kind, and he is truly built to be a NLL transitional player.
Dave DiRuscio (Goalie)- Free agent goaltender Dave DiRuscio was also signed by the Bandits. DiRuscio comes to the team with a lot of experience in various high level leagues. DiRuscio gained the attention of many during his stellar 2014 CLax season, where he split time between the pipes for the Niagara Lockmonsters with Connor Danko. There, he led all goalies in the league with a save percentage of 86.49%, and had a league low GAA of 7.95, and a win loss record of 3-1. When the most important time of the year came (playoffs), DiRuscio sure did show up to play, and play he did. DiRsucio got starts in all two playoff/championship games, where he faced 123 shots stopping 106 of them for a save percentage of 86.16% and a GAA 8.50. For his performance in the 2014 CLax season, he was awarded the leagues Goaltender of the Year Award, and the MVP Award. DiRuscio also managed to get some playing time in this past MSL season, where he was more or less in a third string role behind Tyler Carlson and Matt Vinc. Even still, DiRuscio got two starts and also played the majority of one other game during that season, putting his stats at an impressive .750% save percentage and a GAA of 8.37. As with his both CLax and NLL teammate Corey Fowler, DiRuscio also played Sr B for the St. Catherines Saints last year, we he played four regular season games putting up a GAA of 8.33 (other goaltender stats such as saves and save percentage are not recorded in Sr B lacrosse). After the release of Rance Vigneux, DiRuscio will be the Bandits back-up goaltender.
Brandon Goodwin (Forward)- The lefty forward from the Coquitlam Adanacs was taken 9th overall in this past draft. The Bandits acquired this pick in a trade that sent Rory Smith and Eric Penny to Vancouver in exchange for Nick Weiss and the pick. Goodwin was drafted to help add in youth and size to the left side of the Bandits. Coach Troy Cordingley brought up many times that Goodwin has a great lacrosse IQ and can set picks when needed to free up space to the big lefty goal scorers like Tavares and Benesch. He seemed to have great chemistry with them already, playing his game well during the preseason and even showing he can put the ball in the back of the net when rolling off the pick.
