Buffalo Bandits General Manager Steve Dietrich today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Chad Culp and transition player Jay Thorimbert on two-year contracts. The team has also signed defenseman Adam Will to a one-year deal.
“We are pleased to have Chad and Jay back in Buffalo for two more years,” Dietrich said. “I don’t think it was a coincidence that our offense improved when Chad played more of a full-time role out the front door toward the end of last season. We look forward to having Chad bring his tenacious style of play to our offence on a regular basis for the next two years.”
Culp, entering his fifth season with the Bandits, tallied 11 points (7+4) in 17 regular-season outings last season and also reached the 400-point mark against the Colorado Mammoth on March 15. The Arthur, Ontario native also added five points (2+3) in four postseason contests. The 12-year NLL veteran has registered 403 points (159+244) in 163 career games.
“Jay has proven himself to be one of the top faceoff guys in the league,” Dietrich said. “He’s also a very underrated defender and brings tremendous character and leadership to any team he plays on.”
Thorimbert will return for his fourth season with the Bandits after ranking third in the NLL in loose balls (191), faceoff wins (253) and faceoff percentage (55.7%) in the 2014 season. In four playoff games, Thorimbert led the league with 44 loose balls and 57 faceoff wins. In his six-season NLL career, Thorimbert has appeared in 87 regular-season games, totaling 59 points (27+36) and 761 loose balls.
Will comes to Buffalo after spending the summer with the Langley Thunder of the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) Senior A squad. In his first WLA season, the 22-year old recorded 14 points (5+9) in 18 games.
