Buffalo Bandits General Manager Steve Dietrich announced today that the team has signed six players as NLL Free Agency opens.
The Bandits have agreed to terms with free agent Steven Fryer on a one-year deal, in addition to re-signing Chad Culp, Shawn Williams and Anthony Cosmo to one-year deals as well as David Brock and Aaron Wilson to two and three-year deals, respectively. Also, the club opted to use one of its Franchise Tags on John Tavares and has qualified Ryan Benesch, Billy Dee Smith, Jay Thorimbert and Rory Smith. All deals are pending league approval.
Fryer, a goaltender, last played in the NLL in 2012 as a member of the Philadelphia Wings when he saw action in 10 games and registered a 8.80 goals against average. Last season, he suited up as a member of the CLAX’s Brampton Inferno.
An 11-year NLL veteran, Culp (5’9″, 185 lbs. 2/5/82) has recorded 392 points (152+240) and 563 loose balls in 146 regular season games.. The Fergus, Ontario native recorded 21 points (7+14) and 54 loose balls in 11 games with the Bandits in 2013.
Williams (5’11”, 195 lbs., 6/20/74) returns for his second straight (and fourth overall) season with the Bandits. Entering his 17th NLL season, the Scarborough, Ontario native has not missed a game over the past 12 seasons and over his career has tallied 1,103 points and 983 loose balls in just 239 games. In 2013, he led Buffalo in assists (46), points (65) and finished third in goals (19).
Cosmo (6’2”, 202 lbs., 10/6/77) will embark on his third season as one of Buffalo’s goaltenders, having appeared in 187 career NLL games over which he has amassed a 67-51 record, 10.64 goals against average. Most recently in 2013, the five-time NLL All-Star recorded a record of 4-4 along with a goals against average of 13.37.
Brock (6’3”, 215 lbs., 8/13/86) has appeared in a total of 41 career NLL outings over three seasons, tallying 23 points (12+11). In 2013, he recorded a career-high 13 points in his first season as a member of the Bandits.
Wilson (5’9”, 180 lbs., 12/20/80), has suited up in 171 career games to this date, contributing 615 points (320+295) between stints with Toronto, Rochester, Minnesota, Edmonton and Buffalo. Heading into his second season with the Bandits, he finished second on the team in goals (23), assists (23) and points (46) during the 2013 season.
