NLL Insider

 In the 5 years since 2004, the NLL Championship game has included either the Buffalo Bandits or a Dan Dawson team. And in each of those games, when the final buzzer ended, neither the Bandits nor Dawson have held coveted Champions Cup. Tonight will be the third attempt  for the Bandits in 5 years.  It will also be the third attempt for Dan Dawson. Tonight something has got to give and one side will end 5 years of frustration.

Although there are 7 players on the Bandits who have won the NLL Championship only Rich Kilgour and John Tavares have done it with the Bandits and the last Buffalo Championship was way back in 1996. The other 5 players who have won championships include Mike Accursi (last year with Rochester), Kevin Dostie (2004 with Calgary), Cam Bomberry and Pat McCready (1997 Rochester) and Phil Sanderson (2005 Toronto).  In fact there are 17 players on Buffalo who have played in the Championship game and their combined won loss record is 12 and 35.

On Portland only 4 players have won an NLL Championship. Dallas Elliuk has won it 4 times with Philadelphia. Pat Jones won it with Toronto in 2003. Brad Macdonald won it with Calgary in 2004 and Scott Stapleford won it with Colorado in 2006.

Who will win in 2008? Dan Dawson is on a mission this year.  He has paced himself this season so that he can lay it all out for the playoffs and so far he hasn’t disappointed with 22 points in 2 games. Don’t forget about Brodie Merrill. He is the new Jim Veltman of the NLL. He is dangerous all over the floor and is the kind of player you need to win a championship. However how do you go against the Bandits.Their offence is deep and talented and their defense is tough. The goaltenders have made us forget about Dietrich. Buffalo has been the most consistent team in the NLL this year and have overcome all kinds of injuries.  Many people point to their self destruction in the 2006 as evidence of their inability to win the big game. I agree they blew an opportunity that year but I also believe that experience has been invaluable for them. Tonight the Bandits will do what they should have done in 2006. They will play with skill, heart and discipline and will be rewarded with the 2008 NLL Championship. 

There I said it. It will be a great game but the Bandits will win in 2008.

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