
Photo courtesy of the NLL
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Bandits (6-0) hosted the the Albany FireWolves (2-7) for the Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup game in front of a packed KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
The Bandits have been nothing short of sensational this year picking up where they left off last year. Dhane Smith and Josh Byrne have been scary good together this year again. With a support cast of Chase Fraser, Chris Cloutier, Tehoka Nanticoke, and Ian MacKay, the Bandits are able to send wave after wave of offensive pressure at their opponents. The defense has been strong as well with Steve Priolo, Paul Dawson, Matt Spanger, Nick Weiss as well as Cam Wyers. Matt Vinc has been stellar with a 9.55 GAA and an 81.5 save percentage in just under 300 minutes of action.
Albany has had a rough time lately, but is due to come out of their funk. There is way too much talent on the team to not excel this season. Alex Simmons, Sam Firth, Tye Kurtz, Dyson Williams, and Travis Longboat lead a talented cast of forwards. Injuries have hampered this team with Colton Watkinson, John Wagner and Nick Chaykowsky all spending time on the IR. Doug Jamieson has been solid in net, but at times has been fighting it a bit this season. Andrew Kidd has looked good in the spot relief he has gotten in net.
The goaltending match-up had Doug Jamieson in net for the FireWolves facing Matt Vinc in net for the Bandits.
Albany started with more jump in their step but an aggressive Bandits team answered back. The FireWolves and Bandits were tied 2-2 when the Bandits got on a four goall run to change the landscape of the game. The second quarter saw the Bandits ramp up the intensity and physicality. It seemed as though any time Albany made a mistake, the Bandits made them pay. Buffalo led at the half 10-4.
The FireWolves came out in the second half with more focus. Taking advantage of Bandits penalties, Albany got on a four goal run themselves to tighten the game heading to the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter Buffalo got back on track with two goals just 0:17 seconds apart to start the quarter. Although Albany kept fighting, the Bandits were able to keep pressing forward for the 16-10 victory.
To The Game:
The FireWolves got on the board first on the power-play when Ethan Walker converted an Alex Simmons pass from the side of the net at 2:13, but Chris Cloutier answered with a high to low laser off a Josh Byrne pass at 3:39.
The Bandits took the lead when Ian MacKay gathered a rebound from the doorstep off a Dhane Smith pass at 4:13, but the FireWolves tied it once again when Carson Moyer scored while being pulled down off a John Piatelli pass at 5:51.
Buffalo took the lead when Matt Spanger scored in transition with a high to low shot shortside off a Nick Weiss pass at 9:56, followed by Chase Fraser from the top of the crease off a Dhane Smith pass at 10:49.
Dhane Smith got on the board with a bounced shot from th outside off a Josh Byrne pass 0:38 seconds later, followed by Byrne finding the far corner off a Smith feed at 12:19.
Andrew Kidd replaced Doug Jamieson in the Albany net.
Albany got one back when Alex Simmons scored from in close off a Tye Kurtz pass at 13:45.
Air Simmons in front ✈️
— NLL (@NLL) February 2, 2025
💻: ESPN+ (https://t.co/SODEBAunWF), NLL+ & TSN+ pic.twitter.com/dkohFWsY6U
After one quarter, Buffalo 6 Albany 3.
Second Quarter:
The Bandits opened the second quarter scoring on the power-play when Dhane Smith came in all alone scoring to the shortside off a Josh Byrne pass at 1:00, followed by Josh Byrne with a sidearm snipe off an Ian MacKay pass to the far side at 5 :42.
Albany got one back when Tye Kurtz scored with a quick stick from the side of the net off an Alex Simmons feed at 7:06.
The Bandits stopped the FireWolves momentum once again with a power-play goal from Josh Byrne with a high to low shot off a Dhane Smith pass at 11:11, followed by Tehoka Nanticoke diving across the crease off a Smith pass 0:43 seconds later.
Tehoka Nanticoke to the net ‼️ @NLLBandits pic.twitter.com/hESRQeJlOn
— NLL (@NLL) February 2, 2025
At the half, Buffalo 10 Albany 4.
Of note, in the first half, Nick Weiss had his 100th career assist and Matt Vinc passed 16,000 career minutes played.

Third Quarter:
The Bandits got on the board with an absolute beauty from Chase Fraser with a behind the back shot off a Dhane Smith pass at 3:00.
Chase Fraser goals are a walking piece of art 🤌
— NLL (@NLL) February 2, 2025
Take a bow — We'll get @SportsCenter on the phone! #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/wytswhjhVD
On a two man advantage Albany scored when Ethan Walker converted a Tye Kurtz pass from in front at 5:38, followed by Alex Simmons, also on the power-play, with a high to high laser off a Travis Longboat pass at 6:20. Longboat continued the FireWolves run scoring to the shortside off a Sam Firth pass at 9:13, followed by Tye Kurtz with a low to low shot off an Alex Simmons feed at 11:21.
After three quarters, Buffalo 11 Albany 8.
Fourth Quarter:
Tehoka Nanticoke got Buffalo back on track with a goal from in close off a Chase Fraser pass at 2:31, followed by Dhane Smith with a power move to the net scoring off the crossbar off a Cam Wyers pass 0:17 seconds later.
The FireWolves fought back again on the power-play when Ethan Walker hit a low to low shot off a Travis Longboat pass at 4:45, but Buffalo scored shorthanded when Josh Byrne dove across the crease at 9:27.
Ian MacKay fought his way through a few checks to the net off a Tehoka Nanticoke pass shorthanded at 11:19, followed by a Bandits power-play goal by Josh Byrne unassisted at 12:45.
John Piatelli got one more for the FireWolves with 1:24 left, but it was too little too late.
Final score, Buffalo 16 Albany 10.
The Three Stars:
1. Dhane Smith
2. Alex Simmons
3. Josh Byrne
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Buffalo 54-48.
- The faceoff battle was won by Albany 17-14.
- The loose ball battle went to the Bandits 64-61.
- Albany went 4 for 9 on the power-play.
- Buffalo went 2 for 4 on the power-play, but also scored two shorthanded goals.
Top Scorers:
Albany FireWolves:
- Alex Simmons 2g, 5a
- Ethan Walker 3g, 1a
- Tye Kurtz 2g, 2a
Buffalo Bandits:
- Josh Byrne 5g, 5a
- Dhane Smith 3g, 7a
- Chase Fraser 2g, 3a
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET) on StreamPunkEnt.com
