With the CBA issue finally resolved, player movement has begun, as we approach the shortened training camps beginning this weekend. The Buffalo Bandits announced today a huge signing of the reigning Goalie of the Year Matt Vinc to a three-year contract. The Bandits were already shaping up to be one of the top teams heading into this season, but with the addition of Vinc they will definitely be one of the toughest teams to play in the league, especially now on defense.
A native of St. Catherine’s, Ontario, Vinc will be returning to the city of Buffalo where he starred as a defenseman for Canisius College from 2002-2005. He was drafted sixth overall by the San Jose Stealth in 2005 and has had a tremendous 13-year NLL career with the Stealth, the New York/Orlando Titans, and most recently with the Rochester Knighthawks. He has been selected as Goalie of the Year six times (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018) as well as recording a 98-81 regular season record along with a .782 career save percentage and 10.87 goals against average. In the playoffs, he boasts a 19-10 record, .779 save percentage, and goals against average of 10.65 goals per game.
Vinc won three straight NLL Championships with the Knighthawks in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Vinc has also won world championships with the Canadian national team at the 2006 and 2014 World Field Lacrosse Championships as a defenseman and the 2011 and 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships as a goalie.
Vinc was the backbone of the Rochester Knighthawks championship teams. He nearly won his fourth championship last season as the Knighthawks fell in the 2018 championship to the Saskatchewan Rush. He will bring more than just his hall-of-fame caliber goaltending skills to the Bandits. His veteran presence in the locker room and his leadership on defense will transform the way the Bandits play. He flat out knows how to win and will make it even harder for opposing teams to play in Banditland with his knowledge and ability to make ridiculous saves.
At the age of 36, Vinc still has a few years left to solidify his hall of fame status and bring a championship to Buffalo. He has shown no signs of slowing down and most recently won the Mann Cup this past summer with the Peterborough Lakers. His roots in Buffalo are strong from his time playing at Canisius, where he is already in the Canisius Hall of Fame, and he will also be closer to home as St. Catherines is less than hour away from Buffalo. He is a world class field lacrosse defenseman as well as being one of the best indoor goalies of all time. He brings an athleticism to the goalie position that has allowed him to be so successful throughout his career.
Look for Matt Vinc to help make the Buffalo Bandits serious NLL Championship contenders this season and expect to see some clutch saves like the one he had to win the 2013 NLL Championship.
BONUS: Check out today’s Lacrosse Classified podcast with San Diego Seals president Steve Govett and Colorado Mammoth assistant coach Andrew McBride. Click here!
