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NLL Buffalo Bandits

Bandits address offensive needs through 2005 NLL Entry Draft

August 29, 2005 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Buffalo Bandits News Release


Buffalo, N.Y. (August 29, 2005) --- In the 17th annual National Lacrosse League Entry Draft, Buffalo Bandits General Manager, Kurt Silcott addressed the team's need for left-handed offense with their first two selections in the draft.

With the tenth-overall selection, Buffalo chose Jeff Shatler, who appeared in 22 games for the Brampton Excelsiors of the Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior ‘A' league during the 2005 regular season, ranking second on the team in goals (30), assists (27) and points (57).

In 13 playoff games, he led the Excelsiors in goals (14), and ranked second in assists (18) and points (32).

With the first of the team's two-second round selections (13th overall), the team picked Roger Vyse. In 17 games for the Limestone Saints during 2005, Vyse led the team in goals (71) and points (100), while ranking second in assists (29). Vyse was named pre-season All-American Honorable Mention by Inside Lacrosse. The Bandits traded the team's first-round selection in the 2006 NLL Entry Draft to acquire the pick from Calgary.

"In Shatler and Vyse, the front office feels that the team has acquired the two best left-handed offensive players available in this draft," stated Silcott. "In preparation for the draft, the organization looks at the available talent in comparison to next year's draft. We felt that if Vyse was available during the 2006 NLL Entry Draft, he would be a top-five caliber player, so we therefore made the trade with Calgary to secure the 13th overall selection. Both of these players have the potential to be potent weapons in our offense."

With the team's final second-round selection (21st overall) the Bandits selected Mike Poulin. In 22 games for the Orangeville Northmen (OLA Junior ‘A') during the 2005 regular season, Poulin recorded 10 assists and two penalty minutes. In 11 playoff games, he registered six assists.

In the fourth-round (42nd overall), Buffalo selected Ian Llord of the St. Catharines Athletics (OLA Junior ‘A'). In five regular-season games, Llord recorded three goals and four assists for seven points, while logging eight penalty minutes.

With Buffalo's fifth-round selection (53rd overall), the Bandits chose Kyle Schmelze. In 20 regular-season games for the Niagara Thunderbirds (OLA Junior ‘A') during the 2005 season, Schmeze recorded 11 goals and six assists for 17 points, while notching 10 penalty minutes. In five playoff games, he recorded a goal and an assist.

With the team's final selection in the 2005 Entry Draft, Buffalo picked Gene Tundo Jr. from the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in the sixth round (65th overall). Tundo appeared in 14 games for UMASS during the 2005 regular season, recording 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points. In 60 career games, he scored 50 goals and added 66 assists for 113 points.

The Orchard Park, N.Y. native learned lacrosse from his father, Gene Tundo, Sr., who is considered a lacrosse pioneer in the Western New York area. While at Orchard Park High School, the younger Tundo scored 62 goals and 81 assists for 143 points as a senior.

By the time of his graduation from high school, the ECAC Co-Rookie of the Year in 2002 had been named a high school All-American, a two-time All-Western New York selection and a four-time All-Conference honoree.

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