Bandits stars Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith, both MVP finalists

BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 3: Dhane Smith (92) and Josh Byrne (22) of the Buffalo Bandits celebrate after a goal against the Colorado Mammoth during the final NLL championship game at KeyBank Center on June 3, 2023 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images for NLL)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — As the Bandits prepare to defend their NLL Cup championship in their fourth straight trip to the Finals, three Buffalo players have been named finalists for National Lacrosse League awards.

Buffalo’s dynamic duo Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith are both in the running for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, while Ian McKay is a finalist for Transition Player of the Year.

Byrne, who was voted the Bandits’ MVP by his teammates, led the NLL in scoring during the regular season with 135 points (53 goals, 82 assists), two shy of the league record for Smith established in 2016. Smith, a two-time league MVP, finished second in the league with 134 points. Smith’s 101 assists surpassed his own league record.

MacKay has been a multi-faceted weapon for Buffalo this season, leading the Bandits and ranking eighth in the league with 160 turnovers, recording 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists), 19 forced turnovers and 12 blocked shots while filling faceoffs early. in season.

The winners will be announced before the Bandits visit Albany on May 17 for Game 1 of the NLL Finals.

This is the first year the league has awarded the Offensive Player of the Year award. The other finalist is New York’s Jeff Teat, who led the NLL with 58 goals and was third in points with 134. Toronto goaltender Nick Rose is the other MVP finalist, while Calgary’s Shane Simpson and Halifax’s Jake Withers join MacKay in the running for transition player of the year.