The 2025 National Lacrosse League Cup was determined on Saturday with the Buffalo Bandits defeating the Saskatchewan Rush 15-6. With the win, the Bandits won the best out of three series two games to one.
The 18 active Canadians on the Bandits roster were forward Kyle Buchanan of Nepean, Ontario, forward Josh Byrne of New Westminster, British Columbia, forward Chris Cloutier of Kitchener, Ontario, defenseman Paul Dawson of Oakville, Ontario, forward Chase Fraser of Vancouver, British Columbia, transition player Ian MacKay of Port Elgin, Ontario, defenseman Justin Martin of Oakville, Ontario, transition Kiel Matisz of Stoney Creek, Ontario, forward Tehoka Nanticoke of Six Nations, Ontario, forward Lukas Nielsen of New Westminster, British Columbia, goaltender Steve Orleman of Kitchener, defenseman Steve Priolo of St. Catharines, Ontario. defenseman Dylan Robinson of Pickering, Ontario, forward Dhane Smith of Kitchener, goaltender Matt Vinc of St. Catharines, transition Nick Weiss of Port Hope, Ontario, transition Thomas Whitty of St. Catharines, and defenseman Cam Wyers of Ottawa, Ontario.
On Saturday, Buffalo’s leading scorer was Byrne (four goals and five assists for nine points). The other Canadians to score for the Bandits in game three were Smith and Cloutier (three goals each), Buchanan (two goals), and Fraser, Wyers, and MacKay (one goal each). The NLL Finals MVP was MacKay as he had 16 goals and eight assists for 24 points in six playoff games. Smith was the NLL Offensive Player of the Year for 2025. He led the NLL in assists (102), and points (134).
