Fastest/Slowest First Goal in Bandits' Game (2005 to 2023)

It took more than seven minutes for someone to score in Game One of the NLL Finals of 2016 between the Bandits and Rush. I received a tweet from a fan wondering if that was some sort of record.

And so, as a public service, I'm looking. It turns out the first goal in the first game of the final came later than any goal in more than two years, so our loyal reader was on to something. That number has been surpassed several times over the years.

Let's take a look at all recent Bandit games since 2005, including playoffs, starting with the fastest opening goal:

Time - Scorer - Team - Date
0:05 - G. Snider - Philadelphia - 1/26/08
0:07 - M. Hominuck - Buffalo - 1/26/13
0:09 - J. Walters - Rochester - 3/14/09
0:10 - D. Westervelt - Philadelphia - 1/3/09
0:11 - J. Thorimbert - Buffalo - 5/21/16*
0:13 - A. Malcom - Buffalo - 4/19/16
0:13 - M. Steenhuis - Buffalo - 3/21/09
0:13 - A. Iannucci - Philadelphia - 3/1/08
0:13 - T. Hoffarth - Vancouver - 1/21/17
0:13 - J. Byrne - Buffalo - 2/9/18

And now the slowest opening goal:

Time - Scorer - Team - Date
18:21 - J. Resetarits - Buffalo - 3/23/14
12:14 - M. Steenhuis - Buffalo - 3/13/10
11:45 - R. Staats - Halifax - 3/10/23
11:26 - J. Crosbie - Buffalo - 4/9/06*
10:51 - J. Walters - Rochester - 2/8/14
 9:52 - J. Tavares - Buffalo - 4/16/05
 9:44 - T. Kelusky - Calgary - 4/9/05
 9:26 - J. Crosbie - Buffalo - 3/4/05
 9:17 - R. O'Connor - Albany - 5/7/22*
 8:35 - R. Duch - Calgary - 5/18/19*

 * - Playoff game

Let's take this a step further. What's the longest gap between goals by a team at any point in a Bandits game in this era? It will take a little while to go back through the years, so be patient. But here are the numbers, first for the Bandits' waits from the 2007 season to the 2022-23 season:

Time - Scorer - Opponent - Date
38:39 - Steenhuis - Rochester - 2/8/14
34:13 - (None) - Orlando - 4/18/10
29:07 - Gilray - Toronto - 2/9/20
25:37 - Cloutier - Halifax - 12/28/19
25:21 - Byrne - San Diego - 3/25/23
25:16 - Small - Philadelphia - 2/15/20
24:46 - Vyse - Philadelphia - 1/26/08
24:40 - (None) - Rochester - 1/9/10
23:59 - Dostie - New York - 5/9/09*
22:17 - Benesch - Toronto - 1/10/14

And here's the list for the wait by a Bandits' opponent:

Time - Scorer - Team - Date
34:28 - McLellan - New York - 3/17/07
33:27 - Craig - Toronto - 4/30/22
30:03 - (None) - Minnesota - 4/22/07*
28:53 - Kew - Albany - 2/18/22
28:34 - Wasson-McQuigge - Chicago - 28:34
28:17 - Bining - Boston - 4/24/10
27:35 - Prossner - Portland - 12/30/06
27:27 - Wilson - Minnesota - 1/30/10
26:22 - Small - Toronto - 12/17/22
24:43 - Wailes - Philadelphia - 2/17/07

* - Playoff game

Updated through May 28, 2023

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NLL Attendance Average and Leaders

Let's see how the National Lacrosse League is doing in terms of attendance over the years, at least as far back as the website goes. 

The league advertising cracking a million fans again, which is true. And ticket sales did go up in 2023-24 - by all of 69 per game. However, Buffalo's attendance jumped by 20,187 - which eats up all of the increases and then some. The same could be said for Vancouver, which had a substantial gain. 

Year - Average
2023-24 - 7,768
2022-23 - 7,699
2021-22 - 6,865
2019-20 - 8,035
2018-19 - 9,596
2017-18 - 9,411
2017 - 9,454
2016 - 9,152
2015 - 8,970
2014 - 9,430
2013 - 9,437
2012 - 9,469
2011 - 9,322
2010 - 9,559
2009 - 10,018
2008 - 10,475
2007 - 10,293
2006 - 10,703
2005 - 10,236
2004 - 10,008

And what was the league leader's number? Buffalo is still on top, after a second straight season with a significant increase:  

Year - Team - Average
2023-24 - Buffalo - 16,974
2022-23 - Buffalo - 14,731
2021-22 - Buffalo - 9,921
2018-19 - Saskatchewan - 13,459
2017-18 - Saskatchewan - 14,639
2017 - Buffalo- 15,148
2016 - Buffalo - 15,833
2015 - Colorado - 14,787
2014 - Colorado - 15,706
2013 - Buffalo - 15,620
2012 - Buffalo - 15,918
2011 - Buffalo - 17,095
2010 - Buffalo - 16,604
2009 - Buffalo - 17,946
2008 - Colorado - 17,464
2007 - Colorado - 16,794
2006 - Colorado - 16,543
2005 - Toronto - 17,123

Updated on April 23, 2024

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