Buffalo, NY, August 2, 2007 - Buffalo Bandits Director of Lacrosse Operations Dave Zygaj announced today the team has tagged midfielder Pat McCready as Buffalo's franchise player for the 2007-08 NLL season. By declaring one of the Unrestricted Free Agents on their roster as a Franchise Player, a club ensures they will retain the player's services for the upcoming season. Teams can declare up to two franchise players.

The 33-year-old native of St. Catharines, Ont., has played the last six seasons in Buffalo, scoring 167 points (59+108) in 88 games. McCready has also collected 814 loose balls as a Bandit, including a career-high and franchise record 173 in 2002. For his career, McCready has 300 points (115+185) and 1,138 loose balls in 149 games.  

McCready joined Buffalo in a trade from the Rochester Knighthawks on May 18, 2001, along with Casey Powell, Rusty Kruger and Steve Dietrich in exchange for Derek Malawsky, D'Arcy Sweet and Shawn Williams.

The Bandits have also re-signed forward Dan Teat to a one-year contract. Teat, 35, was third on Buffalo in points last season, scoring 20 goals and adding 30 assists in 16 games. Over his 11 year NLL career, the native of Brampton, Ont., has scored 474 points (239+235) in 150 games.

McCready and Teat are also teammates on the Brampton Excelsiors in Major Series Lacrosse (OLA Senior A). The Excelsiors open up their best-of-seven MSL semifinal series with the Barrie Lakeshores on Friday night.  

Source: http://www.bandits.com/newsarchive.cfm