The Buffalo Bandits announced that the team has signed forward Josh Byrne to a five-year contract extension, pending league approval. The extension will begin next season and will run through the 2028-29 season.
Byrne (6’3”, 207 lbs., 4/15/1994) is currently playing in his sixth season with the Bandits and has posted 40 points (17+23) through the team’s first six games of the season. Byrne leads the Bandits in goals (17) and is tied for the team lead in points (40) this season. Last season, Byrne totaled 93 points (43+50) and set a career high in goals. He set career highs in assists (62), points (99) and loose ball-recoveries (74) during the 2021-22 season.
Byrne led the Bandits to the 2023 NLL Championship after posting 33 points (15+18) in four playoff games. He ranked tied for second in goals, third in assists and tied for third in points among all NLL players in the postseason. He scored the game-winning goal for the Bandits on May 12 against Toronto, and on June 6 against Colorado.
Byrne has registered 392 points (165+227) and 324 loose-ball recoveries in 77 career regular-season games. He ranks fourth in points (392), fourth in assists (227) and fifth in goals (165) all-time in Bandits franchise history in the regular season. In 14 career postseason games, Byrne has totaled 81 points (32+49) and 60 loose-ball recoveries. Byrne ranks third in assists (49), fourth in goals (32) and fourth in points (81) all-time in Bandits franchise history in playoff games.
Byrne was Buffalo’s first-round selection (first overall) in the 2017 NLL Entry Draft. Byrne earned All-Rookie honors and was a finalist for NLL Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season after setting a new rookie franchise record in points (63) and assists (37).
The New Westminster, British Columbia native has represented Canada at an international level on numerous occasions, winning a gold medal at the 2022 World Games, and a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.
