The Vancouver Warriors’ dream season came to an end on Sunday night at Rogers Arena, where they fell 11-9 to the Buffalo Bandits in Game 2 of their National Lacrosse League semifinal series.
Despite a resilient four-goal third quarter that lifted them to an 8-6 lead, the Warriors couldn’t hold off the two-time defending champions.
Buffalo surged back with five of the game’s final six goals to sweep the best-of-three series and secure its place in the NLL Finals.
The loss, however, doesn’t overshadow the Warriors’ historic campaign. Vancouver reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and advanced to the semifinals, marking a significant step forward for the team and its fan base.
Adam Charalambides powered the Warriors’ offence with a seven-point performance (three goals, four assists), while Keegan Bal and Marcus Klarich each chipped in two goals and three assists. Kevin Crowley and Riley Loewen each added a goal to round out the scoring.
Buffalo opened the night with a quick 2-0 lead, but Vancouver answered back, tying the game 2-2 just before the first-quarter buzzer.
The Bandits carried a narrow 5-4 advantage into halftime, but Vancouver roared out of the break, netting four goals in the third quarter to flip the script and take control.
It was short-lived. From the fourth quarter onward, Buffalo showcased its championship pedigree, storming back to silence the Rogers Arena crowd and book its trip to another title series.
Both teams entered Sunday’s matchup on short rest after Game 1 in Buffalo, which saw the Bandits win at home.
The series then shifted across the continent, with both clubs travelling 2,600 miles (4,184 kilometres) west to Vancouver.
For Warriors captain Brett Mydske, the defeat stung — but the pride in the team’s growth was undeniable. Mydske said the group left everything on the floor and truly believed it could make a deep run.
In a post game scrum he continued “It’s hard to feel happy right now because there’s so much belief in this room and this team wasn’t just happy to make the playoffs — we believed we had a team that could go all the way. Credit to Buffalo; they’re two-time defending champions for a reason. But when you look at that game, every single guy gave it their all. A couple of days from now, we’ll be able to look back and feel proud of the performance.”
Mydske reflected on the team’s journey over the past two years and believes Vancouver is poised to remain a contender.
“You’ve got to learn how to lose before you can win,” he said. “We’ve made great progress. Last year we were playing playoff games, and this year we were 5-7 at one point and then rattled off seven straight wins. It’s been great to play in those high-pressure games. And trust me — we’ll be back in this situation. We’re going to contend for a cup.”
Head coach Curt Malawsky also praised the team’s resilience, noting the character of the players was what impressed him most.
“Resiliency — this is a really resilient group,” Malawsky said. “We were 5-7 at one point, but we just kept battling. Last year, we also went on a run near the end. What stands out to me is that we’ve got quality individuals in that dressing room. They truly care about the logo on the front of the jersey and about each other.”
Malawsky will stay involved with lacrosse this summer as an assistant coach with the Langley Thunder Jr. A program alongside head coach Matt Beers.
Beers, who recently completed his 13th NLL season as an assistant captain with the Warriors, will team up with Malawsky to help develop the next generation of players.
Malawsky credited local programs for fostering talent in all areas of British Columbia.
“The British Columbia Lacrosse Association does a great job developing elite athletes and lacrosse players,” he said. “It’s special to watch these guys come up through grassroots minor lacrosse, work their way up, and then get the chance to play at the highest level in front of their family and friends in their hometown. That’s pretty cool to see.”
As the Warriors enter the offseason, they do so with momentum and optimism. With a foundation of talent, a proven ability to battle through adversity, and the experience of competing on the NLL’s biggest stage,
Vancouver looks poised to reach even greater heights in the 2025-26 season.
About Sportswave
SICAMOUS HOUSEBOATS
North Delta Business Association
Delta Strong
X-Treme Threads
