Player Spotlight

Player Spotlight highlights the finer details and elements while supplying insight to the fans on what a player's thought process may be pertaining to a certain play, game or situation. It brings the intensity, passion, and inner most thoughts of the individual player that otherwise may not be felt or heard.



In just his second pro season, Pat Maddalena is becoming one of the Buffalo Bandits' most consistent offensive performers. At 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, he's also one of the league's fastest players. Pat shared a few words with PLPA correspondent Tom Borrelli after the game.




Question How has your confidence level changed from your first season to your second?
Answer It's more comfort than anything else, understanding what it takes to win and be a better player in this league. A lot of it is what you do away from the floor because we don't practice very often. Plus my confidence is up. When we get on a roll, it just snowballs.


Question Are you less nervous as a second-year player?
Answer Last year when I'd make the walk down the tunnel to go out for the game, I'd be shaking. Now I'm more able to stay level throughout the whole thing. I'm able to focus better as the opening faceoff nears.


Question How much fun is it to play with some of the veterans on this Bandits team?
Answer It's just awesome. I remember watching Richie Kilgour and J.T. (John Tavares) in '92 and '93 when I was about 13-14 years old. I can remember coming here to see them play and now being on the field with them is just an awesome feeling for me. Playing with guys like that definitely helps to relieve the pressure.


Question What's the most fun part of playing in Buffalo?
Answer The players are so talented and they want to win so badly. It's lot of fun to be in that type of situation. Plus, it's close to home (he's from Thorold, Ontario).


Question How is it to play in a run-and-gun system?
Answer Mr. (Jim) Brady in Junior A tried to implement the same style in our offense in Burlington and I was very successful in that style. We certainly didn't have all the talent that we have here. It's very enjoyable having so many chances to score.


Question What part of your game still needs the most work?
Answer Definitely my defensive awareness. The ability is there but it's the focus and the intensity. I lack intensity on defense sometimes. If I carried the same intensity I do on the open floor in fast breaks on offense then I'd be a truly good defensive player.


Question Are you at all worried that six of your last eight games will be played away from HSBC Arena?
Answer Truthfully, I think it will be good for us to get on the road. As a team we get to do that bonding stuff. It's something you sometimes need. At home, you can have the distractions of friends and family. On the road, you get to hang out as a team, hang out with guys you don't normally at home.


Question What's your favorite road arena to play in?
Answer It was Maple Leaf Gardens, that's for sure. Of the remaining games, I'd say Philly was a truly different experience. I wasn't prepared for 16,000 people. Their fans are very knowledgeable about the game.


Question Do have a role model among the veteran players?
Answer I always liked Gaits and John Tavares play but the guys who taught me the most were Darris Kilgour and Randy Mearns, just being my coaches in field lacrosse. I've got give them credit for being good role models in terms of lacrosse. They're both great leaders and both intense players. Those five players are definitely the ones I look up to the most.


Question Who has been the toughest opposing goaltender in the league to face?
Answer Patty O'Toole, no doubt about that. He plays a different style than I'm used to. He's very quick and he plays on the goal line a lot.


Question Who's the toughest defender to beat one-on-one?
Answer Patty Coyle is a great defenseman but our team doesn't play a one-on-one game so I don't try to go one-on-one against anyone. Kyle Couling is also a great defenseman.


Question Are you still as excited to play the game now as when you first broke in?
Answer Yes, we're rolling and this team is a lot of fun to be around. The emotion level for me is always the same. I'm always excited and very energetic to play, no matter what game or what season it is.


Question Who in this league is faster than you?
Answer I'd probably say Steve Toll and Kip Fulks, Josh Black, too. Maybe I'm fourth in that race. Maybe Chris Seller, too. Those guys are definitely very fast. I'd put Kip Fulks at the top of that list.


PLPA Correspondent

Tom Borrelli, fell in love with lacrosse while writing for his school campus paper "The Record" as a student at Buffalo State College in 1977.

He has seen and covered over 1000 games at all levels which includes the Buffalo Bandits for the Buffalo News since their inception in 1991, NCAA Tournament games, Final Four Championships, upstate New York schools games, the Canadian Mann Cup Championship, the OLA Major Box Lacrosse Series, the Buffalo Gamblers of the OLA Major Series and high school events.

Tom presently writes for the Buffalo News and does extensive feature writing for Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. Between pro box, college and high school field and OLA box lacrosse Tom attends about 50 to 60 games a year (and Dick Vitale thinks he has it made with hoops!) The PLPA is happy to have Tom on board as a contributing writer for the Player Spotlight.



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