Danielle, who is in her third year as a Buffalo Bandette, loves to stay busy. If there happens to be a moment of downtime, then she'll try to fill it. She has a full-time job as a sales rep., spends time with her family, practices at least twice a week, and has even been working on a house that she just purchased with her husband. And for Danielle, trying out to become a Bandette was one of the best decisions that she ever made, as it has helped her in one significant way.
While this is only Richelle's 3rd year as a Bandette, it's her 5th cheering and dancing at HSBC Arena in the pros. Before she started cheering on the lacrosse team, she spent 2 seasons as a Buffalo Bombshell, cheering on the former Buffalo Destroyers in Arena Football. She's been dancing since the age of 2 and one has to wonder if her dancing was what got her on stage at the Arena last January. Anyone who was at the Bon Jovi performance at HSBC Arena last year may know what I'm talking about...she and Danielle were the girls brought up on stage at that show. You can read more about Richelle on the Bandits site at http://www.bandits.com/bandette-07_richelle.cfm and check out her video profile at http://www.bandits.com/multimedia.cfm?id=305&media=video
This week, Phantom Angel captain Jamie R takes the spotlight as our Jill of the Week. 2007 will be her 6th with the squad, a Jills career that includes a Pro Bowl appearance following the 2004 season. This devoted Buffalonian not only dances on the sidelines herself, but teaches dance as well in addition to working on a career in chemical engineering. You can read more about Jamie in the files section of the webgroup (registration required) and check out her hot swimsuit photos at FCI's site
It was round 1 of the NLL playoffs at HSBC Arena on Sunday when the Buffalo Bandits played host to the Minnesota Swarm. A half-size but raucous crowd watched as the Bandits fell behind 8-7 at the half then shut out the visiting Swarm the rest of the way to claim a 14-8 win and a ticket to a 2nd rd matchup in Rochester April 27th. There's a possibility that this could have been the last home game for the 2007 Bandettes to perform at and they put on outstanding performances all game long to leave the crowd something to remember them by. http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/bandettes/2007/Rd%201/
Of course, there's also a chance that these same Bandettes will get the chance to perform one final time this season. If the Bandits are successful in upending the Knighthawks Friday night, the NLL Title game will be hosted at HSBC Arena and the Bandettes will be on hand to put on more brilliant performances.
This week's Bandette of the Week, 2nd year Bandette Meghan, has been dancing her whole life, probably even in the crib. She danced at the American Academy of Ballet and is using her experience not only on the floor at the Bandits games, but as a ballet teacher, sharing her love of dance with the next generation. Besides dance, she is also a proud mother whose young daughter has become a huge Bandits fan...she even does the B-O-X cheer that the fans do whenever an opponent gets set to the penalty box. You can read more about Meghan at http://www.bandits.com/bandette-07_meghan.cfm and check out her video profile at http://www.bandits.com/multimedia.cfm?id=309&media=video
This week, we have not one, but two Jills of the Week. Why? Because they're pictured together on the calendar. I'm talking of course about the twins, Jenica and Jessica. They definitely made everyone at the 1st round of tryouts do a double take when they came out to audition for the squad. They have a lot more than looks in common, too. They each want to learn to golf and when asked who they most admired, they each said her twin sister. There are some things they don't have in common, of course. Sadly, one of those things is that Jessica won't be back with the Jills this fall, not being as much a fan of the spotlight as she thought she would be. Well, sorry Jessica...you have 1 more week of it here..lol. Jenica, on the other hand, is returning to the Jills this year. She had to miss the open workshop due to her tour in Iraq with the rest of the "Phantom Angels" performing for, and visiting with, the US troops stationed over there. You can read more about the twins in the files section of the webgroup(registration required) and check out their pics at Fisher Creative Image Photography's site http://www.fishercreativeimage.com/Jills/individual.html#jenica
Second year Bandette, Amanda F., got involved with dance at the age of five. And while most of the girl's mothers got them involved in dancing, it was actually her father that pushed her into it. It's no wonder that her most memorable moments dancing were the father-daughter dances.
The Bandits finished out their regular season home games in disappointing fashion on 3 different levels. First, star goalie Steve "Chugger" Dietrich hurt his knee in the 1st and is awaiting the results of an MRI to find out if he'll be back for the playoffs. Second, the Bandits 8-game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Rochester Knighthawks. Finally, that loss also guaranteed Rochester home field throughout the playoffs, meaning that Bandits fans have to hope that the Knighthawks lose in the 1st rd of the playoffs in order for the Bandits to host the Eastern Championship Game.
Luckily, the Bandits still have 1 more game at home guaranteed, in a 1st rd matchup against the Minnesota Swarm on April 22nd at 2pm. This could be your last chance to see the 2007 Bandits in person....as well as your last chance to see the 2007 Buffalo Bandettes Dance Squad taking the field.
Something that long-time Bandettes fans may have noticed this year is that Erin J has been coaching the squad on her own this year, with a little bit of assistance from ex-Bandette and Bombshell Jaclyn. It used to be that the Bandettes had 2 full-time coaches and, with the exception of a few routines choreographed by each captain each year, most of the routines were of the coaches' design. This year, a number of the individual Bandettes have stepped up and used their own dance experience to help choreograph routines of their own. Besides spreading out the work load, this has also helped the squad bond, which makes their performances all the better.
Here's a few pics, as well as a few video clips, from the game.
Alexis Scalzi's father remembers his little girl as a fighter.Born at just two pounds, she survived her shaky start to life, but last June, at age two, Lexi wandered into her family's backyard swimming pool and drowned. Shortly after Lexi died, Scalzi learned about pool alarms. They are devices that are designed to sound an alarm, both at the pool and inside the house, if a child enters the water.The Scalzis decided that every pool in Western New York should have one, to make sure that no other parent would go through what they are enduring. The Lexi's Legacy fundraiser is being held April 15 at Samuel's Grande Manor at 8750 Main Street in Williamsville. The entrance fee is $20 per person and includes food and beverages. Kids ten and under may attend the event free of charge.The event includes a Chinese auction. So far, the Scalzis have collected about 50 gift baskets for the auction. Their goal is to have 100 baskets. http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=46386&provider=top
The Buffalo Bandettes will be in attendance for this event from 1-5, signing posters and helping out with the auction. It's a great cause as well as a great opportunity to see some of the Bandettes.
This is Erin H's 4th season as a Bandette and her 2nd as a captain. She's been dancing since the age of 5 and when not dancing, she's a creative director with the American Advertising Federation, a trade association that represents over 50,000 professionals in the advertising industry. You can read more about Erin at http://www.bandits.com/bandette-07_erinh.cfm and don't forget to check out her video profile at http://www.bandits.com/multimedia.cfm?id=302&media=video
Christina R, going into her second season, is our current Jill of The Week and she's a girl who's almost never without a smile. She's been dancing for 17 of her nearly 20 years and hopes to one day open up her own dance studio...when she has the free time after her job of hopefully taking over on the Today Show or Good Morning America. You can read more about Christina in the files section of the webgroup (registration required) and check out her hot swimsuit photos taken by the Jills' Official Photographers at http://www.fishercreativeimage.com/Jills/individual.html#christinar
Third year Bandette, Sarah, loves modern dance, because it allows her to express herself as well as being able to create pieces that doesn't necessarily have to be showy. It also allows her to add personal and world events into her dance style.
The Buffalo Bandits played host to the Arizona Sting Saturday night in an attempt to clinch at least one home playoff game. For the 1st ten minutes of the game, it looked like it was going to be a nail-biter all the way. That soon changed as the Bandits poured on an offensive onslaught piling on 15 goals while holding the visiting Sting to a mere 5 goals on 48 shots.
Perennial All-Star John Tavares was held to a single goal so Mark Steenhuis, Roger Vyse, and 1st rd pick Brett Bucktooth each put in 3 goals to pick up the slack. Some others stepped up in the game as well. Down one of their captains, out with the flu (get well soon, Erin), the remaining Bandettes stepped up in her absence and put on strong performances all game long.
Pregame, the Bandettes were out signing posters again and for anyone who hasn't gotten one yet, time's running out on your chance to get all 14 of the girls to sign one for you at once. Show up early for Friday's matchup against the rival Rochester Knighthawks as the Bandettes will need to head in for the game around 7pm.
4th year vet and 3rd year captain Erin Y is our current Bandette of The Week. She brings over 19 years of dance experience to the squad including a season as a Buffalo Bombshell in 2003 along with squadmates Richelle, and Jaclyn and 4 Buffalo Jills as seen at http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a9/buffalobombshells/2003/ . Even newly-married, she's still a kid at heart. Walt Disney is the person in history she most admires because he created a whole world with a pencil and a dream and obviously, she could spend the rest of her life at Disney World and never get bored. Read more about her at http://www.bandits.com/bandette-07_eriny.cfm and check out her video profile at http://www.bandits.com/multimedia.cfm?id=311&media=video
Our current Jill of The Week is Stefanie, a beauty who's returning this fall for her second season on the sidelines. Along with seven of her squadmates, she went to Iraq about a month ago and made more and more guys wish they were back home. It wasn't all about quickening pulses, however. She and her squadmates had to get imaginative for a few shows near the end of the tour as the bag with her performance gear got delayed between bases but was recovered in time for the last show. You can read more about Stefanie in the files section of the webgroup (registration required) and check out her in hot swimwear at FCI's official site http://www.fishercreativeimage.com/Jills/individual.html#stefanie
Check this site http://buffalojillswebgroup.pbwiki.com/ for a look at the names of the girls (the vets, anyway...rookie names will be matched up with faces as we learn them...so don't forget to check back) All together, 22 of the 35 girls on the roster at the end of the 2006 season have returned as well as one other familiar face...Melissa from the 2004-2005 squads. 18 rookies join these 23 seasoned vets in hopes of cheering the Bills all the way to the Super Bowl in Arizona
Fourth year Bandette Kimberly dances because it's something she loves to do, and it allows her to express herself through the type of dance and the music.
Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena was the setting as members of the Buffalo Sabres Alumni squared off against the Labatt Blue All-Stars in a charity hockey game to benefit the Lakers' Sled Hockey program, the Special Olympics skating program and the ice arena. Former Sabres stars like Morris Titanic, Daryl Shannon, and Rob Ray took the ice for the Sabres Alumni and former Buffalo Bills kicker Steve Christie was on hand to drop the puck for the opening faceoff. Also on hand were 3rd year vet Katie K and rookie Katherine K of the Buffalo Jills. They met and greeted the fans and even got to drop the puck for the opening faceoff of the 2nd period as well as pose for pictures with fans and mascots. Here are a few photos of those 2 lovely ladies.
The Buffalo Bandits continued their 4-game homestand against the expansion Chicago Shamrox Saturday night with a win that guaranteed them a playoff spot. A strong 10-3 1st half was followed by a weak 1-5 3rd quarter which gave the 16, 228 fans in attendance reason to be concerned. They finished off with a solid 4th quarter to cruise to a 15-10 victory.
One part of the team stayed solid from start to finish, however. And that part was, of course, the beautiful and talented Bandettes. They signed posters before the game and put on some great dance performances throughout the game, dancing to everything from a few country songs to pop to Bon Jovi and everything in between.
