By TOM BORRELLI
If it ain’t broke, then don’t try to fix it. That’s how the Major Indoor Lacrosse League is approaching the 1993 season.
After enjoying an improved season at the gate in 1992, in no small pan because of the success of the expansion Buffalo Bandits, the MILL is standing pat for this year.
“We’re working to make 1993 even more successful than 1992,” MILL administrative assistant Amy Gagne said from the league office in Kansas City. “I think the main concern is not to move too quickly. Our goal is to strengthen the markets we have now.”
The MILL pondered expansion in the off-season. Charlotte. Chicago. Kansas City and Toronto were a few of the cities mentioned as possible candidates in Philadelphia last season during championship weekend.
“I think the league is being wise,” Bandits General Manager John Mouradian said.
Last year was a year that was a lot better financially from the year before. The year before was really kind of a disaster for the league. There are still a lot of susceptible markets. We need to take care of some of the existing markets financially.”
The Bandits, who averaged 13,821 per home game last season, were second only to the Philadelphia Wings (14,860) in that category. But the New York Saints (11.562) were the only other team to average more than 10.000 per home game.
Lagging behind were Baltimore (9,313), Detroit (8,356). Pittsburgh (7,381) and Boston (6,859). “If it hadn’t been for Buffalo, the league probably would have had to make some difficult decisions financially,” Mouradian said. “I think this is a big year for the league. Most businesses operate in five-year plans. Well, we’re now in the middle of our second five-year plan.”
The MILL’S seventh season will mirror the sixth in terms of alignment. Buffalo will play in the National Division along with the Detroit Turbos. Boston Blazers and Pittsburgh Bulls. Philadelphia. New York and the Baltimore Thunder compose the American Division.
First up for the Bandits are the Bulls, the only team which didn’t make the playoffs last season.
Saturday is a big day for sports in the Steel City with the Buffalo Bills facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC playoffs at 12:30 p.m. at Three Rivers Stadium and the Pittsburgh Penguins meeting the Calgary Flames at 12:35 p.m. at the Civic Arena — all before the first MILL faceoff at 8 p.m.
“You’re probably talking about 72,000 people being out of the market for our game,” Bulls media relations director Chris Lovejoy said. “We’re hoping we can get a lot of the Buffalo people here for the game.
There will be plenty of seats left. An optimistic outlook right now for us would be about 7,000 for our game on Saturday.” Civic Arena’s capacity for lacrosse is 16,164.
The Bulls (3-5 last year) enter their fourth season still looking for their first winning campaign.
“Playing Buffalo is very motivational for us,” said the Bulls’ Dave Pietramala. a first-team all-star last season. “Any time you play the champions of any sport, you get excited. They’re the best team. We’ve got to try to keep them from fast-breaking.”
Pietramala, one of the most talented players ever to come out of Johns Hopkins University, had 10 goals and 12 assists last season.
Pittsburgh’s roster also includes Brian Nikula, a player the Bandits traded before last season started.
There will be a few new faces on the Detroit Turbos (6-2), who won the division title last season by a game over the Bandits. Gone is head coach Medo Martinello, who has been replaced by Shane Sanderson. Gerry Hiltz, a Bandit last season, was traded to Detroit for Jon Lantzy.
Three-year veteran forward Peter Parke (23 goals. 11 assists. 34 points) and goalie Ted Sawicki will anchor the Turbos. …
The Boston Blazers (3-5) have a new coach in John Yeager, who replaces Peter Lasagna. Leading scorer Tom Carmean (10-13-23) returns.
The Philadelphia Wings (3-5), who got hot in the post-season and lost to the Bandits in overtime in the championship game, figure to pose the biggest challenge to Buffalo.
Paul Gait (33-20-53) and Gary Gait (27-22-49), the top two scorers in the MILL in ’92, have been traded to the Wings from Detroit.
The Gaits have both been first-team all-pros in both of their pro seasons. … The Baltimore Thunder (3-5), perhaps the league’s most balanced team last season, has added a big name in John Tucker (16-21-37), who was fifth in the league in scoring with Philadelphia last season.
Also back are Jeff Jackson (23-13-36) and Rick Sowell (13-22-35). Tucker and Sowell were first-team all-stars last year…
The defending division champion New York Saints (5-3) are the only team the Bandits won’t face in the regular season this year. The Saints are anchored by first-team all-league goalie Sal LoCascio.
