Published: March 21, 2008 11:53 pm            

BANDITS: Hard work, dedication pays off for Schmelzle

Every kid dreams of playing a professional sport, but most never get the chance. For many, a dream is the closest they’ll ever get.

Becoming a professional athlete takes years of hard work, dedication and commitment. Buffalo Bandit Kyle Schmelzle, a 22-year-old graduate of Niagara-Wheatfield High School, knows exactly what it takes.

“He epitomizes hard work,” Bandits coach Darris Kilgour said. “I knew him personally and I knew his work ethic, and he was looking to improve and make the starting lineup. I knew he would work until he was ready to play.”

Schmelzle, drafted in the fifth round (53rd overall) in the 2005 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft, began his rookie campaign in 2006 spending almost the entire season on the practice squad. He did make his NLL debut late in the season, a 14-11 Bandits loss to the Philadelphia Wings. It wasn’t much, but he did help out by racking up six loose balls. He got only one chance, though, because after the game he was again demoted to the practice squad where he stayed for the entire 2007 season.

"It was definitely frustrating, but I was young still. I knew I had the opportunity to play in my first season only because a playoff spot was locked up, but they brought me up to see what I could do. Last year I thought I would play, but I didn’t get down on myself. I used it as motivation coming into this season.”

Motivation was all he needed. This season, Schmelzle has been given his chance to prove his potential. He’s played in seven of the Bandits’ 11 games, and his work ethic has earned him a roster spot in the last four games.

“He’s a hard worker, very, very loyal,” Kilgour said. “He will definitely outwork the guy sitting next to him. You don’t find too many guys like that. A lot of guys would’ve left in his situation, but he didn’t.”

Or maybe it was his goal and an assist performance against Minnesota on Feb. 16 that opened the coach’s eyes.

“He’s always been a solid defender, we’ve got no worries about the back door,” Kilgour said of Schmelzle. “We’re looking for him to take one up the floor once in a while, create a two on one. Once he realizes he can do that, he’ll make great plays and his confidence will rise, and he will be a transition player.”

With the help of perennial all-stars like John Tavares and Mark Steenhuis, his maturation might come sooner than expected.

“It’s phenomenal what they see on the floor, and they’ve been very helpful with offensive pointers. I played with Tavares over the summer for St. Regis. He just brings so much to the game, he’s a great player.”

Playing with the hometown stars had been a lifelong dream for Schmelzle.

“I grew up watching them play,” he said. “My parents had season tickets at the Aud, and the older I got the more I thought that I could hang in there with these guys. And then two years later, I’m an active player. It’s pretty exciting.”

Here in Western New York, sometimes dreams do become reality.

        

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