Eight individuals are part of this year's class for the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame, with two having spent the majority of their careers with the Buffalo Bandits.
The NLL announced Mark Steenhuis as an inductee in the offensive player category. He spent 15 seasons with the Bandits, scoring more than 1,000 points in his pro career with his staple orange shoes and fan-favorite personality.
Broadcaster John Gurtler was also announced as a hall of fame inductee. He’s been the TV and radio voice of the Bandits since 2004.
But the connections to Buffalo in this year's class does not end there.
Halifax Thunderbirds head coach Mike Accursi is being inducted in the veteran category. As a player, Accursi spent eight of his 18 seasons in the NLL with the Bandits across two different stints. He won the NLL Finals, along with Steenhuis, in 2008.
Forward Shawn Evans is also part of the NLL Hall of Fame class this year. He spent the majority of his 1,300-plus point career in Calgary and Rochester, but was with Buffalo for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. That included a run to the NLL Finals, where the Bandits would fall to Evans' former team in Calgary.
"As both a fan of this game and a student of the game’s history, it is a privilege to celebrate the individuals whose accomplishments helped build the National Lacrosse League into what it is today," said NLL Commissioner Brett Frood. "This year’s ballot reflected an extraordinary collection of talent and achievement, making the selection process especially competitive. That speaks not only to the remarkable careers of this year’s inductees, but also to the depth of excellence throughout our League’s history."
All eight inductees will be formally honored by the league in a special ceremony in September at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls. According to the NLL, exact details and information on how fans can attend will be released at a later date.
