Staff

Craig Rybczynski enters his 25th in the National Lacrosse League as the Rochester Knighthawks' Lacrosse Operations Manager. Rybczynski also serves as the team's play-by-play broadcaster.

He works closely with General Manager and Vice President of Lacrosse Operations Dan Carey and oversees the overall game operations and logistics for all lacrosse events. His primary responsibilities include monitoring news sources to stay up-to-date with the changing lacrosse environment, assisting in travel accommodations and player payroll, and overseeing game day operations for the building, league officials, and the opposing team. He maintains all alumni connections and communication, assists with youth programming, and connects players with various team promotions. 

Rybczynski is the longest-tenured broadcaster in National Lacrosse League history, and in 2023-24, he will call his record 400th straight broadcast. In 2019-20, he was named the winner of the NLL's Tom Borrelli Award as the "Media Person of the Year."

Rybczynski previously served as the Knighthawks' director of communications for 20 seasons. In 2018-19, he was voted the team's Seventh Man Award winner, which recognizes hard work and commitment. In 2006, he was named the NLL's Public Relations Executive of the Year.

In 2015, he was a member of the media team for gold-medal winning Team Canada at the FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. It was his second appearance at the Worlds, having previously worked as the media relations manager for the United States National Team at the 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship in Prague. For five seasons (2010-14), he also managed the media relations for the Bowhunter Cup, which was an annual lacrosse game between the Iroquois Nationals and the United States.

His past experience also includes serving as the director of communications for the Hamilton Nationals and Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse. From 1999 to 2011, he managed the communications department for the Rochester Americans (American Hockey League). Prior to working for the Amerks and Knighthawks, Rybczynski spent two years as the assistant sports information director at Mercyhurst University. His duties included teaching two classes in the college's communications department and serving as the sports information director at the junior college, Mercyhurst North East. At Mercyhurst, his hockey media guides were honored three times as "Best in the Nation" by the College of Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Rybczynski has a B.A. in communications from Mercyhurst University and a master's degree from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He graduated in 1996 from Newhouse with a degree in newspaper journalism. The Buffalo, N.Y., native is a 1991 graduate of St. Francis High School.

Dan Ristine enters his 12^th season in the National Lacrosse League, and 7^th as the Buffalo Bandits Coordinator of Lacrosse Operations. Prior to his current role, Ristine served as a Game Day Equipment Assistant and the Game Day Assistant to the Director of Lacrosse Operations.

He works closely with the Sr. Director of Lacrosse Operations Scott Loffler, acting as team services liaison as well as overseeing the Bandits Youth Lacrosse programs.

Dan’s responsibilities include overseeing the Bandits School program, coordinating all aspects of lacrosse operations, including team travel, game day logistics, team equipment, team contracts, and immigration. Ristine manages Bandits community outreach events, donation requests for local charities and fundraisers, team auctions, UBCLL and Jr. Bandits social media accounts and websites. In addition, he travels with the team to handle logistical issues and act as the liaison between the Bandits and their opponent.

Prior to the Bandits, Ristine built a wide array of skills across multiple sports, having served as a Ticket Sales and Service Intern for the Western & Southern Open, Box Office Representative for the Buffalo Bills, Public Relations intern for the Buffalo Bisons, Community Relations Graduate Assistant for the Buffalo Sabres, and Box Office Representative for KeyBank Center. Ristine currently serves as a Field Timing Coordinator for the Buffalo Bisons, and Visiting Locker Room Attendant for the Buffalo Sabres.

Ristine has a B.A in Physical and Health Education (’09), as well as a master’s degree in Sport Administration (’14) from Canisius College. The Hamburg, N.Y. native is a 2004 graduate of Frontier High School.