Skip to main content

Goalie Anthony Cosmo, the National Lacrosse League’s all-time leader with 7,222 career saves, announced his retirement Friday after 17 seasons playing professional indoor lacrosse.

Cosmo, a five-time NLL All-Star, played for four different teams. He spent his final six seasons with the Buffalo Bandits. For his career, he appeared in 258 regular season games with a goals against average of 10.96 and made the playoffs 13 times.

“It’s time that I listen to my body and the needs of my young family,” said Cosmo, who turned 40 earlier this month. “I would like to thank the NLL and the organizations that I have played with for giving me the opportunity to make a childhood dream come true.”

The Mississauga, Ontario, native was drafted by the Rochester Knighthawks 15th overall in the 1998 NLL Entry Draft, but made his NLL debut with the Toronto Rock in 2001. After four years in Toronto, including back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003, he was traded to the San Jose Stealth. While with the Stealth, Cosmo won the 2007 Goaltender of the Year award and was named to the All-Pro First Team that same year. Cosmo was selected first overall in the 2009 NLL Expansion Draft by the Boston Blazers, where he was selected to the All-Pro Second Team from 2009-2011.

Cosmo is the Bandits’ all-time leader in games played by a goaltender (97) and saves (3,043). Cosmo also set the NLL record for the most saves in a single season with 752 in 2014. He came to Buffalo in 2012 in a trade with the Minnesota Swarm and helped the team to four playoff appearances in his six years. Cosmo played 4,381 minutes with the Bandits, posting a 12.20 goals against average and also adding 45 assists. Cosmo will join the Bandits as a goaltender coach this season.

“I look forward to seeing where my new role with the Bandits takes me in trying to win the elusive Champion’s Cup,” he said.