Buffalo Bandits director of lacrosse operations Dave Zygaj has been selected as the National Lacrosse League's 2007 Executive of the Year, the league announced today.

In addition to player personnel duties, Zygaj has been responsible the past two years for rebuilding the Bandits' slumping popularity in Buffalo. Since Zygaj joined the organization two years ago, average attendance has risen from about 10,000 to over 15,000 per game, including a sellout crowd of 18,690 for the Bandits' home opener in January.

In addition, Zygaj serves on the NLL's Expansion Committee and the Player Relations Committee.

The NLL also announced today that Calgary Sun reporter Ty Pilson is this year's recipient of the Tom Borrelli Award, given to the Writer of the Year. Pilson has been the Sun's lacrosse beat writer since the Calgary Roughnecks franchise was established in March 2001, and also contributes to Inside Lacrosse magazine.

The award is named in honor of longtime Buffalo News lacrosse writer Tom Borrelli.

In addition, the league announced the winners of seven other awards. They are as follows:

Ticket Sales Executive of the Year - Paul Brosseau, Edmonton Rush
Marketing Executive of the Year- Tom Garrity, Minnesota Swarm
Operations Executive of the Year - Barb Kozuh, Arizona Sting
Sponsorships Executive of the Year - Yvonne Fox, Toronto Rock
Public Relations Executive of the Year - Pauline Hughes, Edmonton Rush
Equipment Manager of the Year - Ryan Gage, Rochester Knighthawks
Athletic Trainer of the Year - Dave Murray, Toronto Rock