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For the first time this season, the 5-0 Calgary Roughnecks take on their old rival, the 3-2 Colorado Mammoth (7:30 pm, NLL.com). It’s a chance for the Riggers to really put some distance between themselves and the rest of the pack in the NLL’s West Division, and a chance for the Mammoth to establish themselves as a legit contender to Calgary’s early season dominance.
The Roughnecks come off last Friday’s 13-8 win over the Minnesota Swarm and are riding a pretty nice wave of momentum. For Head Coach Troy Cordingley, it’s all about the work ethic. After their last win, Cordingley told me that is the one constant with the team, and the driving force behind their perfect start. The work ethic is helping this team in game action, as there is a total committment to the systems put in place. The work ethic is there away from the rink, when the guys get together to practice this up-tempo style the Riggers play. And it all started in training camp, one of the most intense you’d ever seen. The tone was set at the start of the season, and it has carried over through Calgary’s first 5 games.
Goaltender Paddy Campbell comes off a stellar performance last weekend which also earned him the NLL Defensive Player of the Week. So much talk surrounds Calgary’s offensive prowess, but Campbell needs to be given a ton of recognition for what he’s done so far this year. When Calgary has seen little let-downs in their play, he has been more than up to the challenge. Captain Tracey Kelusky joined Campbell as an award winner this week, earning the NLL Offensive Player of the Week for his 9 point outing. Kelusky has slowly come on and is showing there is still much more to him than just leadership and name value. There is now no question that last year was just a blip on the radar, as TK has bounced back from the concussion problems of the year previous.
22 year old Dane Dobbie continues to thrive in his role as one of the “secondary scorers” on this Riggers team. What is amazing is how this team will always have an offensive leader (see Kelusky last week), and then 3 or 4 other guys putting up solid point totals as well. Dobbie has been extremely consistent this year, putting up 3 points or more in each game so far. Along with 38 year old Curt Malawsky, they have turned into 2 of the most lethal second options in the entire NLL. Malawsky (AKA Mouse) was given the honor “of best quick stick in NLL history” by Cordingley, and that is evident every night when he converts passes from Kelusky and Josh Sanderson. To compare it to hockey; Malawsky is the master of the one-timer.
Calgary’s opponent is one of their fiercest rivals in the Mammoth. Calgary is 7-9 all time against Colorado, and 3-4 at the Pepsi Center. However, Calgary got the last laugh last year, eliminating them from postseason contention. The Mammoth are the NLL’s best success story, without a doubt. Consistently packing the Pepsi Center with 17 and 18 thousand fans, this team really does have the “home floor advantage” down pat. In a game like lacrosse, where momentum plays such a huge factor, the Mammoth know how to go on 3 and 4 goal runs at home. It’s something Calgary is aware of, and it’s actually something they enjoy. Andrew McBride told me there is nothing he likes more than rolling into Denver where he knows it’s going to be loud and hostile.
Calgary returns home for a game on Sunday, February 22nd (3 pm, FAN 960 and FAN960.com) against the Boston Blazers. Following that, the Riggers are Big Apple bound. They’ll take on Casey Powell and the New York Titans on the morning of Saturday, February 28th (10:30 am, FAN 960 and FAN960.com).
Games against the Mammoth are always a treat to watch. There is such an intense rivalry between the Necks and Colorado. The Mammoth’s crowd are phenomenal as well.
This is going to be a test for Calgary but I’m confident they’ll pull through. As you said Pat, the work ethic is there. The offense and transitional game is on fire and the defence and goaltending hasn’t been this good in about 4 or 5 years.
Any idea on when Cayle Ratcliff is going to make his pro debut? I get that we don’t want to mess with the chemistry but I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him so far.
Two weeks until the big NYC trip Pat, have fun.
PS: I love the rivalry between these 2 teams, and I think you’re right, we’re going to see Calgary’s stiffest test to date. But Calgary has proven that it doesn’t matter who is the opponent, their gameplan doesn’t change. That’s what I like about this team, they’re going to be in your face every single night. As for Cayle, it’s tough for him to get in…according to coaches, he had one of the most impressive training camps for the team, but where do you slot him in? That’s the problem right now, but as guy start to wear down and such, we’ll start to see guys like Hinman and Ratcliff play a little more. NYC should be good…the whole team is jacked up for it!
- CraigClose call last night, but I think it was expected. Sure, the Riggers were up by 4 at one point but in the NLL that is nothing. I’m sure the boys are disappointed but next Sunday should be good to see how they’ll react after their first loss of the season. I know you’ll be focused on Sunday, but watch out in NYC, I’ve heard Boomer and Kerr trying to bribe Tracy and Kaleb into making sure you get “Initiated” during your trip to the Big Apple. We don’t need you waking up on game day wondering how the hell you ended up in Hoboken.
PS: Yeah, I agree with you for the most part Bob, I guess the one thing is…Troy Cordingley is really wanting to make this team into a defensive powerhouse, and even though 4 isn’t a huge lead in this league, I’m sure he’s a little disappointed that they weren’t able to hold on. But you’re right, how they respond on Sunday against Boston will be huge, but I think the way Calgary lost this game will fire them up. They lost by 1 and they’re going to be pissed about it, so I think we’ll see a heck of an effort against Boston. As for Kerr and Boomer, those 2 knobs wouldn’t know an initiation if it stared them in the face, so I won’t worry about them. But thanks for the heads up!
- Bob in the Abbey