Battle of Alberta Expected to be a war
April 4, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
Calgary, AB - Both clubs are expected to load up on pugilists when the Calgary Roughnecks entertain the Edmont0n Rush Friday night.
While the rest of the world celebrates Good Friday, only bad intentions will be on the minds of the provincial rivals, both of whom are in must-win situations.
Calgary (7-6) needs a victory to stay in the race for 2nd place in the National Lacrosse League's West Division. The runner-up position ensures a home berth in the playoffs.
Edmonton (5-7), on the other hand, has to win if it has any chance of joining the post-season festivities for the first time in its short existence.
The Rush is expected to dress Daryl Welsh for only the third time this year. The 6ft. 4in. behemoth got into major fights in his previous two appearances. He also traded punches with the Riggers' Ryan McNish in a pre-season tilt.
For its part, Calgary will have legendary hard man Andy Ogilvie back in the line up after several weeks on the disabled list with a knee injury. And he and McNish will likely be in the thick of it when the shenanigans begin.
"I'd be surprised if this is not a physical affair," said Kurt Silcott, the Roughnecks General Manager. "We are talking about the playoffs at this point and I'm sure Edmonton does not want to be eliminated by us.
"It is the Battle of Alberta after all, and I'd be surprised if big Daryl Welsh is not dressed. We saw in the pre-season that Daryl is not afraid to throw them and he and McNish had quite a set-to at that time. I feel that Daryl got the best of Ryan up there and I know Ryan would like to redeem himself."
In his previous league fights, Welsh took on two of the toughest guys in the NLL, Geoff Snider of Philadelphia and Toronto's Tim O'Brien.
"We feel that in Ogilvie and McNish we've got a couple of guys of the same calibre," said Silcott. "So if Welsh is looking for a dance partner Friday night, I don't think he'll have to look too far."
Friday marks the 100th game for the Roughnecks in the NLL.
Only one player, Calgary's own Kaleb Toth, has appeared in every one of those 100 games.
In fact, Toth is the only player remaining from the squad that entered the NLL in the 2001-02 season.
He, principal owner Brad Banister, Banister's co-owners and several Day 1 employees of the Roughnecks will be honoured prior to the game. Ball drop is at 7.30 p.m.
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Former Roughneck Jason Wulder, who now plays for the Rush, goes into the game with 499 career points. Wulder got 280 of those points while in Calgary's employ.
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The Roughnecks will practice Thursday night from 8-10 p.m. at Calgary Soccer Centre West, off Bearspaw Road.
Calgary's shootaround at the Saddledome will occur between 10 and 11 a.m. Edmonton takes the floor from 11.15 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 4, 2007
- Battle of Alberta Expected to be a war - Calgary Roughnecks
- Rock look to clinch playoff spot with two wins this weekend - Toronto Rock
- Dan Dawson named NLL Player of the Week - Arizona Sting
- Dawson named player of the week, McLellan and Bucktooth honored - NLL
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