Kelusky hits magic milestone
Published on January 17, 2007 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
Calgary, AB - Tracey Kelusky, the inspirational captain of the Calgary Roughnecks, will this Saturday play his 100th game in the National Lacrosse League.
Appropriately, the magic milestone will be reached in a game against the reigning NLL champions, the Colorado Mammoth.
Among the current Riggers, only Kaleb Toth, with 118 appearances, has taken the floor more times.
In his career, Kelusky, who is now entering his 7th season in the NLL, has won a number of awards, including:
NLL Rookie of the Year in 2001
NLL 1st team All-Pro, Inside Lacrosse magazine's MVP and a silver medal with Canada in the world field lacrosse championship in 2002
NLL 1st team All-Pro and a gold medal with Canada in the world field lacrosse championship in 2003
Won the Champion's Cup and was a NLL 1st All-Pro in 2004
Was MVP at the NLL All-Star game in 2005, and
Won the Mann Cup with the Peterborough Lakers in 2006
"Tracey is one of the greatest players I have ever had the pleasure to be involved with," said Kurt Silcott, the General Manager of the Roughnecks, today. "He is a true leader and has the respect of all the players on this team.
"Sometimes it is obvious where he helps ... by scoring goals. But he does so much more. He sets up goals, he goes into the corners, he gets loose balls, and he teaches and coaches the younger guys and helps them understand what it takes to win."
Brad Banister, the Roughnecks president and principal owner, was responsible for grabbing Kelusky 1st overall in the Montreal Express dispersal draft four years ago.
"It has to go down as one of the best decisions I ever made," said Banister, "because he has proved to be not only a great lacrosse player but a great person as well."
He explained, "He's an outstanding leader, both on and off the floor; kids look up to him; he has an amazing work ethic: he plays far bigger than his actual size, and in my book he's pound for pound the toughest player in the NLL."
Silcott added, "I've been lucky in my career as a General Manager in that I've had two of the greatest players in the history of the game on my teams - Tracey Kelusky and John Tavares. The similarities between these two players go on and on and I think that at the end of Tracey's career, his name will be right up there with the likes of Tavares and Gary Gait as one of the all-time greats."
As for Kelusky, 31, he was unaware the 100 game milestone will be reached Saturday against the reigning NLL champs, the Colorado Mammoth.
"It only seemed like yesterday that I entered the league with Columbus," he said. "The time has just flown by. I've had a great time wherever I've been, starting with the Landsharks, then in Montreal, and now in Calgary.
"Though I had my best year as far as points are concerned (94 in 2002) in Montreal, it's here in Calgary where I was able to put down roots and really get into the community."
He continued, "Thanks to lacrosse I've made many, many friends I otherwise would not have met and I think that's what I'll remember most when I call it a day.
"But that's in the future. Today the focus is on winning another Champion's Cup -- and hopefully this is the year."
National Lacrosse League Stories from January 17, 2007
- Brodie Merrill receives NLL weekly honor - Portland Lumberjax
- Jeff Zywicki Named Offensive Player of the Week - San Jose Stealth
- Rochester's Pat O'Toole earns NLL weekly awards - Rochester Knighthawks
- Swarm to Host Rochester Knighthawks on Friday - Minnesota Swarm
- Minnesota Swarm Signs Forward Ashton McLean, Adds Doddridge and Lines to Scouting Staff - Minnesota Swarm
- NLL Announces Week Three Player Awards - NLL
- Kelusky hits magic milestone - Calgary Roughnecks
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