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NLL Colorado Mammoth

Mammoth Opens 2013 Season at Home on Saturday

January 11, 2013 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER - The Colorado Mammoth opens the 2013 season this Saturday at 7 p.m. MST against the Washington Stealth (1-0) on HealthONE Field at Pepsi Center. Led by reigning National Lacrosse League MVP John Grant Jr. and 2012 NLL Rookie of the Year Adam Jones, the Mammoth takes the field after an 11-5 season that ended at the hands of the Minnesota Swarm on home turf in the Western Division Semifinal.

"Everybody is excited about their team, and we're no different," said Mammoth head coach Bob Hamley. "We had a great camp, very competitive. We've added...six new faces to a squad that went 11-5 in the regular season last year. We're excited just like everyone else is. Fortunately for us, we get to play in front of our home fans right off the hop, which is great."

The Stealth are coming off a 13-12 victory over the defending champion Rochester Knighthawks in which former Mammoth forward Cliff Smith tallied eight points (3 goals, 5 assists).

"Last week's game was pretty impressive considering it was the opening game of the season," said Stealth head coach Chris Hall. "Colorado is always a tough place to play. We look forward to playing in that building; it's always fun to play in the Pepsi Center. Facing the great John Grant Jr. always presents its issues."

Grant looks to lead the Mammoth offensive unit for a third consecutive season after recording a NLL single-season record 116 points (50 goals, 66 assists) in 2012.

"It is one thing to key in on Grant," said Stealth defenseman Kyle Sorensen, "but there are a lot of guys on the offense who can score as well."

Colorado led the NLL in scoring a season ago, with five players tallying 22-plus goals apiece. But Hamley says there's always work to be done.

"Our transition from [offense] to defense we have worked hard on. Our power play was good and we've worked hard on our penalty kill as well. Combing those things with trying to find a line-up we are happy with is important."

So too is determining the role that newly-acquired Richard Morgan, the NLL's tallest player (6'8"), will assume. The brother of former Mammoth defenseman David Morgan, Richard is expected to see time on both ends of the floor.

Single-game tickets to Opening Night and all other Mammoth regular-season home games are on sale now at the Pepsi Center box office, all Colorado Dick's Sporting Goods retail kiosks, online at TicketHorse.com, or by calling 303.53.HORSE.

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