New battle of Alberta emerges
Published on September 13, 2005 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
The Calgary Roughnecks will open their 2006 National Lacrosse League season with a home date against the upstart Edmonton Rush.
The game, on Friday, January 13, will be the first of four matches involving the Alberta rivals.
The Riggers travel north up Highway 2 on Saturday, January 21, and Friday, March 17, while the Rush pay their second visit to the Saddledome on Friday, February 17.
While the Roughnecks have been in the NLL for five years, this is the first season for Edmonton.
"It won't take long for this rivalry to heat up," said Roughnecks president and principal owner, Brad Banister. "We already have intense wars between ourselves and Colorado and Toronto, but I can't help feeling that in time this could move hatred to a whole new level."
The Riggers have only one meeting with the second expansion club, the Portland LumberJax. That is in Oregon on Saturday, January 28.
The star-studded Colorado Mammoth, now coached by the legendary Gary Gait, will be in town twice (March 11 and April 15), while Calgary visits Denver just once (April 14).
The reverse applies to the reigning West Division champions, the Arizona Sting. The Roughnecks travel to Phoenix on two occasions (January 27 and February 18), yet the Sting only have one game in Calgary (April 8).
As for the reigning NLL champions, the Toronto Rock, the Riggers entertain them on Sunday, February 5, and then fly to Ontario for the return bout on March 25.
"All in all, it's a pretty tough schedule," said Banister, "but to be the best you have to beat the best and I think we have the horses to do just that."
The Roughnecks have four games on Saturday nights, three on Friday evenings and one on a Sunday (against the club's biggest draw, the Toronto Rock).
Day Date HomeGames RoadGames Time (MT)
Friday Jan. 13 Edmonton 7:30pm
Friday Jan. 20 Minnesota 7:30pm
Saturday Jan. 21 @Edmonton 7:30pm
Friday Jan. 27 @Arizona 7:30pm
Saturday Jan. 28 @Portland 8:30pm
Friday Feb. 3 @San Jose 8:30pm
Sunday Feb. 5 Toronto 1:30pm
Friday Feb. 17 Edmonton 7:30pm
Saturday Feb. 18 @Arizona 7:30pm
Saturday Mar. 11 Colorado 7:30pm
Friday Mar. 17 @Edmonton 7:30pm
Saturday Mar. 25 @ Toronto Noon
Saturday Apr. 1 San Jose 7:30pm
Saturday Apr. 8 Arizona 7:30pm
Friday Apr. 14 @Colorado 7:00pm
Saturday Apr. 15 Colorado 7:30pm
National Lacrosse League Stories from September 13, 2005
- Buffalo Bandits Announce 2006 Schedule - Buffalo Bandits
- Sting announce 2006 schedule - Arizona Sting
- Lumberjax announce inaugural schedule, open against Colorado - Portland Lumberjax
- Minnesota Swarm announces 2006 schedule - Minnesota Swarm
- Rock to open defence of NLL Champion's Cup against Arizona - Toronto Rock
- Mammoth kicks off NLL season at home vs. Wings - Colorado Mammoth
- New battle of Alberta emerges - Calgary Roughnecks
- Wings' 20th anniversary season takes flight December 30th - Philadelphia Wings
- NLL Announces 2006 Schedule - NLL
- Watson, Sandersons and Beisel back with Rock - Toronto Rock
- Riggers name new general manager - Calgary Roughnecks
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