Pressure on 'Riggers Down the Stretch
March 26, 2003 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
The Calgary Roughnecks head into the final home stretch of the 2003 National Lacrosse League season fighting for their playoff lives.
The good news for the second-year franchise is that the club's final three games of the season are in the friendly confines of the Pengrowth Saddledome where the team has posted a 4-1 record so far this season.
"We are a totally different team at home, and a big part of that comes from the support of our fans. The energy at the âDome really gives us that extra edge," said Roughnecks captain Tracey Kelusky.
In fact, attendance at Roughnecks games is up 16,794 (an average of 3,358 per game) from the same period last season.
"The positive thing is that we control our own destiny. If we play like we can, we will be in the playoffs, if we don't we have nobody to blame but ourselves," said assistant general manager, Jim Dellenbach.
The Roughnecks welcome the Ottawa Rebel to the Pengrowth Saddledome at 1:30pm on Sunday. The Roughnecks opened the season with a 14-9 win over Ottawa to start the season. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a combination team photo and Molson Canadian Drill Crew poster.
The Roughnecks then take on the Colorado Mammoth (Saturday, April 5 - 7:30pm) with the first 2,500 fans in attendance receiving a Roughnecks bandana, the same one worn by fan favourite Tyson Leies. The Roughnecks broke the hearts of 16,000 + Mammoth fans on Valentines Day in Denver with a dramatic 14-13 overtime win on an end to end rush and goal by Leies.
The âRiggers close out the regular season with a battle against the league leading Buffalo Bandits on (Friday, April 11 - 7:30pm).
Call the Roughnecks ticket office at (403) 294-9244 or visit your nearest TicketMaster location to ensure your seats for the Roughnecks final three regular season home games.
Here's a look at how the playoff picture looks as the Roughnecks head into their final three games of the season
NLL OVERALL STANDINGS... THE PLAYOFF RACE
1. BUFFALO BANDITS* 11-2 Three games/One at home vs. New Jersey; Two away vs. Rochester and Calgary.
2. TORONTO ROCK* 11-4 One game/ at home vs. Colorado.
3. PHILADELPHIA WINGS* 8-6 Two games/Two away vs. Albany & Rochester.
4. ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS 10-4 Two games/Two at home vs. Buffalo & Philadelphia.
5. CALGARY ROUGHNECKS 7-6 Three games/Three at home vs. Ottawa, Colorado & Buffalo;
6. VANCOUVER RAVENS 6-6 Four games/One at home vs. Ottawa; Three away vs. Columbus, Albany & New Jersey.
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7. ALBANY ATTACK 6-7 Three games/Two at home vs. Philadelphia & Vancouver; One away vs. Colorado.
8. COLUMBUS LANDSHARKS 6-7 Three games/One at home vs. Vancouver; Two away vs. New York & Ottawa.
9. COLORADO MAMMOTH 6-7 Three games/One at home vs. Albany; Two away vs. Calgary & Toronto.
10. OTTAWA REBEL 4-9 Three games/One at home vs. Columbus; Two away vs. Vancouver & Calgary.
11. NEW JERSEY STORM 3-10 Three games/One at home vs. Vancouver; Two away vs. Buffalo & New York.
12. NEW YORK SAINTS 2-12 Two games/Two at home vs. Columbus & New Jersey.
* Current divisional leaders
Three divisional winners and three wildcards representing next best records advance to the NLL playoffs.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from March 26, 2003
- Pressure on 'Riggers Down the Stretch - Calgary Roughnecks
- Attack in Playoff Hunt - Albany Attack
- Fox Sports Net to Feature Mammoth - Colorado Mammoth
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