NLL Calgary Roughnecks

Revenge on minds of both teams

February 14, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release


Calgary, AB - Thoughts of revenge will be in the minds of both the Calgary Roughnecks and the Colorado Mammoth when the clubs meet in Denver Sunday evening (live on Shaw TV, 6 p.m.).

Calgary (4-2) is still smarting from the three losses in a row (two regular season games and a playoff tilt) it suffered at the hands of the Mammoth that effectively removed the Roughnecks from last season's National Lacrosse League playoff picture. It didn't help that Colorado then went on to capture the NLL's symbol of supremacy, the Champion's Cup, for the first time in its history.

The Mammoth (6-1) on the other hand is unhappy that its 2007 record carries just one blemish - a 17-13 loss at the Saddledome on January 20. Calgary sniper Lewis Ratcliff collected nine points (6g, 3a) in that game while captain Tracey Kelusky chipped in with seven (2g, 5a).

"On that occasion, Calgary outworked and outplayed us," Gary Gait, Colorado's head coach, said today. "Needless to say, our guys are excited about meeting them again."

Since the clubs last met, the Mammoth have acquired perennial All-Star defender Jim Moss from the San Jose Stealth.

"This is probably the youngest team we've ever had," said Gait, "and Jim's experience will be invaluable. We're very happy to have him here. He is a great athlete and we will utilize him all over the floor."

Calgary's head coach Chris Hall acknowledged that Colorado is strengthened by the acquisition of Moss, but says he is more concerned about his team's shooting in the 7-10 home loss to Philadelphia last Saturday.

"We went into that game as the league's top scoring club," said Hall, "yet you would never have thought it after watching us shoot. We weren't very good. We took 74 shots and scored only seven times. I was extremely disappointed."

He says the Roughnecks see the visit to Denver as an opportunity to redeem themselves.

"Over the years we've always risen to the occasion when we play Colorado. Both franchises do well in the fan department and it's exciting to play in front of those large crowds at the Pepsi Center," said Hall.

"What we have to do now is be dedicated and focussed when we meet them Sunday. The guys are looking forward to it and I anticipate a great game."

Calgary expects to have assistant captain Kyle Goundrey and rugged Andy Ogilvie back in uniform for the Denver trip. Both missed the Philadelphia debacle - Goundrey through illness and Ogilvie with a knee injury.

Luke Hinton and Scott Anderson, who filled in for the two veterans against the Wings, will stay at home this weekend.

Calgary's scoring is led by Lewis Ratcliff with 37 points (19g, 18a), followed by Kaleb Toth with 29 points (12g, 17a) and Tracey Kelusky with 27 (10g, 17a).

Colorado, with an extra game under its belt, has three players with 30 plus points - Dan Carey with 39 (19g, 20a), Gavin Prout with 34 (11g, 23a) and Brian Langtry with 31 (14g, 17a).

Shawn Cable is the only one member of the Calgary roster who has played for the Mammoth.

In five games for them in 2004, he collected six points (1g, 5a).

"Obviously as I was a leftie, the same as Gary Gait, I didn't have as many opportunities as I would have liked," said Cable today."But Gary was always very nice to me and I learned a lot from just watching him."

Cable then went to the Anaheim Storm (2005), and from there to Portland (2006), before returning to his first NLL employers, the Calgary Roughnecks (2002-03), last summer.

Check out the Calgary Roughnecks Statistics



National Lacrosse League Stories from February 14, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central