Roughnecks down Rock, 20-12
Published on April 17, 2005 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
CALGARY, AB - Pride. That's what was on the line Sunday. And the Calgary Roughnecks showed their pride in a big way in the lacrosse version of the Battle of Canada in front of 11,311 at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
In a showdown of the two top teams in the National Lacrosse League â the West Division champion Roughnecks and the East Division champ Toronto Rock -- the Roughnecks also showed plenty of guts in what turned into a very rough, physical affair.
It began with team captain Tracey Kelusky, who was not about to be outdone by any of Toronto's gunners. Kelusky paced the Roughnecks with a team record eight goals and was the catalyst in a six-goal run in the second quarter that lifted Calgary past the Rock 20-12 as the NLL regular season came to an end with a clash of the league's titans.
Yes, the Big Smoke got smoked, in more ways than one.
The Roughnecks finish the season with a 10-6 record while Toronto finishes at 12-4 setting up a potential West versus East battle for the NLL championship.
Calgary's gut-check performance was on display in the third quarter when the âNecks showed they will not back down. Leading 14-9 with 4:43 left in the third quarter, the two teams renewed their inevitable hostilities with three fights, including one between Calgary back-up goalie Andrew Leyshon and Rock goalie Rob Watson after Watson jumped to the aid of Rock captain Jim Veltman, who was being schooled in the fight game by Jesse Phillips.
The first fight, between Calgary's Kyle Goundrey and Toronto's Jim Quinlan was all Goundrey.
The odds certainly were stacked against Calgary heading into the match-up â a match-up many view as a prelude to the Champions Cup game this spring.
Entering Sunday's game Calgary had just one win in seven tries against Toronto and had lost twice, rather convincingly, to the Rock in Toronto already this season. They had also lost more than their share of fights and battles to the Rock at the Air Canada Centre.
Early on in Sunday's game it looked as though the Rock jinx would continue as Toronto opened up an 8-4 lead early in the second quarter.
But a six-goal run, spear-headed by Kelusky and Andrew McBride, put the home team on top 10-8 at halftime and they never looked back. The Roughnecks allowed just four goals against from the 3:03 mark of the second quarter to the end of the game â a span of nearly 42 minutes. Considering how strong Toronto's offence can be, that's an accomplishment to put in the bank.
The Roughnecks needed this win for many reasons â first and foremost to head into the West Division playoffs on a winning note after dropping two of their last three games; but also to show themselves and the Rock that they are indeed capable of beating Toronto. Considering many are picking Calgary and Toronto to meet in the Champions Cup, there is simply no understating the win.
In the process the Roughnecks also set a number of team records. First there is Kelusky's eight goals in a game. With 45 tallies on the season, Kelusky also sets the Roughneck record for most goals in a season. Kelusky's eight goals falls two goals shy of the most goals in an NLL game by a player.
Lewis Ratcliff set two Roughneck records -- one for most points by a Roughneck in a season and the other most assists by a Calgary player in a season. Ratcliff's totals on the season are 36 goals and 86 points, including 50 assists.
Kelusky finished with eight goals and two assists for Calgary. Ratcliff finished with three goals and seven assists for the Roughnecks while Calgary's other big offensive threat, Kaleb Toth, finished with two goals and four assists.
The Rock were unable to get their high-powered offence geared up for a comeback as Calgary played some of its strongest defence of the season.
In losing, the Rock still set some records of their own as they had three players reach the 100-point plateau for the first time in league history. Colin Doyle, who entered the game with 104 points, was joined in the elusive 100-point club by Josh Sanderson and Blaine Manning. Sanderson also surpassed his own NLL assist record of 68 in a season, which he set in 2002 in Albany. He need two assists to set the record and recorded four helpers in the first half.
Also despite the loss, the Rock have claimed the top spot overall in the league, meaning they have home playoff advantage throughout the post-season.
The Roughnecks now have until April 30 before they play again, which gives the players time to heal before hosting the West Division Final at 8 p.m. at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
DRILL BITS: The Calgary Axemen Lacrosse club honoured two of their own Sunday before the game, making Calgary Roughnecks forwards Jason Wulder and Kaleb Toth the first two members to be inducted into the Axemen Hall of Fame. Both Wulder and Toth played their minor lacrosse in the Axemen organization...Calgary captain Tracey Kelusky will head to Las Vegas to be married on Wednesday...Calgary rookie defender Ryan McNish will be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It is the same injury that has removed Andy Ogilvie, Devan Wray and Matt Green from Roughnecks action in 2005...The Roughnecks replaced starter Curtis Palidwor with Andrew Leyshon in the net for the second half of the game. Palidwor had allowed eight goals on 28 shots. However, he returned as Leyshon was give a game misconduct for his role in the third quarter fights.
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 17, 2005
- Roughnecks down Rock, 20-12 - Calgary Roughnecks
- Rock Wrap Up Record Setting Season - Toronto Rock
- Storm Shocks Sting 11-10 - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- Mammoth opens playoffs Friday at Arizona - Colorado Mammoth
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.
