Roughnecks seek home playoff game
Published on April 3, 2006 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
Calgary, AB - One of the nastiest rivalries in the National Lacrosse League is between the Calgary Roughnecks and the Colorado Mammoth.
Each meeting is characterized by a litany of hacks, trips, butt ends and elbows, with the occasional bout of fisticuffs thrown in for good measure.
But today the Riggers (8-5) are in the weird position of owing a favour to their southern neighbours for handing them a spot in the playoffs.
Before the weekend began, Calgary had an outside chance of early entry into the 2006 National Lacrosse League post-season festivities. But it needed four specific results for it to happen. The âNecks needed Buffalo to beat San Jose on Friday and Arizona Saturday; they themselves had to take care of San Jose Saturday, and then Colorado had to whip Arizona Sunday night.
The Mammoth dutifully obliged with a 16-11 beating of the reigning West Division champions, and as a result both Colorado (8-5) and Calgary move to the next round of the Champion's Cup. They are joined there by Portland (also 8-5), with Arizona (6-7) and San Jose (5-7) in a battle for the fourth and final spot.
"It doesn't seem right that Colorado did us a favour," said Roughnecks General Manager Kurt Silcott, "but we'll take it. I just hope they're not expecting a thank you card. If they are, it will be a long wait."
Silcott says the focus is now on securing home advantage throughout the post-season.
"If we continue to play the way we've done the past six games, there's no reason we can't be first seed in the West," continued Silcott. "We'd love to do it for our great fans, the people who stuck with us despite some indifferent performances earlier in the campaign.
"Our destiny is definitely in our own hands. We have Arizona once and Colorado twice to round out the regular season. We've beaten them both already this year and if we play up to our potential I can see no reason why we can't beat them again."
The Roughnecks entertain Arizona next Saturday, April 8 (ball drop 7.30 p.m.).
The following weekend the Riggers travel to Denver to play the Mammoth on Good Friday, then the two clubs clash again 24 hours later back in Calgary.
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 3, 2006
- Jax clinch playoff spot in first season - Portland Lumberjax
- Roughnecks seek home playoff game - Calgary Roughnecks
- NLL secures Injunction against Brine Canada - NLL
- Wings Players Host Lacrosse Clinic For Southern New Jersey Lacrosse League - Philadelphia Wings
- Rock to welcome Millionth fan in franchise history on April 8 - Toronto Rock
- Playoff Picture Still Hazy for Rock and Eastern Division in NLL - Toronto Rock
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