Showdown in the Desert for Roughnecks
March 15, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
Calgary, AB - The Calgary Roughnecks travel to Phoenix knowing that tomorrow's confrontation with the Arizona Sting could well determine if they land valuable home turf advantage when the National Lacrosse League playoffs begin in late April.
With Colorado (9-1) sitting comfortably atop the NLL's West Division, the race for 2nd spot appears to be between the Sting (6-3) and the Riggers (5-4).
The other three teams in the division - Edmonton, San Jose and Portland - are way behind and appear to be scrapping for the 4th and final berth.
"In the next five weeks, we face Arizona three times," said General Manager Kurt Silcott. "Those three games will probably determine the final placement of both clubs. We therefore have to win at least two if we are to challenge for second."
Ironically, Silcott and his counterpart in Phoenix, Bob Hamley, are best friends.
"The games between us are the only three times in the regular season when I want him to lose," laughed Silcott. "He probably thinks the same thing."
Besides Friday, the two perennial rivals meet in Calgary on March 24 and then back in Phoenix on April 13, for the penultimate game of the regular season.
New head coach Jeff Dowling will be making his NLL debut as a bench boss Friday night.
Dowling replaces long time Head Coach Chris Hall, who was dismissed following a dismal 9-12 home loss to the Toronto Rock two games ago.
Due to work and family commitments this will be the first time has meet the 2007 version of the Calgary Roughnecks.
He was the club's assistant coach from 2004 until the end of the 2006 season. He then joined the fledgling New York as Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel.
Though he has not been able to meet the players, Dowling - who has been on the road the past week in his role as sales manager for San Diego-based DriveCam - has spent evenings alone in his hotel room studying video of his new charges.
"I know most of the players and I know the plays they run," said Dowling. "I know the defences that we use. I also know the Arizona team very well, as we've played them several times in recent years. They haven't changed much."
Dowling continued, "There's some little things we have to improve upon. The offensive group in Calgary is very good. But that can be an issue as they don't always do the little things they need to do.
"Defensively, I thought they did well in the games I watched. The goaltending has been good, but maybe not stellar."
Calgary and Arizona met three times in 2006, with Calgary taking two of the games (a 14-12 win in Calgary and a 13-7 triumph in Phoenix), while the Sting won an 11-10 overtime thriller in its barn.
FOR THE RECORD: Statistically, Calgary's best ever defensive effort was against the Sting on February 29, 2004, when they conceded just four goals in a 14-4 victory. In that same game, Arizona's Troy Bonterre collected 33 minutes in penalties, a single game record for a Roughnecks opponent.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from March 15, 2007
- Sting Open Second Half of the Season Friday Night Versus Calgary - Arizona Sting
- Josh Harding to Sign Autographs at March 23 Swarm Game To Benefit Fund the Fight - Minnesota Swarm
- Showdown in the Desert for Roughnecks - Calgary Roughnecks
- Go Green with the Jax - Portland Lumberjax
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