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Calgary Roughnecks

Snider can't wait to confront his pals

January 31, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release


Calgary, AB - Lacrosse phenom Geoff Snider can't wait to get home to Calgary and go to war against two of his closest pals.

Snider and the Roughnecks' Wray boys, Devan and Taylor, have been friends for years since playing boxla together with the Junior A Burnaby Lakers.

They're in constant touch, hang out over the holidays, and Geoff is in the wedding party when Taylor gets married this summer.

But on February 10, no quarter will be asked or given when Calgary entertains Snider and the Philadelphia Wings.

Chances are the game will begin with Snider and Devan literally nose-to-nose when they crouch down to take the opening face-off.

As two of the best exponents of this specialty in the National Lacrosse League, how they perform will largely determine which team gets the bulk of possession.

"I learned a lot from Devan about taking face-offs when we played in Burnaby," said Snider, a graduate of Calgary's Winston Churchill High School, "and so I look forward to testing myself against him."

For his part, Devan says, "Geoff is undoubtedly one of the premier face-off men on the planet and Nolan Heavenor (Calgary's other face-off specialist) and I will have to be at our best."

But Snider does more than face-offs. He has a multitude of lacrosse talents, and is already being mentioned in terms of the NLL's Rookie of the Year. (Ironically, Taylor Wray was awarded that same trophy in 2004.)

He plays solid defence, is lightning quick on transition, scores important goals (including the final two in the Wings' recent 10-9 win over Toronto), and when the occasion warrants, is a fierce scrapper.

Snider, 25, played four years for the Burnaby Lakers and led the team to three Minto Cups in 1998, 2000 and 2002. During that same period, he also played hockey for the Calgary Canucks and was named the team's MVP in 2001 and 2002. In 2001, he was awarded the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Unsung Hero honour.

He then went to the University of Denver on a field lacrosse scholarship, with his major in finance/marketing. During that time, he collected a number of lacrosse trophies, and in 2006 set NCAA records for ground balls per game (11.41) and total ground balls (194).

The same year, he was a member of the Canadian field lacrosse team that captured the world championship. He won 143 of 195 possible face-offs and was named the World Games MVP.

He graduated from university earlier this year and is now working in commercial real estate in Denver.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from January 31, 2007


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