Two more Riggers going to All-Star game
February 22, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
Calgary, AB-Taylor Wray will have two more Roughnecks for company at the National Lacrosse League's All-Star game in Portland on March 10.
The NLL announced today (Thursday) that Calgary skipper Tracey Kelusky and ace sniper Lewis Ratcliff have been added to the West Division's squad for the league's annual showcase.
Wray was yesterday announced as a starter for the West.
Kelusky has played in every All-Star game since he entered the NLL in 2001. In 2005, when the annual extravaganza was staged in Calgary, he was named the game's MVP.
Coincidentally, Ratcliff won the very same award in Toronto twelve months later.
"While I'm very pleased for Tracey and Lewis, they are both phenomenal players, I am also disappointed in some of the omissions from the West's team," said Kurt Silcott, the Roughnecks General Manager.
"In my opinion, Kaleb Toth and Andrew McBride should be going to Portland as well. Those two players have been outstanding this season and for them to be left out is an absolute injustice."
Ratcliff leads all Calgary scorers this year with 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists), followed by Toth with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) and Kelusky with 32 (12 goals, 20 assists).
Kelusky said, "Of course, I am very honoured and excited to have been selected to play in the All-Star game. It's great to play with, and against, the best players in lacrosse.
"But," he added, "I feel frustrated that Kaleb and Andrew won't be travelling to Portland with Taylor, Lewis and I. Andrew has simply been outstanding on defence while Kaleb has been getting goals when we need them most."
The West Division's will be represented by (*indicates starter):
Forwards: *Dan Carey (Colorado), *Dan Dawson (Arizona), Colin Doyle (San Jose), Gavin Prout (Colorado), Tracey Kelusky (Calgary), Jeff Zywicki (San Jose), Ryan Powell (Portland), Chris Gill (Edmonton) and Lewis Ratcliff (Calgary)
Defencemen: *Andrew Turner (Edmonton), *Taylor Wray (Calgary), John Gallant (Colorado), Pat Jones (Portland) and Peter Lough (Arizona)
Transition: *Brodie Merrill (Portland), Josh Sims (Colorado)
Goaltenders: *Rob Blasdell (Arizona), Gee Nash (Colorado)
The East Division will be represented by:
Forwards: *John Grant (Rochester), *John Tavares (Buffalo), Casey Powell (New York), Aaron Wilson (Toronto), Ryan Boyle (New York), Scott Evans (Rochester), Josh Sanderson (Toronto), Ryan Ward (Minnesota) and Shawn Williams (Rochester)
Defencemen: *Cam Woods (Chicago), *Thomas Hajek (Philadelphia) and Ryan Cousins Minnesota)
Transition: *Geoff Snider (Philadelphia), Mark Steenhuis (Buffalo), Pat McCready (Buffalo) and Steve Toll (Rochester)
Goaltenders: *Matt Roik (Philadelphia), Brandon Miller (Chicago)
The West Division coaches are Gary Gait (Colorado) and Bob Hamley (Arizona), while the East's bench bosses are Darris Kilgour (Buffalo) and Ed Comeau (Rochester).
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 22, 2007
- Stealth players Colin Doyle and Jeff Zywicki named Western Division All-Stars - San Jose Stealth
- Talented new Stealth acquisition Andrew Burkholder to debut against Titans - San Jose Stealth
- New York Titans At Home This Saturday - Orlando Titans
- Powell and Jones to Represent the LumberJax in the Western Division - Portland Lumberjax
- Gill picked for All-Star Game - Edmonton Rush
- Rochester's Scott Evans, Steve Toll and Shawn Williams named East All-Star reserves - Rochester Knighthawks
- Swarm's Cousins and Ward Named to NLL's All-Star Game - Minnesota Swarm
- Two more Riggers going to All-Star game - Calgary Roughnecks
- Steenhuis and McCready added to All-Star roster - Buffalo Bandits
- Four Mammoth players added to All-Star roster - Colorado Mammoth
- Sting captain Peter Lough named All-Star reserve - Arizona Sting
- NLL Announces All-Star Game Reserves - NLL
- Dietrich Captures Weekly Awards - Buffalo Bandits
- Tavares will start for Eastern Division All-Stars - Buffalo Bandits
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