Mammoth Falls to Roughnecks Despite Great Power Play Offense
The NLL weekend in Langley, BC continued on Sunday with a scrimmage between the Colorado Mammoth and Calgary Roughnecks. Calgary won the scrimmage, 12-10. Michael McQuillan of NLL.com spoke with both coaches after the game, as they continue to assess players in training camp.
Recap by Michael McQuillan for NLL.com
The Colorado Mammoth power play was firing on all cylinders, scoring eight times in an exhibition game against the Calgary Roughnecks Sunday at Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. But Colorado's impressive special team performance wasn't enough to overcome the more veteran Calgary squad, eventual 12-10 winners of the National Lacrosse League pre-season scrimmage.
"One thing we can take away from this is the play of our special teams. They kept us in there," said Mammoth's coach Bob Hamley. "I was impressed with our play so early in the season."
After the game Calgary coach Dave Pym had a better idea what his team needed to work on in practice before the season starts. "Obviously we have to work on our short-handed situations," he said.
Pym also knows much more about his team, which must trim down to 26 players (23 active and three practice players) by next week. "This game was about identifying players in certain situations and getting a feel for what they can do."
Left-hander Daryl Veltman led the Roughnecks' attack with four goals while transition player Jeff Shattler netted three. Curtis Dickson's two goals and singles from Scott Ranger, Cory Conway and Geoff McNulty rounded off the scoring.
On the other side of the floor, Ilija Gajic and Mat MacLeod finished with three markers apiece, two goals were credited to Jed Prossner and rookie Jamie Lincoln netted his first against an NLL team.
Calgary took control after the opening whistle with four unanswered goals. That lead evaporated when Roughnecks' parade to the penalty box gave Mammoth chances to convert with the man-advantage. Colorado used it to their full advantage and led 7-6 at halftime.
Both teams traded goals through the third and fourth quarters until Calgary grabbed the lead and kept in the final two minutes.
Both teams will continue to practice and need to reduce their rosters by Dec. 22.
Calgary's first game is away against NLL defending champions Toronto Rock on January 8th, the game that will open the 2012 regular season. They then play second-place finishers Washington Stealth, also away, on Jan. 14. Roughnecks' home opener is Jan. 21 against Colorado.
The Mammoth opens the regular season at home against the Minnesota Swarm and then embark on a Prairie road trip, taking on the Edmonton Rush on Jan. 20 and Calgary the next night.
