Colorado Mammoth Message Board

Hi Steve,
Will there be any days of training camp open to the public? That preseason game still seems so far away and I need my fix .

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--V

Sorry for the late response, it seems like a long time since anyone has asked a question, I forgot to check!!!

Training camp began last weekend with all the returning players included with the rookies and free agents, (we did have a rookie camp on the weekend of Nov.1). Things went extremely well and we are excited about the first step.

We have been afforded an amazing opportunity here in the Denver area that is allowing us to practice in the Broomfield Events Center. What a great facility! We have been given the chance to use their hockey boards and glass and to put our turf down for the pre season until it returns to Pepsi Center for the Preseason Game on Dec. 18. The turf is getting a great chance to flatten out from a long summer rolled up in a storage facility.

As some of you may know, the 14ers and the Rage no longer play at the BEC, Kroenke Sports and AEG have taken the facility over to transform it into a world class concert venue. The good news for the Mammoth is, that process will take time, we have been able to move into to this amazing building and make it our own for 3 months. Great locker rooms, great work out facility, great medical training facility, meeting rooms, and our own turf on a full size field. All within a schedule that is most conducive for our success, no need to play in indoor soccer facilities around their schedule at midnight on Saturday nights!!

The unfortuante thing is that with the facility being transformed for concerts, it is under some renovations with painting, stage building, etc. This makes it impossible for it to be opened to the public in the short term, we have always had open practices at the many facilities that we have used throughout the Denver area, unfortuately we just aren't allowed to do it up in Broomfield right now.

Our preseason schedule has also changed somewhat with the cancellation of the Des Moines, IA trip, instead we are travelling to Washington state that weekend to practice at the Comcast Arena, in Everett. We will also be able to scrimmage against the Stealth on Sunday morning at their arena on Dec. 6.

We have also invited the Swarm to come use our great facility in Broomfield on the weekend of Dec. 12/13. The Mammoth and Swarm will play each other in the Events Center on Saturday night in a closed door scrimmage.

The following weekend will be the preseason game at Pepsi Center on Friday, Dec. 18 against the Swarm once again! We will host our Fans on the Field Event again where fans can come and interact with our players and coaches prior to the game with a multitude of unique interactive events. Unfortunately, this will be the first time our great fans will get to see the team in action for this season.

The good news is that the Mammoth will be engaging other teams three times prior to our opener in Everett on Jan. 9. What a great opportunity for a young offense to gel in three games prior to the season. As well as a returning veteran defense that has fully recovered from last season's injuries, getting back into the swing of things. This should give everyone the chance to fire up long before any of the games count!

Sorry its not a better answer for you Voodoo but hopefully when you see the boys for the first time you are as excited as we are right now in their progress.

Let's get the PC filled up for the preseason game so every one can get a sneak peak of an exciting new group for the 2010 season.

SG

That's a totally valid answer... I actually find it fantastic that the Mammoth are able to get so many scrimmages. With all the new faces the more opportunity to gel the better. That makes me happy.

It does lead to another question. And feel free to hold off on answering until we've had more camp time, but how are we looking? I know a lot of us are looking forward to seeing the size we've added up front in action, in your opinion, how's it look?

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--V

Well, its hard not to be biased, but I beleive we are having a great camp (one weekend so far). The offense will be something very different than what people have seen the last couple of years.

I believe the individuals are very talented but the focus is on the quality of the whole rather than the parts. Size is the biggest, noticeable difference but the stickwork isn't far behind. The other difference is an emphasis on players that complement each others games. We feel like we are compiling a strong unit that meshes together, with each player possessing a unique skill set that will ultimately score more goals together, and guys that take pride in working hard to make each other better. Emphasis won't be on any one or two players, this will make it difficult to defend.

Two players already starting to click are Cory Conway and Alex Gajic, both pretty big with outstanding sticks. Some of the things that Ilija Gajic and Cliff Smith have done so far have made our mouths water with what the potential can be. Bottom line is these guys are young and fitting in with the players we have already will take some time.

There is also an added emphasis on transitioning the ball up the floor and creating quality scoring opportunities early in the shot clock. More quality, healthy players in the back end give players like Carlson, Prossner, N. Gajic, and Sims the opportunity to get back to what they do best. Transition doesn't always come from 4 players with that title, it comes from a commitment to speed and on and off the floor and great passing from our end to the offensive end.

All in all, we are cautiously optimistic about the first weekend. It is a process and we hope that our decisions to play more pre season games has a faster gel processing time.

SG

I really like the sound of this! I think a team that has numerous dangerous components is much more impressive than a team that solely relies on one or two players to produce.

I like hearing all of this, let's pull it off.

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Who has the Mic? A Doosh!

Indeed. This is the type of talk that's making even the exhibition game harder and harder to wait for.

Can't wait until this season is in full swing

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Go Hawks.

i didnt read one thing that i didnt like.
thanks for answering.

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*2006 NLL Champions*