Roughnecks still believe in playoffs
The Calgary Roughnecks aren’t giving up hope of making the playoffs.
Despite a 3- 9 start to the season, they head into this weekend’s doubleheader against the Colorado Mammoth ( Friday in Denver, 7 p. m.; Saturday at home, 7 p. m., Scotiabank Saddledome) full of optimism.
“It seems to me that it’s still attainable for us, to grab a playoff spot,” Riggers head coach Curt Malawsky, whose squad has five of its last six games within the division, told the weekly National Lacrosse League conference call. “We’re not looking too much to what happened in the past. We’re looking forward to this weekend.
“The Mammoth are playing really good lacrosse, 3- 0 in their last three games, so we know we’re going to have our work cut out for us. It was a shootout last time we were down there. I think going forward, both defences have tightened up since the second game of the season. I imagine it’s going to be a real tight one again.”
Captain Andrew McBride is excited for the division rivalries that the end of the season schedule is bringing for the Roughnecks.
“Obviously, we’re excited to be able to play some teams in our division and to play a team that you’re chasing in the standings,” he noted. “That’s what you want to be able to do at this time. Colorado’s a great team, it’s a tough environment to play in, they’re very well coached. We’ve got to be ready to play when we come in here, so it’s going to be an excited test.
“The guys believe in this locker- room that we can still get the job done and that’s the most important thing.”
The Mammoth are 7- 5 but have three- straight wins, so they’re going to present a stiff test for Calgary, who are chasing them and 4- 7 Vancouver for a playoff spot.
“I think we’re starting to come together as a team,” said Mammoth star Joey Cupido. “We’ve definitely gelled the last two games. Last week was the best 60 minutes we played all year.”
For Calgary, Sean Pollock will be going against his old team; the Mammoth cut him loose in early March and Calgary scooped the veteran up a few days later. Malawsky had nothing but positive things to say about what Pollock has brought to the table since joining the team.
“We’ve had a lot of second possessions lately and that’s a lot to do with Sean Pollock and Shawny Evans battling in there, not afraid to go in and take one across the wrist in the corner and pick up a big loose ball,” he said.
“It’s a testament to his character and he’s fit right in with us. I’m sure he’s going to be excited to play down in Denver. He spent a lot of time there and I know he’s got a lot of great admiration for the organization and the city, so he’ll be jacked up.”
It doesn’t appear that Geoff Snider, however, will be in the lineup for Calgary. The 33- yearold hasn’t played in the last three games and Malawsky said he has been a healthy scratch.
“Geoff’s available to play,” Malawsky said. “He’s a competitor. He’s a guy that brings a lot to the table, so there will be time and place when Geoff gets into the lineup. He’s continuing to work hard, his practices have been phenomenal. He’s the ultimate professional who understands that the coaches have made a decision on the lineup.”
The guys believe in this lockerroom that we can still get the job done and that’s the most important thing.