Currier brings speed, power to Roughnecks’ evolving arsenal
It has been an unusual pre-season camp for the Calgary Roughnecks, with players unavailable for various work- and injury-related reasons.
But one guy the coaching staff really wanted to get a look at is the speedy Zach Currier, their top pick and third overall in the 2017 National Lacrosse League draft, and they like what they’ve seen so far.
“When we drafted him we knew he was fast, that he was built for the NLL,” said Calgary head coach Curt Malawsky. “But the thing I’ve noticed is that he has a huge engine, a huge motor. He can run for days it seems and he doesn’t get tired. He’s a guy we can lean on as a workhorse, him and Tyson Bell. That’s one big thing. You don’t want to put pressure on a young guy to score goals, but just watching his skill set, it’s inevitable he’ll put the ball in the net.”
The Roughnecks get a final opportunity to assess their lineup in anticipation of the upcoming season when they play Vancouver at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday night (7 p.m.). It’ll also be the Calgary fans’ first look at the dynamic Currier, out of Peterborough.
“It’s been going well,” Currier said of his first pro camp. “You can never really tell until you’re thrown in the fire, but it’s definitely a lot faster and I imagine it’ll only get faster the closer you get to season. That’ll be the biggest adjustment for sure.
“It’s going to be nice to be able to play in front of the home crowd, get a taste of what it’s going to be like. Once the team is selected, which I hope I’m part of, then it’ll be gearing up for the season and building that camaraderie, that cohesiveness the team needs to be successful on the floor.”
Trying to get the chemistry working has been a real challenge for Malawsky and the coaches, as a number of players have been M.I.A. during the four pre-season games.
“When the season starts earlier, guys have previous commitments,” Malawsky said. “But for who we’ve had at camp, they’ve worked extremely hard. We’ve got a lot done. It’s not a crutch, from a coach’s preparation you’d like to have all hands on deck so you can assess and prepare.
“We’ve changed systems up front so we need guys to get some reps and minutes, to know what we’re doing. We’re getting better each week, so that’s good. But we need more time under our belt. We have to start forming what we want toward that Dec. 9 game. I think we’re right on task, but we need to maximize the time we’re on the floor.”
The ’Necks start the NLL season in Rochester on Dec. 9, a month earlier than usual, then return home the following weekend against Vancouver.
A number of players have been let go, bringing camp down to a workable group, one that must get down to 24, including the practice roster, by Nov. 24. That means another three or four cuts.
“It’s going to be very difficult,” Malawsky said. “Everyone should make a team; the problem is who shouldn’t make it. This is the toughest part of our jobs, having to make these final decisions. The boys make it very difficult for us. It’s tough emotionally. Yeah, it’s a business, but we all have a human side. You hope it’s cut and dried, but going into this weekend, it’s still not clear. It’ll come down to the game on Saturday night.”
The Roughnecks still haven’t come to a contract agreement with sniper Wesley Berg, so the thirdyear hasn’t been at camp. Those negotiations are ongoing.
Everyone should make a team; the problem is who shouldn’t make it. This is the toughest part of our jobs.