Hudson fitting in nicely with Roughnecks
Key off-season acquisition contributing since return from training camp injury
Just a few shifts into his time with the Calgary Roughnecks and Robert Hudson is already looking like he belongs.
Two games, three goals — not bad for a youngish transition player coming into a deep and talented back end fresh to the National Lacrosse League team and just days removed from the injured list.
“Yeah, the last few games have been good, just getting confidence and trying to play consistently,” said the 26-year-old Hudson, a key off-season acquisition for the Roughnecks.
“So I've been happy with the last few games.”
He'd like to make that a third straight good-time game Saturday night, when the Roughnecks (4-5) host the Philadelphia Wings (3-5) in a tilt to give one side a leg up in the playoff race on Westjet Field at Scotiabank Saddledome (7 p.m., TSN+).
“Huddy's got a hot stick right now,” said Roughnecks bench boss Josh Sanderson.
“He's just been really good. Obviously, he was hurt at the beginning of the year, and now he's getting his chance with a new team. But I think his teammates are really starting to like his transition game.”
You know it, especially since that's how the third-year NLLER has been scoring.
Hudson, who was picked up from the Georgia Swarm for the Riggers' 30th pick in the 2023 NLL entry draft and their second round pick in 2025, had two goals in the 11-10 triumph over the host Toronto Rock two weeks ago and another last Sunday in a 17-11 win over the visiting Halifax Thunderbirds.
Both decisions were pivotal to any success the club hopes to have this year, and Hudson was right in there with timely markers.
“It was great,” said Hudson of the win over the T-birds. “Team toughness was awesome.”
That's right up his alley.
“I like to play mean,” said the native of Oakville, Ont. “And I like to play fast. I just like to have fun.”
The 200-pound lefty's solid play on defence can't be overlooked, either.
“He was a first round — sixth overall — pick here a few years back, so when we got him in the off-season, we knew he had a high ceiling,” Sanderson said. “And he's big; like, 6-foot-2, I believe.
“He's been really good defensively for us, too. He's just been steady Eddie for us, right now. But to be honest, I knew a bit about him, but I hadn't seen him play a ton besides in junior (with the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League's Mimico Mountaineers).”
And Hudson didn't get to play right away when he got here.
A shoulder injury in training camp kept him from the roster for the first third of the campaign.
“It was tough,” Hudson said. “I missed a lot of weekends, basically all of training camp. It was tough being away from the team. But just trying to be around the team to learn and talking to the older guys really helped.
“I've been fitting right in.”
And when he got the medical clearance for active duty, he jumped in and got up the floor right away.
I thought it was a good opportunity to come to Calgary and start fresh. And I was excited because Calgary is such a good team.
“In junior, I had good success as a transition player,” said Hudson, who went on from the OLA to star for the NCAA'S Vermont Catamounts, recording 51 goals over four seasons. “And here in Calgary, they kind of really push the transition. So it's nice to see guys like Shane Simpson and Zach Currier kind of push the envelope. I can just kind of follow them in that way.”
That's paid off in spades for Hudson, with his first goal for the Riggers in Ontario two weeks ago being his first career NLL tally despite two previous seasons with the Swarm.
The 26-year-old made his NLL debut in 2021-22, scooping 27 loose balls and blocking five shots that year. In 2022-23, he recorded four assists, 22 loose balls and seven caused turnovers.
“I loved my time in Georgia, but I just think I needed something new and something fresh,” Hudson said. “I thought it was a good opportunity to come to Calgary and start fresh.
“And I was excited because Calgary is such a good team.”
With a good new player now in Hudson, it appears.
“You're never satisfied, and definitely, I just want to do my best and try and help the team in any way,” said Hudson. “Our offence is great, but the transition element of our game is probably the best in the league. It's good to be here.” QUICK STICKS: Roughnecks alternate captain and star defender Eli Salama will miss his third straight game with a lower body injury ... Also out for the Riggers is D Seth Van Schepen (upper body) ... NLL veteran F Logan Schuss (MCL/ ACL), who has yet to play for his new club, remains out as well.