With their first pick in last week’s NLL draft, the fourth pick overall, the Calgary Roughnecks selected forward Wes Berg.
Berg graduated from the University of Denver Pioneers last spring as their all-time leading scorer, with 188 goals and 255 total points. Along the way he led them to an NCAA championship while also winning the tournament’s most outstanding player award.
Over the summer, he amassed 12 points in seven regular season games for the Oakville Rock of Major Series Lacrosse before exploding for 15 points in five games in the playoffs.
Berg was also drafted by the Denver Outlaws of MLL; he played in two games and scored once in his first action as a professional lacrosse player.
Berg will add depth to the right side for the Roughnecks, filling an offensive slot left vacant after the 2014 season when Scott Ranger retired. Matt Dinsdale and Sean Pollock took turns attempting to replace Ranger’s output, but neither could make up for the absence of a 50-point man.
Berg has the scoring touch to be able to fill that hole. Adding another righty weapon to complement reigning MVP Shawn Evans (47 goals, 130 points) and Curtis Dickson (48 goals, 93 points) should create space and give Evans another dangerous option to feed.
Calgary kicks off the 2016 season on Jan 2 when they host the defending champion Saskatchewan Rush.
