When the horn sounded back on May 9, it signaled not only the end of the Mammoth season, but another playoff elimination defeat to the Calgary Roughnecks.
When the month of April started the Mammoth were one game out of first place in the west. But losing four of the last six regular season games, and being outscored 72-56, while the Rush won five of six placed the Mammoth at 9-9.
Fast forward to August 19 and the Mammoth make a huge move by signing Georgia Swarm free agent Callum Crawford to a three year deal that will obviously bolster the offense. Now a week after they bring over Crawford’s teammate, defenseman Greg Downing. Downing, a seven-year veteran, will help the back end with his gritty and smart play.
These are two moves that needed to be made as the Mammoth do not have a pick in the draft until the fourth round (32nd overall). Adding Downing on the back end with Cam Holding, Ian Hawksbee, Robert Hope and Creighton Reid will give them a solid defense, something this team needs if they plan on winning the west and returning to the Champion’s Cup, as well as stopping the final month swoon.
In 105 games, Downing has collected 520 loose balls, and in the last two seasons he has forced 49 turnovers compared to 28 the previous three years. This will be a huge asset should he continue this pace.
Downing said about his decision on signing a two year deal with the Mammoth,“I’ve called Denver home for the last three years, and I couldn’t be more excited to suit up in front of my family and friends, and the best fans in the NLL.”
Downing is only the second American-born player on the Colorado roster, and also the second former Swarm player.
