Well the final preseason weekend came and went with the Minnesota Swarm taking on the each other and the Calgary Roughnecks. The Swarm’s inter-squad scrimmage took place on Friday night and although being a lighter affair there were still guys looking to make the roster and needed to show what they could do. Team Yellow took home the Golden Nutcracker!
On Saturday the Swarm took on the Calgary Roughnecks and played a rather lackluster game and came out on the losing end of a 19-9 game. Both Tyler Carlson and Zach Higgins got playing time but both looked gassed and not ready for the game.
On Sunday the Swarm did something that they are not accustomed to, they signed a free agent right before the season. Now that free agent is Mike Hobbins, who has played 7 season in the NLL and is one of the stronger defensemen in the league, but this something new for the Swarm. They have acquired Hobbins’ services for 2 years.
Also on this being the day that teams had to submit their final rosters, the Swarm have a team set.
Forwards (5): Callum Crawford, Josh Gillam, Shayne Jackson, Scott Jones and Logan Schuss.
Transition (7): David Earl, Cameron Flint, Tyler Hass, Jordan MacIntosh, Kiel Matisz, Brock Sorensen and Andrew Suitor.
Defensemen (6): Alex Crepinsek, Greg Downing, Jeff Gilbert, Mike Hobbins, Jordan Houtby and Jason Noble.
Goaltenders (2): Tyler Carlson and Zach Higgins.
Practice Squad:
Physically Unable to Perform (PUP): Matt Gibson (F).
This list has five rookies on it Logan Schuss, Scott Jones, Cameron Flint, Jordan Houtby and Jason Noble. The rookies who were at camp but didn’t make the squad included Zach Palmer and Nick Jonas, but the team has yet to name their practice squad players, so there will still be some maneuvering in the near future.
The Swarm open the season against the Rochester Knighthawks, in a fast becoming rivalry on December 28th in Rochester. There is still some work that needs doing but Swarm fans should be expecting a lot out of this team.
