It’s that time of year again when the NLL is getting ready for training camp and the preseason. This year the Colorado Mammoth have already made some bold key moves. Of course we know that John Grant Jr. will be back for another year; and the Mammoth just announced that they have signed Drew Westervelt, Sean Pollock, Jamie Shewchuk, D.J. Lubs, Bob Snider and Colton Porter to one-year agreements.
The Mammoth also signed the following players from the NLL Entry Draft to two-year agreements: Eli McLaughlin, Robert Hope, Alexis Buque, Zach Rogers, D.J. Giacobbo, Terry Ellis and Mike Crampton.
A slight rumor says that new draft pick Michael “Tree” Simon who also plays for the Denver Outlaws may not be playing for the Mammoth this season. With Simon living in Maryland, and his new job, between the commute during the Outlaws season and factoring in the additional time required to play in the NLL it may just be too much of a strain.
The Mammoth will also be without Eric Law for the first month of the season due to a shoulder injury this summer. Both Law and the Mammoth are confident that he will make a speedy recovery and be on the floor early into the regular season.
Other key players locked up by the Mammoth are John Gallant, Joey Cupido, Athan Iannucci, Adam Jones, Dan Ball, Cam Holding (three-year agreement) and net-minder Dillon Ward (five-year agreement).
Training camp is going to be interesting this fall. The rookies are going to have to make a great impression on the coaching staff of Pat Coyle, Chris Gill and Dan Stroup. The veteran players on the team are going to be an inspiration to the young players coming in just out of college and those who have only played field lacrosse. In addition, since every member of the coaching staff is a former player, the newcomers will have excellent coaching in preparation for the 2014-2015 season.
The NLL has announced the preseason schedule and here’s what’s up for the Colorado Mammoth:
Saturday, Nov. 15 – 6-8am – Bladium Sports & Fitness Club (Denver, CO)
Sunday, Nov. 16 – 9-11am – Parker Fieldhouse (Parker, CO)
Friday, Dec. 5 – 8:15-11:15pm – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 1:30-3:30pm & 7:30-9:30pm – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Friday, Dec. 12 – 9-11pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 1-3pm & 7-10pm (scrimmage vs. Minnesota) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10am-1pm – (scrimmage vs. Buffalo) – First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 6-8am – Bladium Sports & Fitness Club (Denver, CO)
In Lacrosse We Trust will be covering each of these games and you will see updates on the progress of the Mammoth; who made the cut and who didn’t.
Stay tuned, the upcoming season for the Colorado Mammoth will be an interesting one, and if they can harness all the talent they have, they are definitely going to be exciting to watch in 2015.
