The Calgary Roughnecks 2011 season was anything but expected. After some off
season trades, which included shipping former captain Tracey Kelusky to Buffalo, the
franchise entered their tenth season pegged by many as a guaranteed playoff miss.
However, the new look Calgary squad went on to post a league’s best 11-5 record in the
2011 regular season before falling in the second round of playoffs. After a successful regular season in 2012 led to yet another early playoff exit, the Roughnecks
looked to add some youth to last year’s surprisingly successful team at the 2012 NLL
Entry Draft.
First Pick (1st Round 6th Overall): Joe Resetarits- (University at Albany, Brampton
Excelsiors)
On a Roughnecks roster made up of only Canadian players, the Hamburg, N.Y. native
Resetarits may seem like an odd ï¬rst round choice. However, unlike other American
draftees the righty sniper holds a very impressive box lacrosse resume. Resetarits
spent a successful junior A career with the St. Catherine’s Athletics before moving onto
the MSL’s Brampton Excelsiors. After contributing on a Mann Cup winning team in his
rookie MSL season, Resetarits stepped up in 2012 posting 28 points in 12 games and
tying with Joe Walters’ for the team scoring lead. He not only has a wealth of experience
with the box game but is also already familiar with professional lacrosse, spending his
rookie season with the Hamilton Nationals of the MLL this past summer. With two years
of Senior A ball under his belt and prior professional lacrosse experience, Resetarits will
look to make an immediate impact on Calgary’s offense.
Second Pick (1st Round 7th Overall) Matthew Dinsdale (Coquitlam Adanacs)
Matthew Dinsdale is used to playing on the big stage, having been to the Minto Cup
ï¬nals with the Coquitlam Adanacs the last four years and winning the title in 2010.
Dinsdale knows how to create on offense, leading the BCJALL in scoring in the 2012
regular season with 95 points, but it is his versatile ability at both ends of the floor that
made him a high proï¬le NLL prospect heading into the draft. If he cracks the
Roughnecks roster, he will be coached by a familiar face. Assistant General Manager
and Head Coach Curt Malawsky was also head coach of the Adanacs during their 2010
Minto Cup title. While Dinsdale is not a guarantee to crack the squad right away, his all
around game and familiarity with Malawsky’s system could make him a new addition to
Calgary’s 2013 roster.
Third Pick (2nd Round 17th Overall) Jackson Decker (Limestone College, Burnaby
Lakers)
Port Moody, BC native Jackson Decker is a second round pick with high potential.
Decker had a decently successful junior career, posting 178 points with Burnaby before
spending his ï¬nal season in Coquitlam where he put up 42 points. He also had
respectable numbers with Burnaby’s senior A team this summer with 15 points in 9
appearances. Decker’s accolades earned at Limestone College may turn more heads
than his indoor stats. During his four years at Limestone the 6’0 185 pound righty won an NCAA DII National Championship and was a two-time ï¬rst team All American. If
Decker can make an impact with Calgary either immediately or in seasons to come, this
pick could wind up being a steal.
Fourth Pick (4th Round 36th Overall): Chad Cummings- (Kitchener-Waterloo Braves)
At 6’4 170 pounds Chad Cummings brings some valuable size to the table. The
defensive specialist does not have a long resume, splitting time with K-W and Brampton
in the junior A loop while focusing more on hockey. Despite previously being committed
to Brockport State College for hockey, Cummings has switched his focus to lacrosse full
time and will look to make up for the years he’s missed with an impressive camp.
Fifth Pick (5th Round 45th Overall): Kyle Dexter- (Okotoks Raiders)
Victoria, BC native Kyle Dexter is an under the radar pick with some quality attributes to
for a ï¬fth rounder. At 6’5 205 pounds, the transition player has the physical tools to be a
presence in both ends. While not a huge producer, Dexter put up respectable stats in
his junior career including averaging ï¬ve loose balls per game this past summer.
Sixth Pick (6th Round 50th Overall): Curtis Pridham- (Calgary Mountaineers)
Calgary native Curtis Pridham will look to bring some hometown appeal to the roster
when he enters Roughnecks training camp. With players from Alberta often not getting
the recognition those from Ontario and BC receive, Calgary chose to look in their own
back yard and selected the Mountaineers captain. With leadership skills and valuable
experience gained from appearing in the 2012 Minto Cup, Pridham is a character player
that may one day make crack the roster on his hometown squad.
Seventh Pick (6th Round 54th Overall): Myles Dennett- (Calgary Mountaineers)
Calgary rounded out their 2012 draft class with another hometown selection and
another Moutaineer, Myles Dennett. At 5’9 170 pounds, Dennett is fairly undersized for
a defensive player. Despite his size, Dennett is not afraid to ï¬ght for his spot on the
floor, ï¬nishing top ï¬ve in the RMLL’s loose ball leaders category the past two seasons.
He will need to bring this tenacity to camp to stand out among the other prospects.
