Roughnecks Blow Out Mammoth at LEC 20-11

Once again the Langley Event Center home of the two time WLA Champs Langley Thunder played host to the National Lacrosse League.  This year the Calgary Roughnecks and Colorado Mammoth were the combatants.  The game had a local flavor to it, as the fans had the chance to watch two of there on Thunder in action.  Matt Leveque (Calgary) and Ian Poole (Colorado).

After falling behind 6-2 the Mammoth score the final 4 of the first quarter on Calgary starter Frankie Scigliano.  Scigliano had a rough night allowing 7 goals on 16 shots, Veteran Mike Poulin played the entire second half only allowing 4 goals on 26 shots.  The Riggers offense was led by veterans Scott Ranger (4G/3A) Curtis Dickson (5G/3A) &  Jeff Shattler (5G/3A).  The Riggers sat Kaleb Toth and Dane Dobbie.  Shawn Evans played the first quarter and a couple shifts in the second before calling it a night, while face-off specialist Geoff Snider became a spectator after the first half.

The Mammoth were led by second year forward Jordan McBride who tallied 4G/2A.  Chris Levis started in goal for the Mammoth allowing 13 goals on 33 shots.  Matt Roik took over in the second half allowing 7 goals on 17 shots.  The Mammoth where without the services of league MVP John Grant Jr, Sean Pollock, and Ian Hawksbee

It wouldn’t be lacrosse if there wasn’t a fight.  A few minutes into the third quarter Calgary’s Matt Leveque and Mammoth veteran Gavin Prout dropped the gloves, both players landed a few shots to the body before wrestling to the turf.  Result: Draw.  Both of your hometown Thunder players Ian Poole and Matt Leveque had a good showing in there return to the event center.  Both players hope that their  showing last night will help them earn a spot on their respected team and the start of two N.L.L. careers.

Last nights game saw the two new rules being enforced to help prevent concussions.  The first is the 5 minute major for any high stick to the head.  Last season you could get a two minute for high sticking, not this year.  The second of the two rules is the players chin straps.  Last season we have seen a number of players helmets come off whether it be from a hard hit, or from  a minor high stick (last year rule) which would cause the helmet to come off in the hopes of drawing a major penalty.  This year the chin strap must be in contact with the players chin and not dangle as its done in years past.  The team will receive a warning first, then each player who is found not to have the straps on correctly when on the floor will receive a minor penalty for illegal equipment.   Hopefully, with the enforcement of these two rules the chances for concussions will decrease.