The Calgary Roughnecks started their quest for the 2015 Champion’s Cup on Saturday at the TRAC in Toronto, well, sorta… It was exhibition but lacrosse is still lacrosse.
Roughnecks opened the preseason with a tilt against the Toronto Rock with a strong showing by everyone on the floor in a 14-5 romp on a five-goal performance from sophomore forward Marty Dinsdale.
The Rock opened the scoring with two early goals coming from Scott Johnston, Brandon Benn and then Marty Dinsdale got his name on the score sheet again next on the power play to answer back for the Necks. A minute later the Rock got one back by Brady Hestline and as the back and fourth first period continued Casey Jackson answered back with his only goal of the night to get on in on the scoring at the midway point of the first.
Rolling on the momentum of the Jackson goal Dinsdale started getting a hot stick netting back-to-back-to-back goals, getting the Roughnecks a late first period lead. Faceoff specialist Geoff Snider buried one off the draw from Dinsdale’s goal as the Roughnecks rode that momentum to one more late first quarter goal from Jordan McBride to end the quarter up 7-3.
Starting the second the way they ended the first Geoff Snider got his second of the game with Tyson Roe getting his first assist in a Roughnecks jersey on the goal. Mike Carnegie got into the score column next for the Roughnecks as the momentum was all on their side and the Rock couldn’t seem to find an answer for the Roughnecks goaltending.
With 5:26 left in the second quarter Brandon Benn stopped the bleeding finally for the Rock making it 9-4 but it was too little, too late as the Roughnecks were rolling. Roughnecks leading scorer last year Dane Dobbie got into the scoring with back to back goals late in the second frame to go into the half up 11-4.
Jordan McBride got his second of the night at the start of the third on a power play goal for the only goal of the third quarter. Mike Burke got an early goal in the fourth for the Rock but this game was well out of hand for them. Dinsdale got one right after for his fifth of the night and late Connor Goodwin.
A big part of the loss for Toronto comes from missing their main asset last year, captain Colin Doyle, who got 72 points last season for the Rock as the Rock went 0-for-12 on the power play in the game. The Rock also sat out other main players sitting Josh Sanderson, Kasey Beirnes, Patrick Merrill as well as Rob Marshall and Sandy Chapman.
For the defending west division champions this is a great start considering key players were missing from their lineup with Shawn Evans, Curtis Dickson, Jeff Shattler as well as Pete McFeteridge, Greg and Jon Harnett also took the night off.
The Roughnecks get right back at it with another game at the TRAC tomorrow with a battle against the Minnesota Swarm. Opening faceoff is at 10 am (MT).
