The Colorado Mammoth are set to open their regular season at the Pepsi Center on December 28, 2013 against their Western rivals the Edmonton Rush.
With the new 7 year collective bargaining agreement now in play raising the games per season from 16 to 18, it’s tougher to make the team with only those players who are the fittest and can move up and down the field making the cut. The depth of the players is reduced as well with smaller 16-dressed rosters; however the new agreement benefits both players and owners. It also allows the fans to have the teams around longer and is beneficial to the success of the NLL.
Coach Bob Hamley of the Colorado Mammoth said that the game is so fast, players are bigger and faster, and conditioning will be the test as to who will play the most on the Mammoth roster. Preseason workouts and training really brought out the best in the players and showed who really wanted to be a part of the 2014 squad. They are working on transition, 2 on 1 and 3 on 2 defense, and principles on the defensive end. He is proud of John Grant Jr.’s leadership as well as veterans Sean Pollock and John Gallant helping out the younger guys, saying that John Gallant is second to none in his leadership abilities. Dillon Ward is only going to get better, and Tye Belanger, who played the off season in Canada, stepped his game even more.
John Grant Jr. said this was the best training camp ever. In the past guys were arriving to practice late, but this year players were arriving sometimes an hour early with a type of enthusiasm he hasn’t seen in a while. He said the players are extremely excited to play this season. Grant Jr. said he’s been working out two to three times per week because it’s harder to keep up with the younger players, but he’s in the best shape since he started playing lacrosse.
According to NLL.com, of the top 50 players in the NLL this season, Colorado has the 16th best all around in Adam Jones, forward. Stephen Stamp was quoted saying “Jones is very talented both as a shooter and a passer. Perhaps his greatest asset is a knack for being in the right place at the right time. It’s a hallmark of his high lacrosse IQ that Jones is consistently able to find the soft spots in opponents defenses and arrive there at just the right time to receive a pass. It’s a skill that looks deceptively simple but reveals a tremendous understanding of the game.”
Drew Westervelt, forward, was chosen as 37th all around and Stephen Stamp was also quoted saying “At 6’5” and about 240 pounds, Westervelt is a load to try and stop. He’s also highly athletic, as his variety of creative crease dives and flashy plays have shown. The combination has made him one of the most consistent goal-scoring threats in the league, he’s put up between 27 and 36 goals in each of his five NLL seasons”.
The Edmonton Rush also had players in the top 50 NLL list by NLL.com. Mark Matthews, forward was 20th , Chris Corbiel, defenseman 24th , Corey Small, forward 32nd, Brett Mydske, defenseman 41st , and Aaron Bold, goaltender was 50th. However, Small is out this season.
Between the two teams, they have 8 of the top 50 players ranked by NLL.com. So, with the reduced rosters, stronger & faster players what is the match up going to look like this weekend against the Edmonton Rush?
Looking back on 2013, the Colorado Mammoth, who ended the season 4th in the NLL west with a 7 and 9 record and a .438 win percentage, had 185 GF, 202 GA, 486 points, 301 assists, 50 PPG, 173 forced turnovers, 1,003 loose balls, 793 SOG, 158 FO won, 284 FO lost and a 35.7 in FO percentage. Special teams-90 PPA, 85 PK, 44 PK goals allowed, 48.2 in PK percentage, 55.6 in PP percentage. On defense-775 SOG, 573 saves, 12.66 in GAA percentage and a .739 save percentage.
The Edmonton Rush in 2013 were 3rd in the NLL west with a 9 and 7 record and a .563 win percentage, 203 GF, 170 GA, 512 points, 309 assists, 33 PPG, 209 forced turnovers, 1,099 loose balls, 849 SOG, 183 FO won, 256 FO lost and a 41.7 in FO percentage. Special teams – 67 PPA, 52 PK, 31 PK goals allowed, 40.4 in PK percentage, 49.3 in PP percentage. On defense-667 SOG, 497 saves, 10.51 in GAA percentage and a .745 save percentage.
So with the opening of the 2014 season, which team has acquired the best talent to win this Saturday’s game?
The Colorado Mammoth have Jamie Lincoln in transition. He played 15 games last year, led the league in loose balls with 101 and had zero penalty minutes. Then you have John Gallant, a defenseman who is an ageless wonder, playing 176 games with the Mammoth. Bob Snider is 2nd best in the league with FO wins. Not to forget John Grant Jr., forward, who leads the league in goals and points, Drew Westervelt, forward, with an average 30 goals per season, and Tye Belanger, goalie with the 4th best save percentage in the NLL.
When you add the young talent the Mammoth have acquired to the stellar veterans already on the roster, the Mammoth are going to give the Edmonton Rush a run for their money.
Who do the Mammoth have to watch out for? Well, there’s Mark Matthews, forward & 20th overall best player of 2014 according to NLL.com. Bob Chavez was quoted saying “The sky is the limit for Matthews, who has that rare combination of size and skill. Much like Grant, he’s got the size to post up and push defenders around if they body him. But he’s also got the shooting skill to use in space if defenders back up and try to play his hands. It really is a pick-your-poison for opponents, who will likely get burned either way”.
Another player to watch is Chris Corbiel, defenseman picked as the NLL.com 24th overall player. Bob Chavez was quoted saying “Don’t let the smooth style of Corbiel fool you. There’s just as much passion and drive in his game as anyone out there. He’s in your face with discipline, and he’s sparking transition with the best in the game. And if it takes a few punches to the grill to get the point across, he can take care of that too. He’s a leader by both example and words, and at just 25 years old, there’s a lot of great lacrosse to come from him”.
The Rush’s goaltender, Aaron Bold, chosen 50th among the top 50 NLL players for 2014, should be starting in goal. Stephen Stamp was quoted saying “Bold had to wait for a chance to become a starter, but he seized it when it arrived in Edmonton. He has proven that when he’s on his game he can be as good any goalie in the league”.
With the players at forward, strong transition players on both sides, tough defenseman, great goaltending and speed on the field, veteran and new young players coming into the league, this is going to be an exciting home opener for the Mammoth.
