Twice during Saturday’s 13-6 beatdown of the Portland LumberJax by the Roughnecks, a cartoon of a swimming blue whale flashed across the power ring at the Saddledome. Providing you’re over 18, read on for an explanation of this exclusively lacrosse insult.

Kiddies and overly sensitive souls out? Alright, then let’s begin. If you’re getting slapped around BAD during a lacrosse game, you blow big blue whale dick. Adult and mature? Maybe not. An apt description of what we saw Saturday? Yup.

The thing is, it didn’t have to be that way. For 3/4ths of the first half, the winless Jax hung in with a Roughnecks teams who’s season hung in the balance. 2-1 after the first quarter? What is this, Minnesota Wild hockey? 3-3 with the opposition on the powerplay? Start writing the woulda-coulda-shoulda story.

Ah, but wait, someone forgot to tell Kaleb Toth. With the Jax having converted on the top end of a 5 on 3 powerplay to tie the score, Jax goalie Matt King inexplicably decides to go walkabout in his own end, charging up the floor with the ball, only to run smack dab into his old buddy and ex-teammate Toth, who crushes the goalie with a hard but clean shot right in the ‘off’ switch, (Later, Toth would say he let up with a chance to put King into a coma. He did) knocking the ball loose, knocking the goalie out, and sending a loose ball skipping to an opportunistic Scott Ranger, who was only too happy to bag the empty-netter and start a world-class clubbing.

At this point, two questions go begging:

A: What the hell was King thinking about?
B: Why did no one from the Jax attempt to beat Toth to death with their bare hands after he took out their goalie?

The best answers I could come up with:

A: Toth tells me that’s the way King plays the game. He’s aggressive and saw a chance to move the ball.
B: Portland didn’t renew its subscription to ‘The Code’ magazine.

Afterwards, Kaleb told me a couple of Portland players gave him shots across the wrists, accompanied by the requisite ‘That’s Bulls**t!’ complaints, yet neither was willing to do anything about it when he asked them if there was any interest in following up. Cue the Big Blue Whale.

Ranger’s shorthanded marker sparked another 4 unanswered for the Riggers, including a tasty behind the net highlight-reeler from Lewis Ratcliff that may or may not have been a crease violation, but there’s no replay in the NLL so there you go.

Come the second half Portland didn’t bring much else to the table. The best moment had to be Scott Ranger creating a turnover behind the Portland net early in the 4th quarter leading to Lewis Ratcliff’s third of the night and an 11-4 lead. Not a crucial goal, but a key indicator of the attacking mindset of a team that needed to establish just that.

Talk about turning your season around in 27 hours. In the course of a little over a day, the Roughnecks have gone fron winless to .500, getting a little separation from anyone in the West not named the Coldorado Mammoth. (4-0 after an easy Saturday win over San Jose) Next up, a home date with NLL all-time leading scorer John Tavares and the Buffalo Bandits on the 8th.

Random thoughts:

-Deep conversation between this reporter and concussed Roughnecks captain Tracey Kelusky in the pressbox:
Me: So how is it watching a game frm up here?
TK: Miserable.

A better conversation with the captain centred on the Riggers’ new aggressive defense, which didn’t look quite so aggressive Saturday. Kelusky pointed out that the defender assigned to the ball carrier was still attacking, but the off-ball defenders were more aware of their responsiblities to cut down passing lanes, hence spending less time running around. Coach Troy Cordingley echoed that point after the game, feeling like his system was finally getting executed the way it needs to be.

-He doesn’t have any big numbers as yet, but keep your eye on Kelly Hall. This guy was a presence, much to the delight of coach Cordingley who challenged Hall very publicly about his work habits in training camp. Hall could have sulked and walked away, but chose to make the coach eat his words instead. The coach couldn’t be happier.

-Give this round of the battle of the Malawsky boys to the Roughnecks’ Curt. Portland’s Derek had 2 goals and 2 assists to Curt’s 1 and 2, but dude, the Big Blue Whale.

-How the hell can a game where the shots on goal are 45-44 Calgary be so one-sided? Answer: Ryan Avery. Best game ever. Period. Ian Busby, drop and give me 20. You know why.

For the first time this year the Roughnecks passed on the opportunity to turn a first half romp into a second half disaster, taking a 16-13 win out of San Jose Friday night

After falling behind early, the Riggers went on a 7-1 tear in the second quarter to lead 11-7 at the half. Up until now, that’s been a cue for a parade to penalty box and the subsequent defensive collapse that had the Roughnecks at 0-2 heading in. This time, the defense kept it smart taking only 4 minors in the second half and allowing only one powerplay goal. Even so, things got a little more interesting than they had to be late in the 4th, thanks to two late markers for San Jose with the net empty making the score 15-13 with 24 seconds to go. Ryan McNish played comeback killer with an empty netter to put it away.

The team will spend the night in San Jose, getting an early wake up for a flight that’ll get them back to Calgary just after noon, followed by a quick snooze and a trip to the ‘Dome to face Portland Saurday night at 7:30, and a chance to even their record at 2-2.

A few quick notes:

-Great two man kill by the Roughnecks midway through the second quarter. Not only did 3 hold off 5 for more than a minute, Bruce Codd scored just as the second penalty expired to make it 9-7…re-establishing a little momentum after the Stealth had scored just before the first penalty to pull within 1.

-Stealth coach Walt Christianson had a Captain Hook act blow up in is face. Anthony Cosmo got the yank after Andrew McBride scored 35 seconds after Codd. Enter Aaron Bold to shake it up, Scott Ranger scores on the first and only shot Bold faces. Re-enter Mr. Cosmo.

-Tough night for Nolan Heavenor. Not only did he take two minors of his own, he also sat two bench minors for illegal substitution.

-Leading scorer for the Roughnecks was Jeff Shattler with 4 goals and 4 assists. Scott Ranger was 2 and 5 for 7, Kaleb Toth and Lewis Ratcliff each had 5 point nights with 3 and 2 goals respectively.

-Colin Doyle, Jeff Zywicki and Gary Rosyski each had hat tricks for the Stealth.

-Gotta love watching those internet broadcasts of the other team’s jumbotron feed so you can keep track of everyone’s lame in-house promotions. Kurt Silcott, if you ever consider Mascot lacrosse at halftime…I will personally dangle you over the pressbox catwalk by your heels until you promise never to do it again.

Well…more of a brain bruise actually. Bad news out of today’s pre-game news conference at Spolumbo’s. Captain Tracey Kelusky’s sidelined indefinitely with a concussion dating back to game one against Coldorado, but not really diagnosed until after the home opener against San Jose.

Apparently Kelusky took a rap in the noggin in that first game, didn’t really think anything of it, took a second bop on the melon during a subsequent practice, started to feel a little off, tried to go in the warmup for San Jose and felt awful. At the time the team thought it was a bad stomach flu, but after he was checked out, it turned out to be a concussion. Kelusky will rest at home while the rest of the team heads out to San Jose tonight for tomorrow’s game, which will be followed by a Saturday morning flight home that should get in around noon, followed with a 7:30 date at the Dome with Portland. Ah, the glamorous life of the pro lacrosse player.

That gem courtesy of Roughnecks assistant coach Terry Sanderson from today’s NLL coach’s call.

To help carpet-bomb the media in advance of each weekend, the NLL makes team coaches available to us a day or two before the weekend’s action begins. This time, it was Sanderson speaking for the team and pinch hitting for head coach Troy Cordingley.

The ‘brain cramp’ line was part of his rather amusing response to my question about what happened to the Riggers on defense between the first and second half of the home opener against San Jose.

As mentioned in previous posts, the game was a tale of two entirely different halves, Calgary dominating the first 30…the next 29 belonging to the Stealth before the home side stormed back late to force a brief and ill-fated overtime.

Sanderson says that while they enjoy playing the new system, there’s still something of a learning curve. Combine that with a steady parade to the penalty box, some subtle adjustments from Stealth coach Walt Christianson, a brain cramp or two, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Still, despite fact the team has started at 0-2…a record that could be exactly the opposite without the aforementioned second half collapses, Sanderson remains confident better times are ahead.

“Both games could have gone either way,” he says. “It’ll come sooner or later. We’re not going to change many things.”

“There’s a period of adjustment. We felt we could have won either one.”

The Roughnecks and the Stealth finish up the home-and-home at the HP Pavillion Friday. Saturday, the boys are back at the ‘Dome to face the Portland Lumberjax.

Further to my last post….On Thursday afternoon the NLL announced an indefinite suspension for Rock coach Glenn Clark.

The second year coach got into a dustup with Sean Pollock from Minnesota outside the dressing rooms at the ACC after the two teams met on the 11th. Pollock had been kicked out of the game earlier and was in his civvies at the time.

Good work in a timely fashion by Jim Jennings and his crew.

As in money for breast cancer research, that is.

The in game silent and post game live auctions of the Riggers’ special pink jerseys raised a big chunk of the 40 grand the opening night fundraiser put into cancer research coffers, here’s some of the bigger numbers:

Kaleb Toth-$6.000.00
Tracey Kelusky-$4,700.00
Lewis Ratcliff-$4,000.00
Steve Dietrich-$4,000.00
Andrew McBride-$3,600.00
Ryan McNish (Special game-fought in edition!) $3,250.00
Scott Ranger-$2,500.00

Well done….well done…If you missed out, you haven’t missed out as ten game-weight (as opposed to worn) jerseys are up for bid on the team webside with the auction running until noon Monday the 21st. Go to calgaryroughnecks.com and click ‘auctions’.

Congratulations to Tracey Kelusky and his way-too-cute-for-an-ugly-guy wife Emily, who are expecting a little one next summer. Here’s hoping for Tracey’s athletic end of the gene pool, and Em’s side for everything else! Seriously, great news Trace!

You have a hate it when a guy who fattens his stats on you gets player of the week honours…I give you Jeff Zywicki of San Jose, NLL overall and offensive player of the week after he laid down 5 goals, 4 assists and 14 loose balls at the Dome Saturday. You’re welcome, Jeff.

Waiting to see what the league does with Toronto Rock Head Coach Glenn Clark. Clark’s facing an assualt charge after he and the Swarm’s Sean Pollock got into it outside the dressing rooms at the ACC Friday. Clark sat out the rematch in Minny the next night. The NLL suggested it would dead with the issue Wednesday afternoon, which it is as I write this. Wonder if he’ll want a piece of McNish when the Rock are here April 19th.

For the second straight game, a second half collapse cost the Roughnecks what should have been an easy victory. For the second straight year, the San Jose Stealth took out the Roughnecks in overtime after an insane, back and forth affair.

Even in the topsy-turvy world of lacrosse, an 8-3 lead at the half with the home team outshooting the opposition 2 to 1 should be enough to guarantee victory. Sadly, it’s a game of momentum and the Stealth were able to take it and keep it through most of the second half, despite a deparate late rally by the Riggers that forced overtime.

A few thoughts:

-Tracey Kelusky tried it in the warmup, but had to call in sick. For a competitor like Kelusky, any bug that forced him to miss a game would have been the kind of bug that would have put you or I into a body bag.

-I’m excited about Troy Cordingley’s aggressive new defense. In the first half, San Jose shooters looked confused and rushed by the constant pressure of the Roughnecks defenders, and while second half Stealth adjustments made it obvious that it’s still a work in progress, Cordingley has hit on something.

-Andrew McBride took a 5 minute elbowing penalty late that allowed San Jose to complete the comeback and tie the game at 10. McBride is a guy who makes a living playing on the edge, but as a veteran and a leader wearing a letter, he has to be smarter.

-Nice to see new hire Curt Malawsky doing some damage in a Roughnecks uniform. This guy was a Roughnecks killer in Arizona, so if you can’t beat ‘em…get ‘em. Given that, Kurt Silcott should trade for Jeff Zywicki after he torched the home side for 5 goals and 4 assists Saturday.

-Lewis Ratcliff is headed for another hundred point season. Sixteen points in 2 games kinda makes that an easy prediction.

-Early numbers suggest the jersey auction and other breast cancer fundraisers raised in the neighbourhood of $40,000 dollars. Money aside, the most moving moment of the night was when those in the crowd who had battled, or knew someone who had battled breast cancer were asked to stand up. Not a lot of people were left sitting down. If that doesn’t drive home the message, you’re an idiot.

-Next up is a return date in San Jose on the 25th, followed by a home game against Portland a night later. While I honestly believe this team has the tools and talent to contend for a cup, two straight second half collapses have shrunk their margin for error considerably.

Dave

It’s finally time to jerk the curtain on the home half what could be…without being overly melodramatic…the most important season in Roughnecks history.

The championship year of 2004 seems like part of the dim, dark past, as failed expectations the last three seasons forced a huge off season shakeup. Half of the faces that took the floor against Coldorado last week weren’t in Riggers’ colours last year, while on the bench, Troy Cordingley takes over a team desparate for a return to contention.

We’ll see if off season labour strife left a bad taste in the mouths of fans, or if they’re willing to forget the ill-conceived showdown that led to the cancellation…and salvation of the ‘08 campaign. While the Roughnecks benefit from some long term labour stability, and the extra availability of players cut loose by 2 teams that decided to skip the season, ownership also has to deal with the loss of major sponsorship and a season ticket base that while not having shrunk, hasn’t grown either.

That aside, the best way to sell this game is with the product itself, and as I’ve been preaching for years, if you haven’t checked out this sport and this team close up, do ourself a favour.

Tonight I promise you hard hits, high speed, lots of scoring, and a night out that’ll leave you wanting more. For the experienced fan, keep an eye on Steve Dietrich in net, who promises to give this team the kind of netminding not seen since Curtis Palidwor was at his best in ‘04. Watch a defense that’ll challenge and pursue attackers, rather than sitting back and reacting. Watch an offense re-charged by the additions of players like Dane Dobbie and Curt Malawsky, and led once again by 104 point man Lewis Ratcliff, who put up 7 points against the Mammoth.

Pat Steinberg and I will be on air with a special Sportsline Saturday from the ‘Dome. Catch us along with a steady stream of Roughnecks players and coaches from 4 to 7 this afternon.

Now on a lighter note, a new notes and observations for tonight:

-You might need to pay the babysitter for an extra hour. In last year’s season opener, these same two teams set an NLL record for longest game ever, exentually won by San Jose 17-16 in OT.

-Appearing in support of the Roughnecks breast cancer fundraiser at a news conference this week, Stamps linebacker Scott Coe talked about wanting to try out for the ‘Riggers when his CFL days are done. Perhaps the team would be better served by recruiting Henry Burris’ wife Nicole, whos starred in field lacrosse during the couple’s days at Temple. Both Coe and Burris will be at the game tonight.

-The team’s sporting pink jerseys tonight, but for Kaleb Toth, the problem colour is white. The team’s supplying pink ties for the players to wear before and after the game tonight, and yesterday on Mike’s show, Toth told us he doesn’t own a white dress shirt to go with the tie! Two words, Toth. Wal-Mart.

-The Roughnecks get next weekend off, then head to San Jose for a return visit with the Stealth on the 25th, returning for a home date against Portland a night later. It’s an off night for the Flames during the all-star break, so make sure you check it out.

-Check here tomorrow..I’m hoping to have the results of the auctions for the game worn pink jerseys. Enjoy the game.

Dave

Look ma….it’s a blog! Hey, for a guy with a functioning dial phone and TV with a clunk tuner in his house, this is big news!

Welcome to my brand new blog, which will the home of all things Roughnecks, and come the season, race car stuff (You had to know THAT was coming!) This will be the place for all the news from the Roughnecks and teh NLL, starting with this weekend’s home opener against San Jose.

It’s a new year in more ways than one for this team. Another disappointing end to the season has prompted big changes, starting at the top with new coach Troy Cordingley. Original bench boss Chris Hall didn’t last the year in ‘07….and now Cordingley comes in charged with making the ‘Riggers a championship contender in short order.

A look at the lineup card shows a host of new faces surrounding core players like Tracey Kelusky, Kaleb Toth and Lewis Ratcliff. Doubtless the biggest change is in goal, where Steve Dietrich takes over for a disappointing Andrew Leyshon. ‘Chugger’ coems in as the centrepiece of GM Kurt Silcott’s biggest off season move…a complicated three way deal forced by Taylor Wray’s need to move to Philadelphia. The loss of Wray, Craig Gelsvik (work) and Andy Ogilvie (retired) means a big time makeover on the back end, where vets like Andrew McBride and newbies like Bruce Codd will be charged with running Cordingley’s aggressive defence. McBride also becomes the focal point of the transition game with the retirement of Jesse Phillips.

And the ‘New Look’ won’t stop there this Saturday….the team will be sporting hot pink jerseys to help raise cash and awareness for breast cancer research, with fundraisers set up around the concourse, and said jerseys set to be auctioned off during the game and on the team’s website afterwards. Fans can also donate through ticketmaster when they buy their tickets, and for FAN club members….get the cash to donate by entering the keyword ‘fan’ on the ticketmaster website for a discount.

Catch P-Stine and I live from the Hot Stove Lounge for a special Sportsline Saturday from 4 to 7 as we set up the game and the season…and check back here often for the latest Roughnecks news and views. See you at the Dome.

Later

Dave