CALGARY, AB — As the 2015-16 season gets closer, CalgaryRoughnecks.com took a look back at the team’s off-season moves:
ROUGHNECKS INK SCIGLIANO – JULY 7
Calgary Roughnecks general manager Mike Board wasted no time following the Roughnecks post-season run to shore up his goaltending situation for the next three years. The team came to terms with Frankie Scigliano, a 23-year old from Coquitlam, BC. In 2015, Scigliano held a 6-6 record with an 11.12 GAA and a 0.773 save percentage.
LEUNG RETURNS – AUGUST 12
Next on the wish list for Board was transition player-of-the-year nominee, Karsen Leung. The sophomore had an excellent season for the Roughnecks in 2015 recording 35 points (11g, 24a) while scooping up 79 loose balls. He agreed on a two-year pact to stay in Calgary.
CARNEGIE RETAINED – AUGUST 17
In 2015, assistant captain Mike Carnegie was the team’s top scoring defenceman with 10 points. Having spent his entire 8-year career with the Roughnecks, he wanted to remain with the team and he signed on for two more years. He is a leader on and off the floor and will be an important part of the Roughnecks going forward.
PRACTICE SQUADIES RE-SIGNS – AUGUST 20
The Roughnecks re-signed two of their practice squad players from 2015 to one-year deals; Tor Reinholdt and Tyson Roe. While Roe did not appear in a game, former 6th overall pick Reinholdt drew in for one game where he recorded one assist.
MACRAE, O’MEARA COMMIT – AUGUST 24
The Roughnecks continued to secure their defence by signing Dan MacRae and practice squad player Patrick O’Meara to one-year deals. MacRae appeared in 11 games where he notched six assists and scooped 68 loose balls.
HARNETT STAYS WITH ROUGHNECKS – SEPTEMBER 23
Coming off of a Mann Cup victory with the Victoria Shamrocks, Jon Harnett agreed to a one-year contract with Calgary. The seventh-year defenceman played in 17 games in 2015, recording four points (4a) and scooping 46 loose balls.
2015 NLL DRAFT- SEPTEMBER 28
The NLL Draft was a busy night for Mike Board and the Roughnecks as they selected nine players; Wesley Berg (forward – 1st round, 4th overall), Reilly O’Connor (forward – 1st round, 7th overall), Mitch de Snoo (transition – 2nd round, 13th overall), Christian Del Bianco (goalie – 2nd round, 15th overall), Tyson Bell (defence – 3rd round, 24th overall), Kellen LeClair (defence – 3rd round, 25th overall), Jacob Ruest (forward – 4th round, 35th overall), Jordan Kancsal (goalie – 5th round, 44th overall), and Carson Barton (forward – 6th round, 51st overall).
MCBRIDE RETIRES – OCTOBER 19
A sad day for the Roughnecks, long-time captain and career Roughneck, Andrew McBride announced his retirement. He completed an illustrious 13-year career with 19 goals, 68 assists, 711 loose balls, and 198 games played — a Roughnecks’ franchise record.
ROUGHNECKS ACQUIRE DIGBY – OCTOBER 26
The Roughnecks sent shock-waves through the lacrosse world when they made a blockbuster trade with the New England Black Wolves. The Roughnecks acquired 6-foot-3 forward Tyler Digby and two first round picks in exchange for Shawn Evans and a third round pick.
“Tyler Digby is a really good addition. He adds a dimension that we haven’t had in our offence for a while,” Board said. “He’s a big guy who can do things that other can’t because he’s a big guy with touch.”
“Our offence will look different with some youth in there, but I’m thinking that we won’t miss a beat. That’s what we’re hoping to do. That’s why we targeted the player that we got. We felt that he could bring something to our offence that we haven’t had. It’ll be a different offence, but we’re looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
ROUGHNECKS SIGN SEVEN – OCTOBER 28
The Roughnecks were a busy team at the end of October, coming to terms on one-year agreements with seven players. The team signed draft picks Carson Barton, Tyson Bell, Mitch de Snoo, Jordan Kancsal, Kellen LeClair, and Jacob Ruest. They also signed free agent forward Jason Jones.
BRINGING IN BANISTER – OCTOBER 30
Calgary added another transition played to the mix when they signed Mitch Banister, the son of former team owner, Brad Banister. Mitch, originally drafted by the Edmonton Rush, has only one game of NLL experience where he assisted on a goal.
FIRST ROUNDERS SIGNED – NOVEMBER 3
The Roughnecks came to terms with both of their 2015 first round draft choices. The team signed Wesley Berg to a one-year deal, while they signed O’Connor to a two-year contract. Berg finished his collegiate career as the University of Denver’s franchise leader in points (255) and goals (188). O’Connor played his collegiate lacrosse with the Georgetown Hoyas where he served as captain in his final year, notching 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points.
ALL 2015 DRAFT PICKS LOCKED UP – NOVEMBER 9
The final unsigned draft pick, Christian Del Bianco, agreed to a one-year deal with the Roughnecks. The 18-year-old declared early for the draft after winning gold with Team Canada at the 2015 U-19 World Lacrosse Challenge. With the Coquitlam Jr. A Adanacs, he recorded a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season with a 5.91 GAA and a .856 SV%. In the playoffs, he was 12-4 with a 6.85 GAA and a .814 SV%.
