By: Riley Pollock – 06.12.24
SETTIN’ IT UP
Looking for a strong start.
The Roughnecks aim to get off on the right foot when they head to Halifax Saturday to take on the Thunderbirds in their season-opener at 3 p.m. MT on TSN.
The Riggers head into the season with eyes on getting back into the postseason after missing the playoffs for just the third time in franchise history last year. The Roughnecks fell in their season opener 14-13 in Rochester last season.
Halifax has been bounced in the first round of playoffs in each of their first three full seasons since moving from Rochester. They won their season opener 17-12 over Saskatchewan last year.
This is the only matchup between the Roughnecks and Thunderbirds this season. The Riggers are 3-1 all time against the Halifax version of their franchise with three straight wins including a 17-11 victory last season that saw 99 combined penalty-minutes in the contest.
Returning Roughnecks Dane Dobbie needs four assists to reach 600 in his NLL career, while Jesse King will play his 96th career NLL game on Saturday.
Players To Watch
Roughnecks: F Jesse King: King had nine points (3g, 6a) in their matchup last year which was a season high. He will look to set a career high in points for a third straight season having 100 in 2022-23, and 105 last year.
Thunderbirds: F Thomas Hoggarth: Hoggarth played last season with the Roughnecks registering 14 goals and 18 points in 16 games.
2023-24 Scoring Leaders:
Roughnecks:
Jesse King – 105 points (32g, 73a)
Dane Dobbie (SD) – 70 points (24g, 46a)
Tanner Cook – 65 points (26g, 39a)
Curtis Dickson (SD) – 64 points (27g, 37a)
Thunderbirds:
Clarke Petterson – 104 points (40g, 64a)
Cody Jamieson – 63 points (22g, 41a)
Dawson Theede – 58 points (30g, 28a)
