By: Riley Pollock – 27.12.24
SETTIN’ IT UP
The Riggers are looking to breathe rarified air on Saturday night.
They hope to continue to rack up wins and become the first Roughnecks team since the 2009 championship side to go 3-0 to start a campaign.
The Riggers face off with the Vancouver Warriors in the home-opener on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Scotiabank Saddledome. TICKETS
The Riggers (2-0) have won back-to-back thrillers to start the year. First, a 18-17 comeback victory in Halifax and then a 13-12 overtime win over Albany two weekends ago with Dane Dobbie scoring eight-straight goals in the victory.
Vancouver (1-1) picked up their first victory of the season their last time out defeating Rochester 10-7. They fell to Colorado 11-7 way back in Week 1 of the season.
Dobbie sits tied for first in the NLL with 13 goals this season despite having the least games played out of anyone in the top 10. He needs one goal on Saturday to pass Dan Dawson for fifth all time in NLL goals. He also needs just two points to pass Shawn Williams for 10th all time in that category.
This is the first of two matchups between the Riggers and Warriors this season. The Roughnecks will head to Vancouver Feb. 7. The ‘Necks have won five straight in the Western Canada rivalry. The Warriors last picked up a victory against them on Feb. 18, 2022.
Players To Watch
Roughnecks: F Tanner Cook: Cook led the way against Vancouver in last year’s only matchup. He had five goals and two assists in the 14-7 victory. Cook had four points in the home-opener win last season.
Warriors: G Aden Walsh: Walsh has put up some great numbers in his two starts this season. He’s second in the league in goals-against average and save percentage.
2024-25 Scoring Leaders:
Roughnecks:
Jesse King – 17 points (2g, 15a)
Dane Dobbie – 17 points (13g, 4a)
Curtis Dickson – 15 points (7g, 8a)
Tanner Cook – 10 points (5g, 5a)
Warriors:
Keegan Bal – 6 points (5g, 1a)
Owen Grant – 5 points (4g, 1a)
Kevin Crowley – 4 points (1g, 3a)
Goaltending 2024-25 Head-to-Head:
Cam MacLeod: 2-0
GAA: 15.71
SV %: 72%
Aden Walsh: 1-1
GAA: 8.50
SV %: 82%
