By: Riley Pollock – 28.11.23
The Roughnecks have some unfinished business: winning another NLL title.
And 19 of the 21 players announced Tuesday for Saturday’s opening-night roster return from last season, where the Riggers lost 2-1 in the West Final.
This year, they look to advance all the way to final and hoist another cup.
In total, 27 players begin this season’s pursuit, combining the active roster, three practice-roster players and three more that begin the season on the Injured Reserve. FULL ROSTER HERE
Jesse King returns as captain for his second season with the ‘C’, along with Eli Salama who returns as an assistant captain and Zach Currier who will wear an “A” for the first time.
General Manager Mike Board says continuity is important.
“It’s always important,” he explained. “But sprinkling in some new faces is good as well on the practice roster. Those guys will push the players on the roster and to be honest, we have three new, quality players who are unfortunately on the injured reserve.”
It was a hard-fought camp that came down to the very last preseason game in terms of roster selection and Board thought many young players had great showings.
“I thought a number of young players competed hard to earn spots,” explained Board. “Riley Isaacs, Bennett Smith, Thomas Vela and Clay Scanlan all had good camps.”
The Saskatchewan Rush host the Calgary Roughnecks in Pre-season action at Moose Jaw Events Centre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, November 25, 2023
The training camp roster was one of the deepest Roughnecks groups in a long time.
“We did have some tough decisions,” said Board. “That’s a good problem to have. We feel as though we have put a good blend of speed and athleticism into the lineup with a combination of veterans and young players.”
The Riggers begin their season Saturday in Rochester against the Knighthawks (5 p.m., TSN+).
“The start of a season is always something you look forward to,” said Board. “Players, coaches, management it’s the same for all 15 teams I would think. It’s fresh, it’s new and the previous season is behind you. It’s the beginning of another chance at winning a championship.”
