Calgary Roughnecks

The Calgary Roughnecks are a professional box lacrosse team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Western Division of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and play their home games at Scotiabank Saddledome. The team name is derived from the roughnecks who work drilling rigs in Alberta's oil and gas industry. The team is affectionately known by fans as the Riggers.

Calgary Roughnecks
SportLacrosse
Founded2002
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
DivisionWest
Based inCalgary, Alberta
ArenaScotiabank Saddledome
ColoursRed, Black, White
Head coachCurt Malawsky
General managerMike Board
Championships(3) 2004, 2009, 2019
Division titles(4) 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019
Local mediaFAN 960
PLPA representativeKaleb Toth
WebsiteOfficial website

The Roughnecks were founded in 2001, their first season was 2002, and they have qualified for the post-season every year from 2003 to 2016. They have won three division championships (2005, 2009, 2011) and have captured the NLL Cup as NLL champions three times. Calgary won all three titles on their home floor, defeating the Buffalo Bandits in 2004, the New York Titans in 2009, and the Bandits again in 2019.

History

Team beginnings

The National Lacrosse League announced on March 28, 2001, that it had awarded an expansion franchise to a group of four owners led by Brad Banister. The idea for the team was formed a year earlier during Calgary's famous Canada Day lacrosse tournament where it was suggested that professional lacrosse could work in Calgary. Within eight weeks of Banister contacting the league, Calgary was announced as the tenth franchise in the NLL at a cost of $500,000.[1] The new team did not immediately announce its nickname, though Banister stated it would relate to the oilpatch.[1] The name was later announced as the "Roughnecks", named after workers on an oil rig.

Kevin Melnyk was installed as the coach and general manager, but as the season approached, Banister felt that the team was in danger of not being prepared for the season, replaced Melnyk. He took over as general manager, and hired Chris Hall to be the coach.[2] The pair sought to build a more veteran team that is typical for an expansion franchise, and traded their first draft pick, Blaine Manning, to the Toronto Rock for Calgary native Kaleb Toth, who was expected to be the team's marquee player.[3]

The team made its debut on November 24, 2001, against the Montreal Express, a fellow expansion team. The Roughnecks lost the game 32–17 in front of 9,517 fans. The score shattered league records for total goals in a game with 49, and Montreal set a new mark for goals by one team.[4] Another loss to the Express followed five days later before the Roughnecks earned their first win in franchise history on December 2 with a 17–11 defeat on the road versus the Ottawa Rebel. The Roughnecks then won three of their next four games, including their first home win on December 14, against the Columbus Landsharks. The team lost its last nine games, however, to finish with a 4–12 record.[5]

First championship
Calgary Roughnecks in 2005

In the 2002-2003 season, the Roughnecks enhanced their record to 9-7, with a very successful 6-2 record at home. Leading the team with 63 points was Tracey Kelusky. Close behind him was Kaleb Toth with 61 points. Before the season started Brad Banister promised the fans the playoffs and they were successful in achieving this goal. They travelled to Buffalo for the first playoff game in franchise history. The team lost 16-9 against the Buffalo Bandits to get knocked out of the playoffs.

The Roughnecks continued their improvement in the 2003-2004 season with a record of 10-6. Lewis Ratcliff lead the team with 71 points. Tracey Kelusky finished second with 69. Again Banister predicted a playoff entry and this time he predicted a home game to boot. Finishing third in the West the only way to get a home playoff game was to meet the third place team from the East. In the playoffs, the Roughnecks beat the San Jose Stealth 15-14 on the road to advance to the conference final. Again on the road, the Roughnecks beat the Colorado Mammoth with a final score of 13-11. On May 7, 2004, the Roughnecks hosted the championship game against the Buffalo Bandits, who had knocked them out of the playoff the previous year. Calgary won the Champion's Cup by beating the Bandits 14-11 in front of a home crowd of 19,289 in the Pengrowth Saddledome.

For the 2004-2005 season former Roughneck player and assistant coach Dave Bremner was hired as General Manager.

The Roughnecks hosted the 2005 NLL All Star Game on February 26, 2005. This was the first NLL game televised nationally in the United States; it was broadcast on NBC. Roughnecks' captain Kelusky took home the Most Valuable Player award as the East beat the West in an 11-10 overtime win. The 2005 season saw the Roughnecks come in first place in the Western Conference for the first time in franchise history. This garnered them a bye in the first round of the playoffs. On April 30, they hosted the Arizona Sting for the conference title and lost with a score of 19-15.

Second championship
Devan Wray hoists the Champion's Cup as the Roughnecks celebrate the 2009 championship.

Prior to the 2005-2006 season the Roughnecks hired on former Buffalo GM Kurt Silcott to replace Dave Bremner and become the fourth GM in team history.

After beginning the 2007 NLL season 4-1, the Roughnecks lost three straight games, and Silcott fired the only head coach in Roughnecks history, Chris Hall. Silcott filled in as interim head coach for one game, and then hired former Roughnecks player Jeff Dowling as the second head coach in Roughnecks history on March 9, 2007.[6] He was replaced as Head Coach for the 2008 season by Troy Cordingley,[7] while former Toronto Rock Head Coach Terry Sanderson was added as Assistant Coach.

In 2008, Calgary finished 3rd in the West with a 7-9 record, beat Colorado in the division semi-final, but lost in the division final to the Portland LumberJax. Despite this relatively successful season, general manager Kurt Silcott was fired.[8] Team President Brad Banister gave no reason for the firing other than to say that "the team and Silcott are heading into different directions, and this move would allow both parties to succeed to their full potential" and that he would take over as interim GM.[9]

The 2009 season was the most successful in team history. After opening the year with a record five straight wins, the Roughnecks finished the season 12-4. This allowed Calgary to take first overall in the NLL for the first time ever. They would go on to defeat the Colorado Mammoth and San Jose Stealth in the playoffs and then triumph over the New York Titans 12-10 in the Champion's Cup final to win their first NLL championship since 2004.[10]

Third championship

The 2019 season was up and down for the Roughnecks and they finished the season 10-8. However, they ended it on a winning streak and then upset the suddenly-slumping San Diego Seals in the opening round by a score of 12-11. They then faced the Colorado Mammoth, who had similarly upset the defending champion Saskatchewan Rush - and defeated them 8-4 in one of the lowest-scoring playoff games in NLL history.

This set them up for a best-of-three series against the Buffalo Bandits, which the Roughnecks swept - 10-7 on the road on May 18, and 14-13 in an overtime thriller at home on May 25. Rhys Duch scored the overtime winning goal.

This NLL Cup victory came on the 30th anniversary of their sibling Calgary Flames Stanley Cup victory in the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals

New ownership

Banister announced shortly before the 2011 season began that he had placed the team for sale. He had talks with the National Hockey League's (NHL) Calgary Flames, who indicated at the time they were not interested in the team.[11] Midway through the season, Banister announced that he was late in meeting payroll and that the team was in danger of folding during the season. In a press release, he made an impassioned plea for the city's business community to step forward and save the team.[12]

The announcement touched off several weeks of speculation about the team, its future, and the potential for the Flames to purchase the team.[13] On the floor, the team shrugged off the team's instability, finishing with the best record in the NLL at 11–5. As they were set to face the Colorado Mammoth in the West semi-final, Banister put out another plea to the fans for support in the playoff game, threatening to turn the West final, which Calgary would have had the right to host, to their opponent for the game.[14] The Roughnecks defeated the Mammoth, and played the West final at home, but were eliminated by the Washington Stealth in an upset by a 10–8 score.[15]

The team's future was settled in the off-season, as Banister announced on June 14, 2011, that the Flames had purchased the team, becoming the third NHL franchise to operate an NLL team after the Mammoth and Bandits.[16] As part of the deal, it was announced that Banister would assist in the team's transition period, and was replaced as general manager by former Calgary Herald writer and Flames employee Mike Board.[17]

Mascot

Howie, the honey badger, is the team's official mascot. The Roughnecks introduced the new mascot at a media event on January 26, 2012, and later unveiled the name after holding a naming contest.[18] The team's former mascot is Derrick, an oilpatch rigger.[19]

Current roster
Calgary Roughnecks roster
Active (21-man) roster Inactive roster Coaches
Goaltenders
  • 35 Christian Del Bianco
  • 00 Tyler Richards
Defensemen
Forwards
  • 21 Chris Boushy
  •  8 Carter Dickson
  • 44 Dane Dobbie (A)
  • 18 Rhys Duch
  • 89 Riley Loewen
  • 88 Ryan Martel
  • 68 Tyler Pace
  • 26 Dan Taylor
Transition
  • 94 Tyson Bell
  •  7 Tyler Burton
  •  2 Reece Callies
  • 25 Chad Cummings
  • 77 Zach Currier
  •  3 Dan MacRae (C)
  • 22 Shane Simpson
  • 55 Mitch Wilde
Practice Squad
  • 41 Bob Snider
  • 47 Sean Tyrrell
Injured Reserve
Protected list
Head Coach
Assistant Coaches
Legend
  • * Suspended list
  • (C) Captain
  • (A) Alternate captain

updated 2017-12-09
NLL Transactions

Calgary Roughnecks 2019 Roster
ForwardsDefense Goalies

Dane Dobbie (44)

Curtis Dickson (17)

Rhys Duch (18)

Jesse King (19)

Riley Loewen (89)

Tyler Pace (68)

Chris Boushy (21)

Dan Taylor (26)

 Mike Carnegie (16)

Greg Harnett (11)

Anthony Kalinich (81)

Reece Callies (2)

Dan McRae (3)

Tyler Burton (7)

Eli Salama (13)

Shane Simpson (22)

Chad Cummings (25)

Mitch Wilde (55)

Zach Currier (77)

Tyson Bell (84)

Curtis Manning (10)

 Christian del Bianco (35)

Tyler Richards (00)

All-time record
Season Division W–L Finish Home Road GF GA Coach Playoffs
2002Northern4–123rd2–62–6224264Chris Halldid not qualify
2003Northern9–72nd6–23–5209207Chris Halllost division semi-final
2004Western10–63rd4–46–2214187Chris HallChampions
2005Western10–61st6–24–4216208Chris Halllost division final
2006Western9–73rd4–45–3183178Chris Halllost division semi-final
2007Western9–72nd4–45–3219202Chris Hall / Jeff Dowlinglost division semi-final
2008Western7–93rd5–32–6183178Troy Cordingleylost division final
2009Western12–41st5–37–1206167Troy CordingleyChampions
2010Western10–62nd5–35–3193169Dave Pymlost division semi-final
2011Western11–51st6–25–3198181Dave Pymlost division final
2012Western12–41st5–37–1216170Dave Pymlost division semi-final
2013Western9–71st3–56–2222211Curt Malawskylost division final
2014Western12–62nd6–36–3237215Curt Malawskylost final
2015Western7–113rd4–53–6212217Curt Malawskylost division final
2016Western8–103rd5–43–6216216Curt Malawskylost division final
2017Western8–104th5–43–6212220Curt Malawskydid not qualify
2018Western8–103rd5–43–6227211Curt MalawskyLost division final
2019Western10–83rd5–45–4212201Curt MalawskyWon championship
Total18 seasons165-135 85-6580–703,7993,602  
Playoff Totals16 Appearances17-17 10–87–9377365 3 championships

Playoff results
SeasonGameVisitingHome
2003QuarterfinalsCalgary 9Buffalo 16
2004Division SemifinalCalgary 15San Jose 14
Division FinalCalgary 13Colorado 11
ChampionshipBuffalo 11Calgary 14
2005Division FinalArizona 19Calgary 15
2006Division SemifinalCalgary 17Colorado 18
2007Division SemifinalArizona 13Calgary 9
2008Division SemifinalCalgary 15Colorado 13
Division FinalPortland 16Calgary 12
2009Division SemifinalColorado 8Calgary 15
Division FinalSan Jose 5Calgary 17
ChampionshipNew York 10Calgary 12
2010Division SemifinalEdmonton 11Calgary 7
2011Division SemifinalColorado 6Calgary 10
Division FinalWashington 10Calgary 8
2012Division SemifinalEdmonton 19Calgary 11
2013Division SemifinalColorado 10Calgary 15
Division FinalWashington 14Calgary 13
2014Division SemifinalColorado 15Calgary 16 (OT)
Division Final (Game 1)Edmonton 11Calgary 12 (OT)
Division Final (Game 2)Calgary 13Edmonton 15
Division Final (Mini-game)Calgary 2Edmonton 1
Championship (Game 1)Rochester 7Calgary 10
Championship (Game 2)Calgary 10Rochester 16
Championship (Mini-game)Calgary 2Rochester 3
2015Division SemifinalColorado 6Calgary 11
Division Final (Game 1)Calgary 6Edmonton 10
Division Final (Game 2)Edmonton 9Calgary 12
Division Final (Mini-game)Edmonton 4Calgary 1
2016 Division SemifinalCalgary 11(OT)Colorado 10
Division Final (Game 1)Saskatchewan 16Calgary 10
Division Final (Game 2)Calgary 9Saskatchewan 12
2019 Division SemifinalCalgary 12San Diego 11
Division FinalColorado 4Calgary 8
Championship (Game 1)Calgary 10Buffalo 7
Championship (Game 2)Buffalo 13Calgary 14(OT)

Awards and honours
AwardWinnerSeason
Most Valuable PlayerJeff Shattler2011[20]
Rookie of the YearTaylor Wray2004
Curtis Dickson2011[21]
Defensive Player of the YearTaylor Wray
(co-winner)		2004
Transition Player of the YearJeff Shattler2011[20]
Goaltender of the YearMike Poulin2012[22]
Sportsman of the YearTracy Kelusky2007[23]
Les Bartley Award
Coach of the Year		Troy Cordingley2009[24]
Executive of the YearBrad Banister2003
Champion's Cup Most Valuable PlayerCurtis Palidwor2004
Josh Sanderson2009
Dane Dobbie2019

Head coaching history
# Name Term Regular Season Playoffs
GC W L W% GC W L W%
1Chris Hall2002-2007884642.523633.500
2Kurt Silcott20071101.000----
3Jeff Dowling2007843.571101.000
4Troy Cordingley2008-2009321913.594541.800
5Dave Pym2010-2012483315.688413.250
6Curt Malawsky2013-884444.5001376.538

Hall of Famers
gollark: They use Python 2, apparently.
gollark: SquidDev, the CC developer, apparently started actually entering !!paid work!! some time ago.
gollark: Quite poßibly.
gollark: Or java → OOP → OOP obviously good and not bad.
gollark: It's probably because java → enterprise → obviously good?

See also
  • Calgary Roughnecks seasons

References
  1. Kimberley, Todd (2001-03-29). "Calgary climbs on board". Calgary Herald. p. C5.
  2. Rauw, Murray (2001-11-23). "'Crazy guy's idea about to take flight". Calgary Herald. p. C9.
  3. Rauw, Murray (2001-11-24). "Run-and-gun Roughnecks plot derailment of Express". Calgary Herald. p. E5.
  4. Rauw, Murray (2001-11-25). "No offence, but Calgary flops on defence in debut". Calgary Herald. p. B9.
  5. "Calgary Roughnecks 2002 season schedule". National Lacrosse League. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  6. "Jeff Dowling named Calgary head coach". NLL.com. March 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  7. "Bandit becomes 'Necks New Bench Boss". Calgary Roughnecks web site. July 4, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  8. "Roughnecks GM Kurt Silcott Fired". NLL.com. May 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  9. "Roughnecks Release General Manager Kurt Silcott". Calgary Roughnecks website. May 21, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  10. "Roughnecks defeat Titans to win second NLL championship". Tsn.ca. May 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  11. Pilson, Ty (2011-01-05). "Roughnecks for sale". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  12. Busby, Ian (2011-02-22). "Roughnecks may fold". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  13. Cameron, Allen (2011-03-18). "'I'm not going to go begging again'". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  14. Odland, Kristen (2011-04-21). "Roughnecks GM pleads with fans to support team". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  15. "Stealth shock Roughnecks in West final". The Sports Network. 2011-05-08. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  16. "Flames purchase NLL neighbours the Roughnecks". The Sports Network. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  17. "Calgary Flames buy lacrosse team". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  18. "The Newest 'Neck". Calgary Roughnecks. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on June 2, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  19. Busby, Ian (January 26, 2012). "Roughnecks officially retire Derrick mascot". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  20. Busby, Ian (2011-05-12). "Roughnecks' Shattler named NLL MVP". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  21. MacFarlane, Steve (2011-05-10). "Roughneck NLL Rookie of the Year". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  22. "Calgary's Mike Poulin wins Goaltender of the Year". NLL.com. May 10, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  23. "Kelusky wins sportsmanship award". National Lacrosse League. 2007-04-30. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  24. "Cordingley Coach of the Year, Comeau GM". National Lacrosse League. 2009-05-07. Archived from the original on 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
Preceded by
Toronto Rock		 National Lacrosse League Champions
2004		 Succeeded by
Toronto Rock
Preceded by
Buffalo Bandits		 National Lacrosse League Champions
2009		 Succeeded by
Washington Stealth
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