The Colorado Mammoth did nothing last weekend – nothing except move into first place in the National Lacrosse League Western Division despite having a bye.
Arizona (3-3) lost to Calgary, falling into a tie with Portland for second place. On Friday, Calgary (4-4) was upset by the expansion Edmonton Rush 12-11, with the net result leaving Colorado (4-3) alone atop the standings.
“It’s great,” Mammoth captain Gavin Prout said.
The NLL Eastern Division also featured a change in leadership. Buffalo (4-2) moved into a first-place tie with Rochester (5-3). In a display of parity, the top five teams in the West and all five East teams are separated by no more than one game.
Prout attributes the tight races to the expansion draft, which infuses new teams with talent and reduces the talent base of established teams.
“As the league expands, there’s not a bad team out there,” he said. “The teams in last place get a few good players and they’re back in the mix.”
The formula will continue next season when the NLL expands to Chicago and New York. While some fear rapid expansion may dilute the league, it still remains difficult to crack an NLL roster. Four players selected by Colorado in last spring’s entry draft of college players did not make the Mammoth.
“Except for the expansion teams, no more than two to three guys from the entry draft will make the team, so there is a surplus of talent out there,” Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said.
All-star notes
Mammoth coach Gary Gait will be inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame at a dinner tonight in Toronto as part of All-Star Weekend festivities. The five-member inaugural NLL class also includes Paul Gait, Gary’s twin; NLL co-founders Russ Cline and Chris Fritz; and the late, legendary Toronto Rock coach Les Bartley. Govett will introduce Gary Gait. …
Prout was selected as an alternate captain by West coach Bob Hamley, coach of the Arizona Sting. “That’s quite an honor, being in a position to lead the best players in the West Division,” Prout said. …
Prout will compete in the shooting accuracy portion of Friday’s skills competition. Mammoth rookie Dan Carey will take part in the breakaway creativity contest. …
Altitude will carry Saturday’s All-Star Game on a tape-delayed basis at 4:30 p.m.
