The Colorado Mammoth was ecstatic about Gary Bining, the team’s first- round pick and the 13th overall selection in the National Lacrosse League entry draft last September.
Bining, at 5-feet-8 and 160 pounds, was more speedy than big. The Ohio State graduate grew up in Canada in the province of British Columbia, stomping grounds of Mammoth coach Gary Gait and general manager Steve Govett.
On draft night, Bining spoke of making the 18-man dress-out lineup of the defending NLL champion Mammoth.
With its second-round pick, 25th overall, the Mammoth drafted Jamie Shewchuk, another left-handed forward from British Columbia.
Shewchuk was concerned about making the 23-man roster in training camp, but after scoring 44 goals in 21 games last summer for the Burnaby Lakers of the Western Lacrosse Association, he was confident.
While Bining appeared to be a lock, he never appeared in a regular-season game and was cut Jan. 12 when the NLL-leading Mammoth (8-1) signed former University of Denver standout Scott Davidson.
Shewchuk’s staggering impact is even more surprising than Bining’s inability to stick with the team.
The 5-10, 170-pound Shewchuk not only plays regular shifts, he has produced 29 points.
The NLL rookie leader with 16 goals, including a game-winner, Shewchuk has scored five fourth-quarter goals – including two Sunday in the Mammoth’s 15-12 victory over Calgary.
His 16 goals in eight games are one shy of Dan Carey’s goal total from last season when Carey made the NLL all-rookie team.
Although quietly self-assured, Shewchuk, 21, was not quite expecting such a rookie splash.
“I feel comfortable out there,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’m really surprised, but it has been great playing every game. It feels great to be part of the team. Guys like Dan Carey and Gavin Prout have really helped my game and of course, Gary Gait. I’m learning from my mistakes.”
When asked what numbers he envisioned in terms of goals and assists, Shewchuk said: “I was hoping to make the squad and get into a few games.”
His approach to the game is always the same.
“I’ve always tried to be consistent, quarter by quarter, shift by shift,” he said. “If I have a bad shift, I don’t worry about it. I work on the next one.”
Gait believes his team’s supportive atmosphere has fueled Shewchuk.
“He’s developed and gained confidence and that comes from teammates believing in him, building him up and putting him in the right situation, where he gets a good opportunity to be successful,” Gait said. “That again helps build confidence. He’s a believer in himself and so are we.”
He shoots, he scores
The shooting percentage of Mammoth defenseman Dave Stilley rose to a team-leading 66.7 after he scored on his only two shots Sunday. They were the fifth and sixth goals of his 10-year NLL career.
Of the first one, Stilley said: “I just closed my eyes and prayed it went in.”
In reality, he caught a pass from DU alum Tom Ethington and took a low angle on Calgary goalkeeper Andrew Leyshon.
On the other, he was set up by newcomer Jim Moss.
