Roll dodges and cradles take center stage this weekend on all levels, from the youngsters in the LaxFest, to the collegians at the University of Denver, to the Colorado Mammoth playing Saturday for the National Lacrosse League West Division title.
Boys and girls teams, grades 2 through 8, are eschewing their usual regular-season game sites across the Denver area to play Saturday on 18 fields at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. With 325 teams, LaxFest starts at 8 a.m. and is the largest youth lacrosse event west of the Mississippi River.
The University of Denver (9-5, 4-1 in the Great Western Lacrosse League) plays its final GWLL game Saturday at 1 p.m. at Air Force Academy (3-8, 1-3).
The 18th-ranked DU women (10-5, 4-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), fresh off a 13-9 upset of No. 19 Stanford, play a key MPSF contest at California (9-6, 4-0) on Saturday and at St. Mary’s (2-13, 0-4) on Sunday.
The Mammoth (9-6) had its game at San Jose moved to Saturday because of the NHL playoffs. Colorado and the Stealth (8-7) split games this season.
Colorado is riding a two-game win streak after routing cellar-dweller Edmonton by scores of 15-4 and 13-8 last weekend.
Mammoth all-star Dan Carey, still recovering from a concussion, has not played since April 3.
“He’s feeling good, he’s working out and he hasn’t had symptoms in a while,” general manager Steve Govett said. “We’re cautiously optimistic, but we don’t want to put him in harm’s way.”
Jamie Shewchuk has filled Carey’s void with a career-best 24 goals.
Defenseman Jim Moss has recovered from a neck strain and is expected to play, along with defenseman Matt Leveque (back). But speedy transition player Josh Sims (ankle) is doubtful.
Team captain Gavin Prout leads the league with a career-best 65 assists and is ranked second in points with 90. Brian Langtry leads the Mammoth in goals with 28.
The Stealth counter with all-stars Jeff Zywicki and Colin Doyle. Zywicki, the league leader in shooting percentage at .241, ranks third with 45 goals. Doyle has 25 goals and 54 assists.
AROUND TOWN
Crush coach Dailey says no roster moves expected against Rush.
This week Colorado Crush coach Mike Dailey looked at his team’s injury report and feared there might be candidates for injured reserve. However, after Thursday’s practice, Dailey found that he wouldn’t be making any major roster decisions as the Crush prepares to play host to the Chicago Rush. With tonight’s 7 o’clock game against the Rush at the Pepsi Center and a home game next Friday against Grand Rapids, the Crush has a chance to get back into the American Conference’s Central Division race. The Rush leads the division at 6-2, with the Crush second at 3-4. The encounter against Chicago completes the first half of the Arena Football League season for Colorado. Irv Moss, The Denver Post
STAY ON THE COUCH
Rockies head West to play Dodgers.
This week has been proof that the baseball’s in the details. Rockies outfielder Scott Podsednik, in a game Monday against the visiting Phillies, got on by a walk. He promptly stole second base. Then on the next pitch, he stole third base. But on the next pitch, the Phillies pitched out, apparently expecting Podsednik to steal home. Now, that’s showing respect. For more fun, the Rockies this weekend travel to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers. They play tonight at 8:40 p.m. (airing on FSN), Saturday at 8:30 p.m. (FSN) and Sunday at 2 p.m. (KTVD-20).
GET OFF THE COUCH
Nice weather expected for the Sneak.
Unlike several recent incarnations, Sunday’s 26th Cherry Creek Sneak should run under pleasantly clear weather. The official kickoff race to the running season, the Sneak is expecting upward of 4,000 runners for a 5-kilometer run starting at 8 a.m. and near 4,500 for a 5-mile run starting at 9:15. The elite run, too, will push off around 9 a.m. It’s always a mystery who might show up at the casually competitive race — you could be running against an Olympian and not know it. There’s also a half-mile fun run for kids and a 1-mile student sprint, so the the Sneak has something for everyone. Forecasts say cool and clear for Sunday, the racers’ ideal conditions. Check for information. See Monday for video highlights.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Eagles aiming for third Miron Cup.
They went ahead 2-0, then 3-1, then had to hold off a hard-charging rally by the Texas Brahmas, but the Colorado Eagles held on Wednesday to win Game 7 of the Central Hockey League Northern Conference finals. If they can do the same in the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals against either Arizona or Laredo, the Eagles could be CHL champions for the third time in four years.
UNDER THE RADAR
Judo meet draws national field of athletes.
The 40th Northglenn Judo Championships on Saturday at Northglenn High School will draw from a national field of athletes looking to move up the ranks. And Olympic team spots will be on the line, because the tournament will include the U.S. Paralympic judo trials. More than 250 athletes will be on hand starting at 9 a.m. It’s the largest judo competition in the region. See for more information.
Nick Groke, The Denver Post
