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2009 CHAMPION ROUGHNECKS OPEN WITH SWARM

Calgary & Minnesota meet Sunday in final game of opening weekend

01/07/2010

With five games scheduled for opening weekend 2010, the Calgary Roughnecks and Minnesota Swarm will close it out the weekend on Sunday at 5pm ET. The game will mark the Roughnecks' first trip back to Pengrowth Saddledome, the site of last year's Championship Game. The Swarm will attempt to dethrone the champs with a mixed squad of newcomers and returning veterans. The game will be televised live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area on KSTC-45.

By Josh Chalmers for NLL.com

The opening weekend of the 2010 NLL season will conclude with the Calgary Roughnecks hosting the Minnesota Swarm on Sunday at 5 pm ET. Minnesota went a disappointing 6-10 last season, while Calgary won their second league championship in franchise history. The Roughnecks will raise their 2009 Championship banner to the Saddledome rafters in a pre-game ceremony. The game will be televised live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area on KSTC-45. Fans can also watch the game live online via the NLL Network at NLL.com.

The matchup will mark the debut of both Calgary and Minnesota's rookie head coaches. Calgary's Dave Pym will be taking over an established squad after the departure of Troy Cordingley to the Toronto Rock in the off-season. On the other side, Minnesota's Mike Lines will be looking to improve on last year's finish. Both Pym and Lines were assistant coaches for their respective clubs last season.

For his part, Pym isn't looking to make many changes to the Roughnecks.

"We're still focusing on character, determination and hard work," said Pym.

Retired veteran Curt Malawsky, who played on last year's championship Roughnecks squad, will also be behind the Calgary bench as an assistant coach.

"He brings passion and intensity to the coaching force," said Pym of Malawsky. "I have tremendous respect and trust in him. He's doing a spectacular job with our offense and it's hopefully going to show in the win column."

For the Swarm, all eyes will be on 23-year-old rookie forward Zack Greer, who was taken third overall in the 2009 NLL entry draft by the team. Greer is the all-time leader in NCAA Men's Division I Lacrosse for both goals (248) and points (353) after five seasons with the Duke Blue Devils and the Bryant Bulldogs.

Coach Lines said that chemistry will be the biggest challenge facing his team in this matchup, and throughout the season.

"We're going to probably be looking at seven or eight starters in our lineup that weren't with our team last year. So it comes down to chemistry," said Lines.

Roughnecks captain Tracey Kelusky, who was placed on the physically unable to perform in late December, will be in the lineup on Sunday.

"100 percent ready to go," said Pym of Kelusky.

Looking forward, Pym addressed the challenges inherent in trying to repeat as champions.

"We know everybody is going to be coming after us this year," said Pym. "As much as we try to emphasize that, you still can't fully appreciate it until it happens. Fortunately, we've got a group of guys in our room that have experienced it, and that experience is going to be drawn upon."