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NEW-LOOK RUSH READY FOR ROUGHNECKS

Western rivals meet for first time this season in Edmonton

01/27/2010

By Joshua Chalmers, covering the Calgary Roughnecks for NLL.com

Coming off two straight losses, the Calgary Roughnecks (1-2) look to get back into the win column by kicking off The Battle of Alberta this weekend against the Edmonton Rush (2-1) at Edmonton's Rexall Place on Saturday at 7pm ET.

The Roughnecks lost a 16-15 thriller last weekend at home versus the West Division leading Washington Stealth (4-0). On the other side, the Rush are coming off a weekend that saw them get their second straight win in an 11-7 victory over the Buffalo Bandits (0-4).

"In the last game we had a vast improvement in our work ethic," said Roughnecks Head Coach Dave Pym. "Unfortunately, we've been inconsistent and too complacent with some of our most basic decisions."

The Roughnecks are looking to become the first team to repeat as champions since the Toronto Rock in 2004. In order to do so, Pym said they will have to overcome the so-called "championship hangover."

"Teams are coming at us real hard," said Pym. "As much as we prepare and we think that we have great game plans, if there's any kind of an inconsistent effort or we're a little complacent in terms of our executions - in our systems or just the most basic of individual skills - it's exacerbated because the intensity that's coming at them is that much more."

On the other side, the Rush are dealing with an offseason that provided a lot of turnover.

"With 14 new players to the team, I think we're still gelling and still improving," said Rush Assistant Coach Jeremy Tallevi. "I think last game was our best game so far and we look to keep improving."

For the Roughnecks, who won an exhibition match between the teams 15-12 in Lethbridge, AB on December 19, playing against a team that has had so much turnover in the roster doesn't concern the head coach.

"I think that our coaching staff has been around the game long enough to know what they are trying to do," Pym said. "We feel that we have a good game plan going against them."

Alternatively, the Rush have to deal with an established group that has proved in the past that they are capable of success.

"One of the biggest keys is going to be to contain their offense," Tallevi said. "They had the second highest scoring offense in 2009. The top power play of 2009, and on top of all those players from last year they've added (forward) Craig Conn into the mix."

This is the first of three meetings between the two teams in 2010, and the first of two consecutive matchups that will see the Rush head to Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome on Friday, Feb. 5. The final matchup will take place on Apr. 16 at Edmonton.

The game will be broadcast live on the NLL Network at NLL.com.

By Matthew Iwanyk, covering the Edmonton Rush for NLL.com

The struggling Calgary Roughnecks (1-2) look to change their fortunes as they take the three-hour journey North to take on its provincial rival, the Edmonton Rush (2-1), at Rexall Place this Saturday at 7:00pm ET. The Roughnecks have had the upper hand in the Battle of Alberta, winning ten of the previous twelve meetings.

The Edmonton Rush is coming into this game with lots of confidence and momentum. Last Saturday they handed the Buffalo Bandits their fourth straight loss, en route to their second consecutive win. This put the Rush above .500 for the first time since January 2007.

The Rush were led by forward Ryan Ward, who scored four goals and added four assists, as well as by a solid defense that shut down any attempt by the Bandits to win. After the game, Rush Head Coach Derek Keenan felt that his defense could not play any better and hopes this team continues its ways.

In a recent conference call, Rush Assistant Coach Jeremy Tallevi spoke on how this team still is working on improving and can still get better.

"We have been very happy so far with 14 new players to the team. I think we are still gelling and still improving. I think last game was our best game so far and we look to continue improving."

As for the Calgary Roughnecks, they are coming to Edmonton with a 1-2 record and have not played up to Coach Dave Pym's expectations, but hope to have figured out how to turn things around.

"We, like every team in this league, absolutely hate losing, but last game we had a vast improvement in our work ethic. Unfortunately, we have been inconsistent and too complacent with some of our most basic decisions and I think we have addressed it."

The Roughnecks hope that their dominance in this rivalry will help them kick start their season.

As for preparing for a new-look Edmonton team that only has three games in the book, Pym feels that it won't be an issue preparing as he know that his coaching staff has been around the game for a long time. They understand what the Rush will try to do and he feels that they have developed a good game plan.

The key for the Rush victory, according to Tallevi, is to stop the defending champion Roughneck's offense.

"I think one of the biggest keys is going to be to contain their offense. They had the second highest scoring offense in 2009, top power play in 2009. And on top of all those players from last year they have added Craig Conn to the mix."

This is the first Battle of Alberta game of this young NLL season. These games usually mean an intense, physical and emotional game.

"It is the provincial rival and the intensity is that much more, so we are looking forward to a great game Saturday evening," said Pym.

The rivalry reached its pinnacle in March of last year. After the Roughnecks held a 14-3 halftime lead, a line brawl erupted early in the third quarter, which had nine players receive fighting majors and misconducts.

Many times, this rivalry has extended beyond the turf with the teams taking their own shots at each other in other ways. Back in 2006, the Edmonton Rush took out an ad in a Calgary newspaper stating the Rush would "Open a Can" on the Roughnecks. In April of 2008, the Roughnecks retaliated, taking out an ad stating the city of Edmonton was the "City of Losers," a play on the city's slogan "The City of Champions."

After the game on Saturday, both teams will head down the Queen Elizabeth II Highway to Calgary for a rematch next Friday.

Watch Saturday's game live on the NLL Network at NLL.com.