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Breaking: League Adopts Unified Standings Format & Updated Playoff Structure for 2023-24 Season

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
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Can The Colorado Mammoth Win The Champion’s Cup Without A Dominant Goal Scorer

It seems a given to say that scoring goals goes a long way to winning championships but does that also mean that for a team to win the Champion’s Cup that they must have a dominant scorer (or two) to lead the way?

 

For the 2018 Colorado Mammoth, it is unclear who, if any man, will step up and put together a 35+ goal season that Mammoth fans and the organization are so accustomed to seeing and relying upon in recent years to make the playoffs and give them a shot at the title. Yet, Mammoth history will tell us that, just because a team has a couple of dominant scorers, it does not mean that that team won’t be able to win it all.

 

Since the Mammoth’s inception in 2003, the franchise has been spoiled with unbelievable scoring talent. During the inaugural season, NLL Hall of Fame player, Gary Gait, scored 61 goals on his way to winning the league MVP. His tally contributed to the team’s 226 goals scored, which is a team record that still stands today. However, all those goals couldn’t propel the Mammoth to championship or even the championship game.

 

This trend would continue in the following couple seasons,: The Mammoth would be led by Gait as a 50+ goal scorer, the team would score 200+ goals, and they would make the playoffs but not the championship game.

 

In 2006, now coached by Gait, the Mammoth adjusted their strategy to fit their universally dynamic offense. Scorers such as Gavin Prout, Brian Langtry, and Dan Stroup had proven that they could net between 25-35 goals a season, but only Chris Gill, the current Mammoth Assistant Coach, had tallied 40+ goals in a year and that was a few years before their historic run -he scored 51 in 2002 and 40 in 2003.

 

The Mammoth would finish the year with a NLL-best 200 goals scored that title-winning year but did so without a singular commanding offensive leader. Gill and Prout shared the Mammoth scoring title that season despite only punching in 29 goals a piece. Langtry and Stroup also contributed with 20+ goals while five other Mammoth players each put in 10+ goals during the 16-game regular season.

 

Over the team’s 15 full seasons played so far, 2006 has been the only year in which the Mammoth did not have a 30+ goal scorer, and yet, they were able to win the championship.

 

Although the Mammoth might have been able to conquer the league without a 30+ goal scorer and still win in 2006, that doesn’t hurt the case to have a prolific offensive performer. In each of the seasons in which the Mammoth won more than 10 games (04’, 07’, 12’, 16’) they had at least one player with 35+ goals except for 2007, where instead, the Mammoth had three players that had 30 goals or more. On the other hand, during their four sub-.500 seasons the Mammoth have had since their inaugural year (09’,10’,11’,13’) they did have a 35+ goal scorer except for 2010 when Jamie Shewchuk put in a very respectable 31 goals into the net -Shewchuk’s 31 tallies are a career-high.

 

During those abysmal years, what proved to be the nail in the coffin was the team’s lack of offense over the course of each of those seasons. For the most part, those poor seasons put the team near the bottom of the league in offensive production.

 

This year, the Mammoth are quickly having to adapt to a drastically transformed team up front. A few months before the beginning of the 2017 season, the team’s long-term scorer, Adam Jones, was traded to the Saskatchewan Rush for another explosive scorer, Zack Greer. Following an injury-plagued 2017 campaign in which John Grant Jr. participated in only two games, the NLL legend announced his retirement in July. Then, just two weeks after Grant Jr.’s retirement, Mammoth GM, Dan Carey, traded short-term visitor and one of the league’s current top offensive players, Callum Crawford to the Buffalo Bandits for Ryan Benesch.

 

In 2017, Crawford led the Mammoth in goals scored (36) and points (98). The year before, Crawford, Jones and Grant Jr. were the top-three goal scores and point-getters for the team. And, from 12’-15’, Jones and Grant Jr. were comfortably sitting in the top-two spots for goals and points, leading the way for the Mammoth. With all three gone from the Mammoth lineup, the obvious question becomes: Who will take over the reins? If you ask anyone with the Mammoth, the answer is: The whole team.

 

GM Carey addressed his vision of a complete team effort when addressing the season-ending injuries to defensemen, Dan Coates and Cameron Holding, in the respective press releases about the two.

 

“Losing Cameron and Dan for the season presents a challenge for us all, but it gives other players an opportunity to step up, take more of a leadership role, and now, more than ever, work as a team.” Carey stated. He had previously echoed a similar sentiment when addressing the injuries saying, “We are focusing on building a cohesive, prepared team in training camp.”

 

Defensively, there are surely holes to fill meaning that the offense might need to overcompensate throughout the season due to those key absences.

 

As head coach, Pat Coyle, said about his offense before the season, “Hopefully, it will be offense by committee.” He continued, “In the past, if you had a guy like John Grant Jr. or Callum Crawford, as good as they are, if they have an off night or if the defense really keys in on them, the offense can be shutdown. Ideally, we want our offense to not be effected that way. One guy can have an off night, but you can’t even tell.”

 

In the Mammoth’s opening game of the 2018 season versus the Vancouver Stealth, fans saw Coyle’s strategy play out perfectly with nine men getting on the score sheet. Chris Wardle led the way with four of the team’s 15 goals followed by two a piece from the sticks of the reliable Jeremy Noble, rookie Ryan Lee, and newcomer Ryan Benesch, one from rising star Eli McLaughlin and one each from defenders, Tim Edwards, Joey Cupido, Bryce Sweeting, and Jordan Gilles.

 

Offensive production like that is beautiful to watch and fairly rare. Last season, the Mammoth only had nine or more different goal scorers twice -once against the New England Blackwolves and once against the Rochester Knighthawks. Both games ended as a win for the Mammoth.

 

So far, this method seems to be working for the Mammoth, but can it last? And, if it can’t, who then should we expect to take responsibility for the offense? Carey has high hopes that Greer, McLaughlin, and Benesch can create a potent combination as the season progresses. “I think those three guys are top-tier forwards and offensive players in our league and we’re fortunate enough to have three of them playing this year.”

 

Considering that Greer is still on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP) and McLaughlin and Benesch combined for three of the team’s 15 goals -he did also contribute six assists- the Mammoth are showing that they have a complete offensive powerhouse that should be feared even without a true goal scorer like a Gary Gait, John Grant Jr., Gavin Prout, Adam Jones or Callum Crawford.

 

“We believe in a team that plays like a team and not as individuals.” said Coyle. If there is any staff that knows that, it is coaches Gill, Stroup, and Coyle as well as GM Carey who worked brilliantly together and with their teammates during their 2006 championship run in which no one player scored the majority of Mammoth goals.

NLL