Minnesota Swarm (0-1 H 0-0 A 0-1)

Calgary Roughnecks (1-0 H 1-0 A 0-0)

Friday, January 15, 2010 - 7:30 pm CST
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Live Statistics

Minnesota Swarm Game Center

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

More Coverage of this game at:

Standings:

Series History:

Personnel:

Minnesota Swarm

Depth Chart

Goaltenders	Defense (Left)	Defense (Right)	Forwards (Left)	Forwards (Right)

Staff

General Manager	Head Coach	Assistant	Assistant

Calgary Roughnecks

Depth Chart

Staff

Get Ready to Enter the Hive!!!
Rule 1. Always Wear a Helmet.
Rule 2. Don't Blink.

That Minnesota Swarm fans is the new catch phrase that is popularized in the new and edgy commercial for this week's Swarm home opener on Friday night at the X at 7:30 pm. The commercial has players coming out of the ground on piles of hexagonal platforms that probably go forever infinitely skyward at an alarming rate of speed. We get to see Zack Greer, Aaron Wilson and other players perform various lacrosse moves while keeping perfect balance. Heck, Swarm captain Ryan Cousins jumps seamlessly from one platform to the other and sticks the landing like those gymnasts on primetime TV at the Olympics. The announcer's voice is fierce and ominous as you are forewarned of the danger if one enters if not invited. It's a fantastic commercial, long time in coming and definitely better than replying expansion highlights from 2005 with players long since gone. I love edgy, I am on the edge throughout my life, probably teetering on it precariously; however, will the Swarm be able to back up the marketing talk because the Swarm sure can market, just ask Swarm owner Andy Arlotta.

Watching the broadcast of the regular season opener this past Sunday on Channel 45, I was constantly reminded that the Swarm can't wait to get home to the X, that we got a great home field advantage, that we have great fans. In my heart, I believe every word and I am bloated from the all the Navy Blue Swarm punch I drink as I love the team. I love Navy Blue Swarm punch, just look at me. Problem is, the Swarm have me blogging for my mind or for what little there is of it.

My mind tells me that we just don't get it done at home. Regular season home record for the first five years of the Swarm is 17-23 and on the road we are 21-20. We have only one winning season at home and that was 6-2 in 2008. We have had one season at 4-4 and the other three have been losing records. On the road, we have had two 4-4 seasons and two 5-3 seasons. The only losing road record year was 2005 with a 3-5 mark and that was still better than the 2-6 record at home in the inaugural season. What is most alarming and quite current is that the Swarm have lost nine of their last eleven home games dating back to a loss against Rochester on April 19, 2008. We even lost our only home playoff game during this streak of being cooked at home.

Let's face it. The Swarm have not established a home field advantage. Teams don't fear coming here because they more often than not have left with a better record than what they came with. In the past, Swarm players have even told me they prefer to play on the road as they are more relaxed and can just go out and play. Not having to satisfy all those Swarm fans buzzing all around them. It can't be expected just because the team keeps on drawing more and more fans. It can't be proclaimed by the front office in a commercial. It can't be mistakenly believed just because the media assumes the team has one because it is always assumed one plays better at home. In short, the Swarm have to earn a home field advantage on the field of play. Earning the advantage starts on Friday and boy oh boy, its not going to be easy.

The reason it's not going to be easy is that the Minnesota Swarm are playing the same team that just beat them by five on Sunday and that team is the defending NLL champions, the Calgary Roughnecks. Calgary looked just as invincible on Sunday as they did last year when they spanked the league into submission. Josh Sanderson, all 5' 7" of him maneuvered through, around, passed over and shot up the Swarm for four goals and six assists. We were pickled and rolled all day by Sanderson and his cohorts, Tracey Kelusky, Dane Dobbie, Scott Ranger and former Swarm Craig Conn. And yes, all of those five especially Sanderson, aka Shooter, will be in town on Friday at the X. I would imagine if you asked Swarm assistant coach Joe Sullivan what needs to be done to stop them defensively, he would say the team needs to communicate better together, keep their heads on a swivel and always provide help. What I think I imagine Sullivan is really saying is the defense just has to be more focused on what is happening in front of them and potentially behind him. That it is more mental than physical because Swarm General Manager Marty O'Neill has brought in talented defensemen like Scott Self and Richard Morgan. We have Ryan Cousins and Eric Pacey healthy again. We have two fantastic stick like glue defenders like Noah Talbot and Jon Sullivan, no relation to the assistant coach. We have the physical talent but can the come together mentally to thwart those oily Roughnecks.

When all of us Swarm fans watched the game this past Sunday, we felt something missing. I know, most would say, whatever happened to Ryan Ward, we sure could have used him out there running the offense. I agree but considering he is near the Arctic Circle playing for the Edmonton Rush now, well I sort of figured he might not show up on Sunday. Who I meant was the red-headed, baby-faced assassin Sean Pollock. Ole number 17 missed the opener due to starting a new job on Monday and was he ever missed. As I have said many times, Sean is a great barometer on how this team plays. He brings energy and spark to this team like no one else. Him and probably Travis Hill are probably the most tenacious players on this team, never backing down. With Travis out for possibly the whole season due to an ACL, that leaves Sean but as we saw on Sunday, no Sean, means little if no spark. His presence alone should narrow the gap between the two rivals. Add in Kevin Buchanan to the line up, who also missed Sunday's game, and Swarm fans should see an offense that resembles what Marty thought it would be when he assembled it. Tim Campeau and Sean Thomson are good players but they are not Kevin Buchanan and Sean Pollock.

Friday night is the time for your and mine favorite local professional indoor lacrosse team to start to gain the home field advantage we are told we have. Calgary has shown all their cards, those cards are good but all have been revealed to Minnesota. Minnesota has three cards to play that Calgary has not seen this year in Pollock, Buchanan and Nick Inch. All should be in blue and gold and they all should make a difference on Friday. Don't blink, Calgary, as you enter The Hive, because you will be losing some helmets and a game to a Minnesota team that should be ready and able to take charge of their home floor.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 12 Calgary Roughnecks 11

Next Games After This Match Up

• Minnesota vs Colorado - Friday, January 22nd, 2010 7:30 pm Central
• Calgary vs Washington - Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 8:30 pm Central