Minnesota Swarm (2-0)

Colorado Mammoth (1-0)

Pre-Season
Saturday, December 13, 2014 - 5:00 pm CST
Toronto Rock Athletic Centre
Oakville, Ontario

Last Update: December 11, 2014 8:26 pm Central

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

More Coverage of this game at:

Series History:

Last year, the Mammoth swept the Swarm in both games. The first game was in Colorado on February 1st and was tied through three quarters but John Grant scored two of his three goals in the last stanza including the game winner for the 14-12 win. Zack Higgins made his first ever NLL and Swarm start saving 37 shots. In the rematch at The Hive on April 19th, the Mammoth dominated early and often on their way to an 18-12 victory. Grant scored his 600th career goal in game and Callum Crawford passed Ryan Benesch in all-time Swarm regular season goals with 142.

Last Weekend:

The Swarm had a weekend sweep of last year's NLL Champions Cup finalists. They beat the Knighhtawks, 14-8, in Rochester behind Miles Thompson's four goals on Saturday night. The following morning in Oakville, the Swarm went back to their training camp base in Oakville, Ontario and beat the Calgary Roughnecks, 19-12, behind Shayne Jackson's four goals.

The Mammoth held camp last weekend in Langley, British Columbia and came from behind on Sunday morning to beat the Vancouver Stealth, 14-11.

Notes:

• These two teams will get great chance to scout their next opponent which happens to be each other for both of their regular season openers which will be at Ho-Chunk Nation Field at The Hive on January 3rd.
• No word yet if Logan Schuss and Mitch Belisle will be at camp this weekend. Neither was in attendance last weekend.
• The Swarm released Andrew Casimir and Zach Palmer this week after the first weekend of camp. The team also placed Mike Grimes and Pat Laconi on the hold out list this week. Neither of those two were in attendance last weekend.
• The goaltending battle with Zach Higgins and Brodie MacDonald is very hot as both played very well last weekend. Each should get an half on Saturday in what could be a winner take all decision.
• The Swarm should be entering this weekend with 28 players on the active. They need to cut it down to 20 by Thursday, December 18th along with the rest of the league. Keep in my mind, the 20 you see next Thursday may not be the 20 on January 3rd because a lot of very good players will be available after next Thursday and the Swarm may feel that one of the them would fit in well in Blue and Gold.
• My estimation is that 17 players are locks to open the 2015 regular season on the Swarm roster. Of course, the coaches and players will tell you that nothing is decided but that is crapola. That leaves 3 spots with 11 players battling for them. Below is my read but it is very possible even likely that Head Coach Joe Sullivan sees this play out differently:
  
  
  • First Spot - Lefty Forward - Nick Cotter, Dean Hill and Joe Haodais Maracle:
    
    I think if Cotter has another good weekend of camp, he will get that spot. His versatility which is similiar to Jordan MacIntosh gives him the edge in my opinion. Maracle is a definite candidate for the practice roster and I am sure will get to play CLAX this winter.
    
    
  • Second Spot - Righty Forward - Scott Jones, Corbyn Tao and Marcus Holman:
    
    I am not really sure that any of the three stood out amongst each other last weekend which leaves this weekend as one last chance. If you ask Swarm fans, I think they pick Tao but they may end being disappointed. It really is Jones' job to win or lose. If he can make the coaches believe he has stepped up his game a level or two over last year then it should be no contest but can he convince them. I definitely could see both Tao and Holman being placed on the practice roster and if Jones falters early, a quick call up could occur.
    
    
  • Third Spot - Defense/Transition: Dominique Alexander, Ian Crawford, Patrick Miles, Eric Guiltinan and Sam Bradman:
    
    It is all about which type of player they want to emphasize. Are they looking for a stay at home defender or someone who can play a shift or two on offense if needed. I think if one of these players becomes David Earl-like (plug in anywhere, loose ball vacuum, spark plug) then that player will make the team. From what I saw last weekend, Guiltinan may be the closest to that description but they all have one more weekend to show what they can do. A bad weekend from anyone of these five will surely end their NLL career for the time being as it gives the staff more of an easy reason not to keep that player around.
    
    
• Former Swarm with the Mammoth: Sean Pollock, Dan Ball, Jamie Shewchuk and Alex Turner. Shewchuk and Turner are fighting each other for a lefty forward spot on the Mammoth
• Former Mammoth with the Swarm: Dean Hill
• The Mammoth are led by Grant and Adam Jones on offense with a young star goaltender in Dillon Ward.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 15 Colorado Mammoth 13

Faceoffs (2014):

Personnel:

Minnesota Swarm

Runners (2014 Stats)

Goaltending (2014 Stats)

Staff

Depth Chart

Colorado Mammoth

Runners (2014 Stats)

Goaltending (2014 Stats)

Staff

Depth Chart

Next Games After This Match Up

• Minnesota vs Colorado - Saturday, January 3rd, 2015 7:00 pm Central
• Colorado at Minnesota - Saturday, January 3rd, 2015 7:00 pm Central