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The champions are back, and a lot of the names are the same.
The Calgary Roughnecks yesterday announced their final roster for the 2010 National Lacrosse League season.
The 23-man roster will dress seven new players, with 16 names returning from the 2009 campaign.
But one of the new kids on the club -- and a key man in the drive to repeat -- is head coach Dave Pym, who is determined to see the Riggers through to another Champion's Cup.
"Anything less than a championship will be a failure," Pym said. "We are going to bring a high octane, in-your-face defensive pressure, a lightning quick attack in transition, lunch-bucket working-man scores and a no-nonsense work ethic with a commitment to excellence that our great fans deserve."
Pym was named head coach in the summer of 2009. He joined the Roughnecks in 2007 as the team's assistant coach/offensive coordinator.
Curt Malawsky, who retired from the NLL after winning the Champion's Cup with the Roughnecks last year, will enter his first year behind the bench as assistant coach/offensive coordinator. Malawsky starred for the Riggers for two years and played in the NLL 12 years before hanging up his jersey.
The Riggers offence will include returners Kaleb Toth, Jeff Shattler, Josh Sanderson, Dane Dobbie and Scott Ranger. Craig Conn and Carlton Schuss have been added, along with transition player Rob Van Beek.
"We operate a system that taps into the creative talent and work ethic of a very special group of players," Pym said. "Whatever the role, they will fight like cats and dogs to get it. You can't help but stand in awe of the leadership coming off our front end."
Veteran Tracey Kelusky has been placed on the physically unable to perform list.
"Tracey took care of some summer nicks and is closing in on completion of his training program," Pym said. "He is fully expected to be in the lineup come Jan. 10."
Jeff Moleski, Scott Carnegie, Mike Carnegie, Bruce Codd, Andrew McBride, Peter McFetridge, Mike Kilby and John Lintz return from the 2009 defence. Curtis Manning, Rob Kirkby and Craig Gelsvik are new additions.
"Our back end is chalk full of our heart and soul," Pym said. "The game sense, strength, athleticism, controlled aggression and shear love of the game stand outs with this group."
Other familiar names are transition players Devan Wray and Nolan Heavenor, and goaltender Matt King, who had a solid '09 season with the Roughnecks. Chris Levis, formerly of the Edmonton Rush, will also suit up between the pipes.
Pym has high expectations for the tag-team in net.
"We expect our goalies to stop the ones they should stop, stop the ones they shouldn't stop and put up some offensive numbers," Pym said. "They are our last line of defence -- they allow us to take chances, as we are confident they can close the door when it matters most."
2010 NLL ROUGHNECKS
4. DEVAN WRAY, TRANSITION
6. JOHN LINTZ, DEFENCE
7. ROB VAN BEEK, TRANSITION
8. CRAIG CONN, FORWARD
9. KALEB TOTH, FORWARD
10. CURTIS MANNING, DEFENCE
14. JEFF MOLESKI, DEFENCE
15. ROB KIRKBY, DEFENCE
16. MIKE CARNEGIE, DEFENCE
19. JOSH SANDERSON, FORWARD
20. BRUCE CODD, DEFENCE
24. SCOTT CARNEGIE, DEFENCE
26. CRAIG GELSVICK, DEFENCE
28. CARLTON SCHUSS, FORWARD
30. MATT KING, GOALIE
33. CHRIS LEVIS, GOALIE
37. ANDREW MCBRIDE, DEFENCE
40. NOLAN HEAVENOR, TRANSITION
44. DANE DOBBIE, FORWARD
55. MIKE KILBY, DEFENCE
71. SCOTT RANGER, FORWARD
77. JEFF SHATTLER, FORWARD
80. PETER MCFETRIDGE, DEFENCE