IL Indoor

Jeff Shattler is wondering why his Necks were nailed with such a tough sked. (Larry Palumbo)

Last year we took a deeper look at the National Lacrosse League schedule, looking at divisional breakdowns, opponent’s strength based on the previous year’s results, as well as how compact their weekends were and how spread out some of those all-important home dates were scattered.

Last year we ranked the Toronto Rock as having the toughest 2010 schedule, a sked with more double header weekends than almost anyone else, a super high win percentage owned by the opposition, and a pair against the, at the time, reigning Champion’s Cup winners, the Calgary Roughnecks. We also deemed the Necks as having the easiest sked a year ago. This year we think they have the toughest. After the jump, find out why.

So what makes Calgary’s upcoming regular season schedule so tough?

While the last month of their season, at least on paper based on last year’s numbers and results, is somewhat “easy” with back-to-backs against the West’s bottom two against the Minnesota Swarm and Colorado Mammoth, most of the rest of their year should be a serious trip.

Calgary sees about the same amount of 2009 post-season opponents this year as the rest of the league, but few see as many quality ones. Half of the Roughnecks season is against the Cup winning Washington Stealth (x3), West finalist Edmonton Rush (x3) and East champion & Cup runners upToronto Rock (x2), five of those eight games away from the cozy confines of the Pengrowth Saddledome.

The Necks also have by far the longest inactive stretch away from home, a 48 day span that won’t see them at the Saddledome for the entire month of February and most of March.

Below, check out how we rank this year’s team schedules from 1-10 (hardest to lightest). Take a look at the breakdowns and then let us know who you think has the toughest 2010 in front of them (poll immediately following schedules below)…

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