IL Indoor

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) Colorado Mammoth hosted their Rookie & Free Agent camp this weekend. Included in that group were high American draft picks in forward Ned Crotty and defender Ken Clausen. The two are young, marketable players with impressive field lacrosse resumes. But their experience with the indoor game is limited. How will they adjust and will they be impact players as early as 2011?

After the jump, hear from the Mammoth’s top pick from 2010, Ned Crotty, as well as Mammoth head coach Bob Hamley on their impression of the team’s NLL tryout weekend that wrapped up today.

“It was really my first time ever playing indoor,” explains Crotty, the first American selected in this year’s draft at 11th overall. “It was definitely weird at first… It’s really important to keep the stick in your strong hand, to stay on your side. It’s all about angles – the goalies are so big, and the nets are so small.”

“You can watch film, but the only way to really get the hang of it is reps.”

“From the first session to the last session, I think I definitely improved. It’s a learning experience and I’m trying to soak in as much as I can,” says the 6’2”, 190-pound forward, who does have experience competing in tight confines. In high-school, Crotty was named an All-American in both lacrosse and hockey.

With the University of Duke lacrosse program, Ned Crotty captured the NCAA D1 national championship and was awarded the 2010 Tewaaraton Trophy. Selected first overall in the last MLL Entry Draft, he was also a key member of the 2010 USA national team that took gold at this year’s Worlds. He has an explosive first-step and excellent vision.

Coach Bob Hamley says Ned reminds him of Jed Prossner with possibly more offensive talent.

“From the offensive end he is just dynamic. He breaks feet,” says Hamley of Crotty.

“We talked to Ned before camp about using his midfielder experience he had in college,” added Hamley, who notes he struggled a bit on D. “I think we found out, he is probably an O-guy in the NLL. Really good feet, great stick – has a real hard shot.”

“We’ll be patient with him and Clausen. We’re not going to throw them to the wolves. They are part of our future.”

Ken Clausen is coming off an outstanding collegiate career, as well, where he was a named a four-time All-American and NCAA D1’s best defender in 2010. Physical and fast, Clausen should crack the team’s 23-man roster and he is keen to learn.

“It’s definitely very physical, but it’s a lot of fun,” adds Crotty of his first indoor experience.

The Colorado Mammoth are back at it with their main camp the weekend of November 20, 2010. The coaching staff will make decisions about who will move on from this weekend’s camp that featured nearly 30 players, but Hamley really liked the play of defender Ben Davies who we profiled the other week.

“I think Ben Davies is ready to play,” offered Hamley when question who stood out. “He was the most polished of all the guys, I thought. I was happy to see him”

“John Rae performed very well this weekend. I’m very happy with him as well.”

The Mammoth put their rookie and free agents through a variety of fast-paced, intense drills, and included 4-on-4 scrimmages.

“We had a real mix of experience,” added Hamley of the overall camp which included local talent from the outdoor MLL Denver Outlaws including Connor Martin and Dillon Roy. “What we were looking for was steady improvement over the weekend… Overall, the group improved and as a coach that’s what you want to see.”

“A lot of good athletes,” adds Hamley. “I’m very happy with the quality of play.”

As for who is making the main camp?

“The names Crotty, Clausen, Davies and Jason Jones will make camp and there will be a couple of others that we’ll determine this week,” states Hamley.

The Mammoth are coming off a rough year where they finished with a league-worst 4-12 overall record, two points behind the Minnesota Swarm for the fourth and final playoff spot out West.

They were also young last season, highlighted by rookies Alex Gajic, Cliff Smith and Ilija Gajic who once again showed well competing against Canada’s best at the 2010 Mann Cup.

“It was a disappointing for everybody that was involved, we have to bounce back,” adds Hamley on last season. The Mammoth have since added one of the best pure goal scorers in John Grant Jr., plus sharp-shooter Mike McLellan and goaltender Matt King. “We hope we improved our scoring with Junior coming in now. We’ll have a goaltending battle in camp that we’ll have to figure out in the next few weeks.”

“Overall, we have to have a group that takes ownership in the team and is focused on the next seven months to get to our ultimate goal which is a championship, like everybody else,” adds Hamley. “We need to find 23 guys that are going to make that commitment to the Mammoth.”

“We all know in the NLL it’s a very fine line between winning and losing, and sometimes it’s the little things that put you over the hump. We’ll find those 23 guys and get after it.”

Colorado will host the Toronto Rock in preseason action on December 4. Their 2011 regular season opener is against the defending NLL champion Washington Stealth on January 8th.

Rate This Story:

(+7 rating, 19 votes)

 Loading ...