Warriors Look to Bounce Back Against Mammoth

Week 5 of NLL action sees the Warriors (1-2) face off against the Colorado Mammoth (0-2). 

The Mammoth are looking for their first win of the season, after facing the Georgia Swarm in Weeks 2 and 4 with a bye week to start the season and another bye sandwiched in between. The Mammoth lost the first contest to the Swarm 16-10 and the second outing 15-8. 

In Colorado’s most recent loss, Georgia got out to a 3-0 lead, but the Mammoth stormed back to tie the game 3-3 in the first quarter. The Storm then went on a 5-0 run, holding Colorado scoreless in the second quarter and continued to find the back of the net until the final horn. 

New Westminster forward Connor Robinson led the Mammoth with three goals and defender Jalen Chaster, from Coquitlam had two turnovers caused in his first game back this season. Forward Tyson Gibson, the first overall 2019 draft pick and Rookie of the Year in 2020, had two assists while defender Robert Hope had 11 loose balls. 

After missing the first two games, the Mammoth are expected to move forward Zed Williams and defender (and Richmond, B.C. native) Jordan Gilles to the active roster prior to this weekend’s matchup. Another B.C.-born player for the Mammoth, and former Warriors player – Jon Phillips – from Delta has also been moved to the active roster. Phillips is ready to tackle his second season after he scored 45 points (21-24-45) in his rookie season with the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. 

Originally from Surrey, B.C., Mammoth forward Eli McLaughlin, who has spent his whole career with Colorado, is leading his team with eight points (3g, 5a) through two games. Victoria, B.C. native Chris Wardle has five points (2g, 3a) to start the season. 

Vancouver will hope to get more scoring from Adam Charalambides, Ryan Martel, and Keegan Bal against Colorado. Charalambides (7-7-14) and Martel (6-8-14) are leading the way with 14 points each for the Warriors through the first three games, while Bal has 13 points (4-9-13), including five points in the last game against the Rochester Knighthawks. 

Vancouver dropped its most recent contest to Rochester 13-11, and the Warriors will need to keep their momentum going from start to finish against Colorado. Vancouver started strong against Rochester, with a 5-3 lead to end the first quarter, but the Knighthawks’ third goal at the end of the first kicked off a 6-0 run into the second and the Warriors never regained the lead.  

Warriors’ defenseman Owen Grant was named NLL Rookie of the Week this past week, scoring a hat trick against Rochester. Not only did he score his first NLL goal, but he was also a perfect three for three from the floor collecting a team-high seven loose balls. 

OWEN GRANT, HAVE A NIGHT! 🤩

First career hatty for the rookie! pic.twitter.com/BiN6pbFaIY

— Vancouver Warriors (@VanWarriors) December 24, 2023

Adam Charalambides and Kevin Crowley had two goals each, and singles from Keegan Bal, Kyle Killen, Ryan Martel, and Reid Bowering. 

The Warriors matchup against the Mammoth in Colorado at Ball Arena on Saturday, December 30th at 6 p.m. PT.