2023-2024 Record: 8-10, 11th missing the playoffs.
New Faces
Curtis Dickson, Dane Dobbie, Mattieu Gautier, Cam MacLeod, John Lintz
Key Losses
Christian Del Bianco, Thomas Hoggarth, Jeff Cornwall, Zach Currier, Shane Simpson
Offense
Although the offense lost Thomas Hoggarth, the returns of Dane Dobbie and Curtis Dickson will make the Roughnecks more potent than last season. Mattieu Gautier will get a chance to spread his wings and shine in Calgary as well. With other weapons like Haiden Dickson, Tanner Cook, Jesse King and Tyler Pace, this will be an explosive offense.
Defense/Transition
The transition game took a big hit losing Shane Simpson, Zach Currier and Jeff Cornwall. However, adding veteran John Lintz to a bruising defense, will help the backend immensely. Reece Callies, Eli Salama, Robert Hudson and Ethan Ticehurst anchor a big bruising lineup.
Goaltending
This is where all the conversations have been. With Christian Del Bianco sitting out (playing ALL West this season) goaltendingis a serious concern. Cam MacLeod & Colby Bowman are the current options. MacLeod has played minimally behind Nick Damude in Panther City, and Colby Bowman is a rookie. With Aaron Bold still unsigned, do the Roughnecks reach out to Aaron for support?
Overall
This is one BIG team! 23 of the 28 players currently on the Roughnecks roster are 6-feet or taller. Reece Callies, as usual, is at the top standing at 6-foot-7. Eleven players on the roster right now are over 6-foot-3. The Roughnecks will be one of the tallest groups in the league once again this season.
With goaltending still a big question mark, the Roughnecks will be involved in a fair amount of high scoring games this season. It should be a very exciting team!