NLL: Swarm training camp and roster updates

The Minnesota Swarm had training camp the past 3 weekends in Oakville Ontario where the team got together after several trades in the off season. Camp this year was especially competitive as in the new CBA, roster sizes were reduced to 20 players although the practice squad was increased to 4.

Camp is always a good time to see how the new draftees mesh with the veterans, and for me, it was a time to put some goaltending concerns to rest after Evan Kirk was traded to Philadelphia. Zach Higgins had never played a minute for the Swarm, having spent the past season on the practice squad, and my doubt as to whether or not he was ready to back up Tyler Carlson were eased in this camp. Andrew Suitor, after missing the majority of last season with an ACL tear was also cleared for contact during the final weekend of camp.

The Swarm played three preseason games during training camp and walked away with a 2-1 record. They defeated the Colorado Mammoth 14-10 featuring a hat trick by Jordan MacIntosh and a buzzer beater in the the second quarter by Logan Schuss. The Rochester Knighthawks also fell to the Swarm 16-15 with Scott Jones getting the winning goal with 1.3 seconds remaining. They did fall in their final game to the Calgary Roughnecks 19-9.

As I stated in my training camp preview article, the Swarm took a limited number of players in to camp and the whole goal of camp was to decide who makes the limited roster spots. Rosters for all NLL teams were revealed Monday, December 16, and a lot of talent was cut loose throughout the league, all casualties of the reduced roster size and salary cap.

Without further ado, I present to you the 2014 Minnesota Swarm Roster:

* denotes rookie

Forwards:

98 Callum Crawford 'A'

81 Josh Gillam

32 Shayne Jackson

89 Scott Jones*

18 Logan Schuss*

Transition:

33 David Earl

12 Cameron Flint*

9 Tyler Hass

24 Jordan MacIntosh

46 Kiel Matisz

3 Brock Sorenson

20 Andrew Suitor 'C'

Defensemen

10 Alex Crepensek

8 Greg Downing

4 Jeff Gilbert 'A'

11 Mike Hobbins

15 Jordan Houtby*

45 Jason Noble*

Goaltenders

30 Tyler Carlson

Zach Higgins

There are 14 returning players, 6 new players and 5 rookies.

Traded during the offseason were Ryan Benesch, Andrew Watt, Evan Kirk and Nick Bilic.

Released after training camp, but may show up on the practice squad when released were Dan Ball, Corbyn Tao, Mike Teeter, Dominique Alexander, and Zach Palmer.

Released over the summer was Pat Smith.

On the Hold Out List is Reid Acton.

On the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) is Matt Gibson.

And on the Protected Players List are Jay Card and Mitch Belisle.

The season kicks off December 28th in Rochester, NY at 6:30 PM and there will be full coverage of that here.