2012 recap: The Mammoth went 11-5 in the regular season with the most potent attack in the NLL. John Grant Jr. won the scoring title, setting an NLL single-season record with 116 points, and it looked like Colorado was bound for glory — not a 14-10 home loss to Minnesota in the first round of playoffs. Having forward Gavin Prout (calf muscle) and goalie Chris Levis (groin) at less than 100 percent did not help.
Nice mix: The Mammoth has plenty of options, as seen in the numbers of its top five scorers last year. Grant (50 goals), rookie of the year Adam Jones (29), 
Jamie Lincoln (27), Sean Pollock (26) and Gavin Prout (22) led the way.
Offseason: Colorado signed free agents Rich Morgan and Chet Koneczny. Morgan is an NLL giant at 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds. Koneczny is a hard-nosed defender. They were two of the most prized free agents and general manager Steve Govett landed both. Morgan was with Minnesota the last three years and has played defense most of his career, but Govett wants to try him up front to set picks for Grant. Ironically, it was a big hit from Morgan that sidelined Grant for two games with a broken sternum in 2012. “We wanted the team to be grittier so we went out and got Morgan and Koneczny,” Govett said.
Entry draft: First-round and No. 9 overall pick Colton Clar has two seasons of Canadian senior summer ball under his belt, so he should be able to step in on the right side of the floor. He’s 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and hard to stop. “Just like we did last year when we made Adam [Jones] our first pick, we got our guy again this year,’’ coach Bob Hamley said. “Colton’s a big body who can shoot the ball. He has good hands.”
Dalgarno returns: Forward Joel Dalgarno, who took 2012 off while establishing a firefighting career in British Columbia, will help make Colorado’s offense the most diversified in the league.
Big Mac attack: Mac Allen missed the first half of 2012 while rehabbing from a knee injury, but should be ready for the start of the season in January. A full season with Big Mac is a big boost on the back end. Colorado ranked sixth out of nine teams in defense last season and must improve in that area if it wants to win it all.
Crease competition: Govett signed Toronto castoff Matt Roik to compete with Levis and Tye Belanger for the starting goalie job. Roik won an NLL title with Washington, and it was a surprise when the Rock released him fter a three-game losing streak last winter. Govett doesn’t believe Roik is done.
Feelin’ good: “We feel pretty good about our roster,” Govett said. “We’ll keep most of the guys on the roster from last year and tweak from there. We’re fairly positive about where we’re at.”
Schedule: Colorado opens at home Jan. 12 against Washington.
For more: http://www.laxmagazine.com/nll/2012-13/news/112112_national_lacrosse_league_west_division_preview
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