Mammoth Continue 2026 Training Camp in Six Nations as Regular Season Quickly Approaches

DENVER – The Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) continued their Training Camp north of the border this past weekend via some tuned-in practices and a scrimmage against the Halifax Thunderbirds to round out another productive set of tune-up sessions ahead of the league’s quickly approaching 2026-27 regular season campaign.

Colorado began its second weekend of welcome-back action with an evening gathering at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) Friday night. Shots were taken, hits were absorbed and the overall intensity was dialed up a notch, as the boys understood they weren’t going to be facing off against future potential teammates. A real opponent was right around the corner, and the attention to details were on display Friday night.

Add in a quick meal and early night of rest and Saturday’s shootaround had arrived.

Preseason scrimmages might not count anywhere officially in the record books, but fans better believe the preparation and vibes are 1:1 compared to a regular season outing, as veterans returned to their routines and superstitions while letting the new kids on the block understand what a Mammoth gameday looks and feels like from a shared bus ride to the locker room and beyond.

Stretches were had, shots were taken and following a meeting the NLLPA, the Mammoth were heading back to the hotel for lunch, a shower and pregame nap.

Back at the ILA for the first scrimmage of the year, Colorado made it adamant that this remained a business trip, able to establish a 5-2 lead throughout the opening 15 minutes of play. Second-year forward Jameson Bucktooth picked things up where he left them following a breakout summer campaign with his Jr. A St. Catharines Athletics, able to notch two goals, while Eli McLaughlin got on the board during his first taste of NLL action in 18 months. Braedon Saris and Thomas Vela added tallies as well.

When the second quarter rolled around, “Bucky” completed his hat trick while Saris doubled down as the pair of sophomore scorers donned the spotlight. Netminder Nathan Whittom, who’s set to enter his third professional campaign fresh off a Minto Cup run, manned the nets for the first half, relegating just five goals against in 30 minutes.

Kaleb Martin assumed goaltending duties for the second half.

Forward Owen Rahn added two more for the good guys in the third quarter, flanked by additional conversions from Vela (his second) and newcomer Ryan Favaro. But with the Thunderbirds heating up in their own right, the Mammoth brought just an 11-10 advantage into the final 15.

Quarter four featured a completed comeback effort from Halifax, as the Thunderbirds went on to secure an 18-15 victory. However, two of those goals involved empty-net conversions, as the Mammoth pulled Martin when the scoreboard read 16-15.

Rahn completed a second hat-trick effort for Colorado this his third of the night, while 2026 NLL Entry Draft selection forward Ryan Stines earned his first two goals of the postseason. Defenseman Colin Sharkey got on the board with a goal, but the Mammoth ultimately came three goals short.

And just like that, Sunday morning dawned and players went their separate ways. Only for a few days, though, as the team will be back in the air Friday morning with sights set for Vancouver!

The Burgundy Boys are now primed to head west this weekend, ready to participate in another set of practices in the greater Vancouver area before taking on the Vancouver Warriors during the team’s second preseason scrimmage.

Saturday’s complete slate of scorers can be viewed below:

Jameson Bucktooth (3)
Owen Rahn (3)
Braedon Saris (2)
Ryan Stines (2)
Thomas Vela (2)
Eli McLaughlin (1)
Ryan Favaro (1)
Colin Sharkey (1)

Mammoth fans can stay tuned to coloradomammoth.com and Colorado Mammoth social media channels for the team’s latest news, transactions and beyond.