DENVER – He hasn’t donned the burgundy and black for Colorado during a game just yet, but one of the squad’s recently signed forwards in Parker Pipher showed up in a Mammoth way for his Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) team this season.
Inked to a one-year contract last month as the Mammoth organization prepared to traverse the NLL Trade Deadline, the Oshawa, Ontario native was officially welcomed to the squad March 7.
RELATED: Mammoth Sign Forward Parker Pipher to One-Year Deal
While he hasn’t drawn into the team’s stating lineup quite yet, currently occupying one of the team’s four Practice Player spots, he’s been on the roster since Colorado took on his hometown team, the Toronto Rock, two days later on March 9.
Officially getting a taste of what a game inside the LOUD HOUSE looks and sounds like, as the Mammoth hosted the Rochester Knighthawks at Ball Arena March 23 during Colorado Lacrosse Night, Pipher furthered his understanding of what it means to practice, play and recover like a professional.
RELATED: Mammoth Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with Clutch 13-7 Win over Knighthawks
Participating in his first Foothills Fieldhouse reps prior to the Saturday night showdown, the former third-round selection (45th overall, 2022 NLL Entry Draft) received his first chance to play alongside guys like Zed Williams and Eli McLaughlin while shooting on an all-world netminder in Dillon Ward.
Quite the different set of personnel in which he’s accustomed to playing with, as the scoring talent has spent the majority of the 2023-24 season representing the Toronto Monarchs north of the border. Then again, it’s his standout efforts from the passing winter which earned him a look at the sport’s highest level.
Leading the entire ALL with 91 points (37g, 54a) in 14 regular season games en route to pacing his team in goals, assists and overall scoring, Pipher looked like he was a step or two ahead of his competition all season.
Staying hot as his squad transitioned into the three-round postseason, Parker lit up the scoreboard during the league’s opening round by posting a season-high 13 points (1g, 12a) as he led the Monarchs to a clutch 20-17 win over the Paris RiverWolves.
Chipping in a contest-high eight points (3g, 5a) Saturday as his team dropped a tight 13-12 final to the Whitby Steelhawks in the ALL East Cup Semi-Final, Pipher gave it his all. Despite playing in just two of the league’s three postseason rounds, he still managed to finish second-overall in scoring with 21 points (4g, 17a), nearly quadrupling the six career postseason points (0g, 6a) he’d earned in his previous two combined playoff appearances.
Pipher currently sits behind each of Zed Williams, Tyson Gibson, Connor Kelly, (Ryan Lee, assuming he’s back next season), and even rookie Ben McDonald on the team’s right-handed depth chart. But if he can continue to improve via his practice reps while learning from the team’s established veterans, there’s always a chance he cracks the late-season lineup. If not, he could look to get involved next season while continuing to serve as a quality option on the team’s Practice Player List.
With the team coming out of its final bye week of the season, Colorado will now prepare to host the Buffalo Bandits on April 5 during Grateful Dead Night inside the LOUD HOUSE as the team looks to keep its playoff hopes alive during another dramatic NLL Finals rematch!
Be sure to secure your tickets and get ready to TUSK UP!
