A Nanaimo lacrosse standout is taking his place among the game’s very best.
Scott Ranger, a Calgary Roughnecks player and captain of the Nanaimo Timbermen, was voted a starter at the National Lacrosse League All-Star Game later this month.
The Vancouver Island University education student was in his bio-mechanics class Monday when his wife Jill called him to pass along the news.
“I was hopeful, but I didn’t think too much about it,” Ranger said. “It was definitely the furthest thing from my mind.”
The 27-year-old is second in the NLL in goals this season with 17 in just six games. His efforts have helped the Roughnecks (4-2) to first place in the conference.
“I’m playing with a lot more confidence,” Ranger said. “It has a lot to do with the teammates who I have, the hard work that they go through to get me open.”
Ranger said last summer’s Western Lacrosse Association season, when he took on an expanded role, helped his progression as a player.
“[Being] the captain helped myself, just gaining that confidence and gaining that extra little bit of leadership,” he said.
That translated to the NLL, where he has also been more of a go-to guy in a new-look Roughnecks offence that no longer boasts players like Josh Sanderson and Tracey Kelusky.
“Losing Josh and Tracey, the coaching staff definitely wanted more from all of us,” Ranger said. “Losing two big stars like that, everybody had to step up and I think everybody’s done a pretty good job with it so far.”
He said he's happy with where the Roughnecks have positioned themselves, but even more excited because he knows there is plenty of room for the team to get better still. Next up for Calgary is a nationally televised game against the Toronto Rock this Saturday (Feb. 12).
"It's a big game for our team," Ranger said. "If we can get on top of Toronto and get two points out of them, it puts us in first place. We've got full focus on this weekend and we're going to be ready to battle."
As for the all-star game, it will be held in Verona, N.Y., on Feb. 27.
“This being my first all-star game, I’m definitely going to soak it all in and just enjoy myself and represent my teammates properly with class and respect,” Ranger said. “And hopefully put a couple of goals in the net, obviously, when I’m there.”
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