Roughnecks get help from anonymous individual

Here's a Calgary Roughnecks from Neil Stevens of Lacrosse Magazine.

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The cash-starved Calgary Roughnecks, whose owner Brad Banister says might not be able to afford to complete their 16-game National Lacrosse League schedule, is getting some help to get to a game in Philadelphia on Saturday.

An individual who chose to remain anonymous responded to Banister's public plea for financial support by helping to cover travel costs to get the team to its ninth game.

Calgary's 10th game is at Washington on March 13. If Banister can get that far, his team's next three games are at home: March 19 versus Edmonton, March 25 versus Toronto and April 1 versus Minnesota.

The Roughnecks are then to play at Minnesota on April 2, at home against Colorado on April 8 and at Colorado on April 15 to complete their schedule.

The collective bargaining agreement between the NLL and the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association provides for a $100,000 escrow fund to be created annually for use in the event a club defaults in its payroll obligations to players.

A player can ask to be declared a free agent if he doesn't get paid. He first has to give his club written notice of default. The club then has 10 days to pay up or submit the matter to arbitration.

If pay is still not forthcoming, a player can petition the league for immediate free agency.
An example of this happening in the past was when the New York Saints folded following the 2003 season. Players hadn't received full pay and some applied for free agency. Gavin Prout got it and, after being pursued by several teamsm signed with the Colorado Mammoth.