Saskatchewan Rush

The Saskatchewan Rush are a professional box lacrosse team based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Formerly the Edmonton Rush, they are members of the Western Division of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and play their home games on Co-op Field at SaskTel Centre. The Rush have won the Champion's Cup twice since their move to Saskatchewan: their first season in 2016, and again in 2018.

Saskatchewan Rush
SportLacrosse
Founded2015
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
DivisionWest
Based inSaskatoon, Saskatchewan
ArenaSaskTel Centre
ColoursGreen, black, white
OwnerMike Priestner
Head coachJeff McComb
General managerDerek Keenan
Championships(2) 2016, 2018
Division titles(5) 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Local mediaCKBL-FM
Websitewww.saskrush.com

History

The Edmonton Rush made their debut as an expansion team in the 2006 NLL season and twice reached the NLL final. After losing in 2012, they won the Champion's Cup in 2015.[1] However, the team struggled to draw fans, faced competition from the Edmonton Oil Kings junior hockey team for fans, and were denied the ability to promote the Rush branding within Rexall Place by the Edmonton Oilers.[1] Lacking any agreement with the City of Edmonton to play at its replacement, Rogers Place, owner Bruce Urban opted to relocate for the 2016 NLL season.[2]

In 2017, the team reached a five-year sponsorship deal with Saskatoon Co-op, under which the team's venue is referred to as Co-op Field at SaskTel Centre during Rush games.[3]

On May 10, 2021, the team announced that it had been sold to Mike Priestner, owner of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.[4]

Current roster
Saskatchewan Rush roster
Active (21-man) roster Inactive roster Coaches
Goaltenders
  • 31 Adam Shute
  • 35 Evan Kirk
Defensemen
  • 20 Travis Cornwall
  • 94 Matt Hossack
  •  8 Mike Messenger
  •  4 Kyle Rubisch (A)
  • 23 Ryan Dilks
  • 70 Holden Garlent
  • 53 Justin Robinson
Forwards
Transition
Practice Squad
  • 12 Zach Gould
  • 88 Cameron Dunkerley
  • 65 Ryan McLean
  • 44 Tristan Rai
Head Coach
Assistant Coaches
  • Jimmy Quinlan - Offensive Coach
  • Jeremy Tallevi - Defensive Coach
Legend
  • * Suspended list
  • (C) Captain
  • (A) Alternate captain

Roster updated 2019-04-18
NLL Transactions

All-time record
Season Division W–L Finish Home Road GF GA Coach Playoffs Avg Attendance
2016Western13–51st7–26–3233190Derek KeenanWon NLL Championship11,736
2017Western12–61st8–14–5231212Derek KeenanLost NLL Finals14,921
2018Western14–41st6–38–1254196Derek KeenanWon NLL Championship14,639
2019Western11–71st7–24–5222202Derek KeenanLost Western Division Semi-Finals13,459
2020Western7–3*1st2–35–011193Derek KeenanNo Playoffs Held12,007
Total5 seasons57–25 30–1127–141051893  13,482
Playoff Totals4 appearances9-4 6–23–2171146 2 championships13,425
* 2020 season ended in March 2020 because of COVID-19

Playoff results
Season Game Visiting Home
2016 West Division Finals Game 1 Saskatchewan 16 Calgary 10
West Division Finals Game 2 Calgary 9 Saskatchewan 12
NLL Championship Game 1 Saskatchewan 11 Buffalo 9
NLL Championship Game 2 Buffalo 10 Saskatchewan 11
2017 West Division Finals Game 1 Saskatchewan 18 Colorado 9
West Division Finals Game 2 Colorado 10 Saskatchewan 11
NLL Finals Game 1 Saskatchewan 14 Georgia 18
NLL Finals Game 2 Georgia 15 OT Saskatchewan 14
2018 West Division Finals Calgary 13 Saskatchewan 15
NLL Finals Game 1 Rochester 9 Saskatchewan 16
NLL Finals Game 2 Saskatchewan 8 Rochester 13
NLL Finals Game 3 Rochester 10 Saskatchewan 15
2019 West Division Semi-Finals Colorado 11 OT Saskatchewan 10

Head coaching history

Note: This list does not include head coaches from the Edmonton Rush.

# Name Term Regular Season Playoffs
GC W L W% GC W L W%
1Derek Keenan2016-2020825725.6951394.692

Draft history

NLL Entry Draft

First Round Selections

  • 2015: None
  • 2016: Ryan Keenan (1st overall), Michael Messenger (3rd overall)
  • 2017: None
  • 2018: Connor Robinson (5th overall)
  • 2019: Holden Garlent (4th overall), Justin Robinson (9th overall), Tanner Thomson (16th overall)
  • 2020: Marshall Powless (7th overall), Connor McClelland (12th overall)
  • 2021: Jake Boudreau (7th overall), Ryan Barnable (8th overall)

Broadcasting

Regarding local broadcasts, the Rush reached a deal with CKBL-FM (radio) and SaskTel MaxTV (TV) to broadcast its 2016 Western Conference playoff games.[5] CKBL-FM also broadcast the 2016 National Lacrosse League Finals between the Rush and the Buffalo Bandits with John Fraser calling play-by-play and Casey Guerin as colour commentator. For 2017-2019, The Saskatchewan Rush came to a local radio agreement with Saskatoon Media Group that would see all home, away and playoff games broadcast on CJMK-FM (98COOL-FM) for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons with play by play by Tanner Fetch, and return to CKBL-FM (92.9 The Bull) for 2018-2019 with Dave Thomas as the radio voice of the Rush. Also for the 2018-2019 season, a bi-weekly 30 minute TV program on the Saskatchewan Rush will be broadcast on Saturday mornings by Global Saskatoon and Global Regina, produced and hosted by Daniella Ponticelli. [6][7][8][9][10][11] All Saskatchewan Rush games are telecast through Bleacher Report's B/R Live in both Canada and the United States. For the Rush home games in Saskatoon, Ryan Flaherty is the play-by-play announcer, Former Vancouver Stealth play-by-play announcer Jake Elliott is the colour commentator, and Daniella Ponticelli is in-between team benches as the floor reporter.[12]

References
  1. Gregor, Jason (2015-07-21). "Urban explains why Rush are leaving Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  2. "NLL's Rush leaving Edmonton for Saskatoon". TSN.ca. 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  3. "Saskatchewan Rush ink five-year partnership with Co-op". Global News. 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  4. "Saskatchewan Rush lacrosse team bought by owners of Saskatoon Blades". CBC News. 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-05-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "In Brief: Saturday's Saskatchewan Rush game on TV; Bowling Silver". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  6. "SaskatoonHomepage.ca - Rush Reports". www.saskatoonhomepage.ca. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  7. "Tanner Fetch ,Professional Sports Broadcaster for the National Lacrosse League, The Saskatchewan Rush, CBS Sports and 98 COOL FM". Linkedlin.
  8. nurun.com. "Waiting game for Casey Guerin". Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  9. "Saskatchewan Rush Partner With Saskatoon Media Group". nll.com.
  10. "Welcome to the Team, Daniella!". Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse. 18 October 2018.
  11. "Dave Thomas (@wwsportsdave) | Twitter". twitter.com.
  12. "Sask Rush names play-by-play broadcasters". Clark's Crossing Gazette.
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