Edmonton, AB-- Ryan Ward won't necessarily feel like the new guy when he enters the Edmonton Rush training camp Dec. 5.Although he'll be one of many fresh faces at camp as the Rush prepare for the 2010 National Lacrosse league season, Ward's lacrosse connections - primarily his Victoria, BC background - will make him feel more comfortable in his new surroundings.
Traded to Edmonton from the Minnesota Swarm in a multi-player deal in July - seeing Ryan Benesch, among others, go to Minny - Ward brings skill and athleticism to the Rush offense.
The 29-year-old right-handed shot is a high-end offensive player, who can run the power-play, as well as provide leadership and veteran presence to the Rush squad. He's also a handful of players in the Edmonton lineup with a Victoria connection. While it's not uncommon for lacrosse players to share a connection via hometowns or club teams; for Ward and the Rush, however, his connection is stronger than that. The five-foot-nine, 190-pounder joins about half-a-dozen other players from the "City of Gardens", including his close friend in stalwart Rush defender Chris McKay.
"Growing up in Victoria, I played lacrosse my whole life with Chris," Ward said. "He was the best man at my wedding and vice-versa. We're best friends.
"All the Victoria guys - primarily Derek Malawsky and Buck Stobart - I've known those guys for years. They're veteran players. I fell real comfortable with these guys. I've won championships with them and I feel pretty good about it," added Ward, who captured two Mann Cups championships with the Western Lacrosse Association Victoria Shamrocks in 2003 and 2005, including a five-goal, two-assist performance in the deciding game six of the '05 title victory over the Peterborough Lakers.
Add in former teammates Chris McElroy, Andy Secore, Scott Stewart and Matt Disher from Victoria and Minnesota Swarm respectively and Ward has instant karma with his Rush comrades.
Entering his seventh NLL season, Ward's racked up 354 points in 91 NLL games and while his 56 points last season with Minny dipped from his 33-goal, 69-point performance from 2008 and his career-high 75-points in 2007, he was recently named as the No. 46 player in the NLL Insider Top 50. He's now looking forward to get back on track with a fresh start in Edmonton.
"I'm excited to be part of the Rush organization," said Ward, a two-time NLL all-star. "I think it's a team that has a lot of upside to it. We have some great talent and I think we're very close to getting to that next level.
"I'm really excited to play for Derek Keenan. I've heard nothing but good things about him and his professionalism," he added. "I think this is a team that can compete and get the respect that we deserve and get that winning attitude."
Ward, based in Minnesota for the past five years, is also pleased to stay within the NLL's West Division and face his old Swarm club - where he spent the majority of his career.
"I'm looking forward to playing the Swarm," he said. "Anytime you play a team you came from, especially a place I still live and a team that I played for five years, there's a little extra motivation. At the end of the day though, it's an opportunity to get another win."
While the two clubs don't lock horns until March 27 in Edmonton and again April 3 at Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota, Ward has plenty of time to re-connect on the carpet with Secore, as the two had offensive chemistry with Minny in 2008.
"We're players that complement each other," Ward said. "We make each other better and I'm excited to play with him again. He's a great shooter and goal scorer. I think me being able to find him and take some pressure off him carrying the ball will be a good thing."
So what kind of player can the Rush faithful expect in Ward? While he's not been offered his role as of yet, Ward has a feeling where he'll fit in.
"They're looking for some offensive leadership," he said. "I'll be one of the go-to guys, that's something I expect of myself, too.
"Scoring goals and making players around me better is kind of where I see it. Not always scoring goals, but making good plays. I feel if I can help the overall team offence and I can do that by scoring goals and by putting other players in the position to put the ball in the net," added the product of Butler University.
With the Rush in dire need of some offensive thrust, Ward's style of play will be a welcome addition for the 2010 campaign.
"I like to have the ball on my stick and like to attack the goal," he said. "I look to score first and pass second, but I can be a good set up guy on the power-play. I like to be a good distributor of the ball and make sure everyone's involved and get the most of the team's offensive process."
"We know and like Ryan's character and what he brings to this team," said Rush assistant coach Todd Lorenz. "He's a guy willing to cut through the middle - willing to sacrifice by setting a pick and getting crunched for it or cutting through and getting double teamed allowing other players to get open. Ryan does those things very well."
"He's athletic. Not only a great shooter, he's an athlete," chipped in Rush head coach and GM Derek Keenan.
With the Rush training camp opening Dec. 5 and the season starting on the road Jan. 15, 2010 at the Washington Stealth, Ward's ready for his new start.
"It's going to be a great opportunity for me and I'm really excited about my role on the team and what they're going to expect from me," he said.
The Rush opens the regular season on the road against the Washington Stealth on January 15 and the next day against the Colorado Mammoth at Pepsi Center on Saturday, January 16. The Rush opens the home regular season on Saturday, January 23 against the Buffalo Bandits at Rexall Place. Training Camp opens December 5 at Leduc Recreation Centre.
Training Camp Sessions:
Saturday, December 5 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 6 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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