10 Years: Pack the House

June 4, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release


Edmonton Rush Fans
Edmonton Rush Fans
(Edmonton Rush)

From Day 1 of the 2015 season, the Edmonton Rush set their sights squarely on one goal.

Yes there were other goals in mind, but only one was at the top of the chart, and all the others led to the peak.

The only way the 2015 campaign ends in success for the Rush is by claiming the team's first NLL Champion's Cup. They can make it happen on Friday night right on their home turf of Crystal Glass Field at Northlands. And if the Rush do come through and take the title, they would like very much to have a big throng of supporters enjoy the party as well.

"It would be amazing to have a big crowd for Game 2," said the Rush's Kyle Rubisch, the three-time reigning NLL Defensive Player of the Year.

"Our fans give us an extra boost when we know we have that kind of support in the stands. Our fans are so loyal and knowledgeable to the game of lacrosse it would be special for sure."

The Rush's fanbase are certainly loud and they get into the game especially when a top rival invades the home turf. Calgary and Toronto have always been the Rush's best foes, not only on the turf but for bringing up the attendance numbers, too. Couple the visiting Rock with the chance of the Rush winning the championship and it definitely sets the scene for an amazing atmosphere.

"It would mean a lot to not only our team, but our entire organization," said Edmonton's Adrian Sorichetti. "The amount of time and effort everyone puts in to this program, it would be the cherry on top to win in front of a packed Crystal Glass Field."

The Rush players know that a crowd of 9-10,000 fans causing a ruckus can quickly turn Northlands into hostile territory for the Rock.

"I think that a crowd like that for a home game in Edmonton would be awesome," added the Rush's Robert Church, the team's third-leading scorer in the regular season and so far in the playoffs as well.

"I think we would definitely feed off of the energy of the crowd after goals and big defensive stops and that can go a long way in such a massive game. We've had a great environment at our home games all year and I would expect nothing less than our biggest crowd of the season with it being our last home game of the season and potentially a chance to see the Champion's Cup won at home."

Work Ethic: With a week between Game 1 and Game 2 of the Champion's Cup, it not easy to maintain the momentum the Rush created from winning the series opener. However, the Rush can certainly look back on Game 1 and get the blood pumping for the return match. The Rush put together arguably one of their best games in franchise history, a result that goes beyond the 15-9 final score.

"We stated that we wanted to make sure we won the 50/50 battles and try to outwork them as they are an amazing team with lots of skill and experience," said Rush defender Kyle Rubisch. "We know that it will take another performance with strong work ethic to be successful.

"It was a big win for sure. To get out to an early lead in the series is definitely nice, but we know we still have a lot of work to do. We need to win another game and we all understand that it won't come easy."

Bold Statment: After battling through some rough moments in the West Final against Calgary, Rush goalie Aaron Bold was practically unbeatable in Game 1 of the Champion's Cup. Bold, who will definitely be in the hunt for the NLL's Goaltender of the Year award, made 39 saves against the Rock and even chipped in a perfect stretch pass that setup Jarrett Davis's shorthanded goal.

Bold was particularly sharp when needed the most, the brief spells when the Rock started to get some momentum. Just moments after Bold's biggest save of the game, Zack Greer scored a highlight reel goal that essentially finished off Toronto's comeback bid.

"At times on Saturday, we played well as a defensive group, but at others, we relied on Aaron Bold to bail us out. The game would have been much closer if it weren't for Aaron's outstanding performance," said Rush captain Chris Corbeil.

Bold's best came on breakaways especially his save off Damon Edwards. Moments after that stop, Mark Matthews set up Zack Greer for a spectacular goal that essentially put the final dagger in the Rock's coffin for the night.

"It's not a surprise that we're getting his best when we need it the most," said Greer. "He's a big part of what we do and with the defense in front of him that gets us going on offense."

Something else that will help the Rush's cause in Game 2 will be staying disciplined. They did when the Rock tried to muck things up in the second half, but Toronto also flexed its power-play muscles by going 2-for-3 with the man-advantage.

"Toronto has a very impressive offensive unit and trying to contain that group is always a challenge. We'll look to bring more consistency to our game on Friday and try and do a better job of staying out of the box," added Corbeil.

Good For The Game: The NLL's first All-Canadian matchup has definitely raised the profile of the Champion's Cup. Edmonton's lack of playoff success in any sport over the past few years could take a serious upswing if the Rush come through in Game 2.

"There's been fantastic coverage on TV and in the media, and that kind of exposure is great for the league and the sport," said Rush GM/head coach Derek Keenan.

"It's great for the future growth, not only in the two provinces represented in the final, but right across the country."




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