Dinsdale Fits Nicely
May 21, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Matthew Dinsdale of the Edmonton Rush
(Edmonton Rush)
Matthew Dinsdale was the last player to come onboard the Edmonton Rush express steaming towards the Champion's Cup.
To reach the chosen destination, the Rush need to go through the Calgary Roughnecks, and that would suit Dinsdale just fine.
"I would be lying if I said it's not in the back of my mind. Of course it is. You want to prove to that team that they made the wrong choice. But at the end of the day it's not me versus Calgary. It's the Rush versus Calgary and I have to do my part to make sure that we move on to the Championship," said Dinsdale.
The Coquitlam, B.C., native was Calgary's first-round pick in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft but by early in 2015 he had become a seldom-used piece of the Roughnecks' roster. Seeing him as a valuable commodity, Rush GM Derek Keenan made his only deal at the trade deadline by acquiring Dinsdale for a conditional third-round pick in this summer's draft.
It was a shrewd move by Keenan, who saw Dinsdale fit on the club being a gutsy forward unafraid to get dirty in the tough areas in front of the opposition net. The trade gave Dinsdale a new lease on his NLL life, and he repaid the Rush by notching 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) in just five regular-season games plus another four points including a power-play tally in Game 1 of the West Final against his former team.
Keenan's instinct that Dinsdale would fit neatly into the Rush package was spot on.
"There is a great group of guys in the locker room and I was greeted with open arms into their family," said Dinsdale.
"I am lucky to have played with a few guys previously in junior so there were a few familiar faces. I played with Ben McIntosh, Robert Church, and Jeff Cornwall basically my whole lacrosse career so it was easy to come into the lineup and be back playing with guys who I have some chemistry with.
"We have an offense that is fun to be a part of. Everyone shares the work, moves the ball, and trusts the system that we play. When we are doing that we tend to be successful and it's a lot of fun. I was excited when I found out that I got traded to the Edmonton Rush and I am looking forward to this opportunity that we have in front of us of winning the Champions Cup."
Dinsdale and his offensive running mates will be looked upon for more in Game 2. The scoring dry spell in the third quarter nearly cost the Rush, but they were able to get back in their groove especially in the game's dying moments. Needing a win in Game 2 to secure a spot in the Champion's Cup title series, the Rush can't afford another dry spell particularly against a motivated and ever-dangerous Roughnecks' offense playing on its home turf.
"I think the 20-minute or so goal drought in Game 1 was because we stopped moving our feet," said Dinsdale, who counted two of his three assists in the opener on the power play.
"Our offence is most successful when we move the ball and move our feet. Calgary has a very good defense and if we stay stagnant that's when they can limit your chances and push the ball in transition. I think we just have to limit those stagnant possessions and make sure everyone is getting touches. Hopefully that will lead to a more consistent goal output."
Back to Church: The Rush are expecting to have second-leading scorer Robert Church back in the lineup for Game 2 after he missed the opener due to injury. Church finished 10th in the league in scoring, and is Edmonton's most-potent weapon on the power play after tying for third in the NLL with 14 power-play goals during the regular season.
"I think he is one of the more underrated players in the league," said Dinsdale of his former junior teammate. "He is a big part of our offence and we missed having him in the lineup. We wanted to get that win for him this past weekend and hopefully he will be able to join us on the floor in Calgary."
More Schooling: Ben McIntosh is the heavy favorite to win the NLL Rookie of the Year award after an outstanding regular-season that saw him tie for 14th spot in league scoring with 86 points. But the Rush forward isn't done getting a lacrosse education in Year 1 as a pro.
"The playoffs are a whole new level," said McIntosh. "Going from the WLA (semi-pro summer league in British Columbia) to the NLL was one step, but going from the NLL to the NLL in the playoffs that's another big step."
If voting goes his way, McIntosh would be the second Rush player to receive the league's Rookie of the Year honor. Mark Matthews, who like McIntosh was a first overall pick in the draft, captured the award in 2013, and could very well be in the hunt for the league MVP award this season.
Images from this story
 Matthew Dinsdale of the Edmonton Rush |
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 21, 2015
- Dinsdale Fits Nicely - Edmonton Rush
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