Edmonton Rush 2010 Schedule Released
September 3, 2009 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--The Edmonton Rush will meet many familiar foes and some new faces as was revealed in the team's 2010 National Lacrosse League schedule today.
The NLL's Battle of Alberta pitting the Rush against the Calgary Roughnecks will be held on three occasions this coming season with two of the matchups coming on the Rush's home turf at Rexall Place. The Roughnecks, who are the defending NLL champions, will visit Edmonton on Jan. 30 and the Rush will return to the Saddledome - where the Rush have earned two of their biggest victories in franchise history - the following weekend on Feb. 5. The teams will meet for the final time during the regular season at Rexall Place on Apr. 16.
"We are excited about the upcoming season especially since our fans are going to see the very best games including the matchups against Calgary," said President Gord Sawyer. "Our opponents are going to see first-hand what the new-look Rush are capable of and I believe our loyal fans are going to see a real Champion's Cup contender in black, silver and white."
Among the other featured matchups on the schedule are a home-and-home series between the Rush and the Toronto Rock on back-to-back weekends of Feb. 12 at the Air Canada Centre and Feb. 21 at Rexall Place (the lone Sunday home game of the season for Edmonton). The Rush's 16-game schedule will also include two other home games against East Division opponents when they host the Buffalo Bandits on Jan. 23 and the Boston Blazers on March 20. Edmonton will make one other trip into the East Division with a visit to Rochester on Feb. 27.
"Every team's schedule is a difficult one and is truly going to test each of us. The best teams are going to rise to the situation. Preparation every week will be imperative." said General Manager and Head Coach Derek Keenan.
The Rush will also meet the newly minted Washington Stealth on three occasions during the regular season. The Stealth, which relocated from San Jose to Everett, Washington, during the off-season and again for the final regular-season game on Apr. 17. The Rush will host the Stealth on Apr. 2.
The Rush have a trio of doubleheader weekends during the season including the opening weekend of the season when they are on the road against West Division rivals Washington and Colorado. In April, the Rush have a pair of two-game weekends - both being home-and-away dates. Edmonton hosts Washington on Apr. 2 and then treks to Minnesota to meet the Swarm on April 3, and the Rush host Calgary on Apr. 16 and then travel to Washington to wrap the regular season.
ADDITIONAL RUSH NEWS:
2010 NLL Entry Draft
The Edmonton Rush are fast-approaching the National Lacrosse League's annual Entry Draft with an eye on the future. The Draft will be held Wednesday, September 9, 2009 in Buffalo.
This will be the first Entry Draft with the Rush for General Manager/Head Coach Derek Keenan and he is hopeful his club can acquire up-and-coming talent that will have an impact on the Rush lineup.
"The Entry Draft is always an important day for an NLL team - just as important and exciting for the young men entering the league," noted Keenan. "It is a chance for the Rush to solidify the future and add some key pieces to our long-term picture."
The Rush have six picks in the Entry Draft beginning with the 12th overall choice in Round 1. This will be only the second time the Rush have picked in the first round, having previously traded their picks in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Entry Drafts. The Rush held two first-round picks in 2008 and used them to select Jamie Floris (4th overall) and Ryan Campell (10th overall).
Shortly after their Round 1 selection, the Rush will pick again in Round 2 with the 14th overall selection. The club's remaining selection are in Round 3 (25th overall), Round 4 (42nd overall) and two in Round 6 (48th and 52nd overall).
Rush Players Off-Season Awards
Three Edmonton Rush defenders were honored for their play in various summer leagues. Leading the way was one of the newest members of the Rush, Brodie Merrill, who captured the Major League Lacrosse's Warrior Defensive Player of the Year award.
Merrill, who joined the Rush this off-season from the Portland LumberJax, helped lead the Toronto Nationals to the MLL title and led all MLL defenders with 20 points and 69 ground balls.
In the Western Lacrosse Association (British Columbia's indoor summer league), Ian Hawksbee earned the WLA's Defender of the Year award along the way to leading the New Westminster Salmonbellies to the league title and the Mann Cup national championship. Hawksbee anchored the Salmonbellies defence which held opposition teams to an average of under eight goals per game.
Rounding out the honors was rugged rearguard Ryan McNish who was named the Best Defensive/Transition Players in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League's Sr. B Division.
2010 Edmonton Rush Schedule
DATE AWAY HOME TIME (All MT)
Friday, Jan. 15 Edmonton Washington 9 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 16 Edmonton Colorado 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23 Buffalo Edmonton 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 30 Calgary Edmonton 5 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 5 Edmonton Calgary 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 12 Edmonton Toronto 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 21 Toronto Edmonton 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27 Edmonton Rochester 5:35 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 13 Edmonton Colorado 7 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 20 Boston Edmonton 7 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 27 Minnesota Edmonton 7 p.m.
Friday, Apr. 2 Washington Edmonton 7 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 3 Edmonton Minnesota 6:35 p.m.
Friday, Apr. 9 Colorado Edmonton 7 p.m.
Friday, Apr. 16 Calgary Edmonton 7 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 17 Edmonton Washington 8:30 p.m.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from September 3, 2009
- Edmonton Rush 2010 Schedule Released - Edmonton Rush
- Bandits Announce 2010 Regular Season Schedule - Buffalo Bandits
- Titans announce 2010 Schedule - Orlando Titans
- Swarm Announces 2010 Season Schedule - Minnesota Swarm
- Toronto Rock Announce 2010 Schedule - Toronto Rock
- Knighthawks Announce 2010 Schedule - Rochester Knighthawks
- Mammoth Release 2010 Schedule - Colorado Mammoth
- Saturday Night's Alright for Wings Lacrosse in 2010 - Philadelphia Wings
- Roughnecks Release 2010 Regular Season Schedule - Calgary Roughnecks
- National Lacrosse League announces 2010 regular season schedule; season opens January 8 in Orlando - NLL
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