Edmonton Rush Game Notes For Calgary
Published on January 29, 2010 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--For the first time in franchise history, the Edmonton Rush stand in second place in the National Lacrosse League's West Division as they head into a key early-season matchup against the arch-rival and defending league champion Calgary Roughnecks.
As well, this is the first time since joining the league in 2006 that the Rush are ahead of the Roughnecks in the West race with Calgary currently stationed in fourth spot. Edmonton opened the home-turf portion of their '10 campaign with an 11-7 victory over the Buffalo Bandits last Saturday.
In that game, two Rush players put their names in the franchise record books with outstanding individual performances. Ryan Ward tied the team mark for points in a game with eight, coming from four goals and four assists. That equaled the record originally set by Chris Gill in 2008 and then matched last season by both Ryan Benesch and Andy Secore. Meanwhile, Brodie Merrill set a new team record for assists in a game by a transition/defender with four helpers. Those four assists plus his one goal helped him tie the team record for points in a game by a transition/defender, matching Kerry Susheski's five set in the inaugural season of 2006.
Ward has had a terrific start to the season and is now eighth in league scoring with 18 points (10 goals, eight assists). Eight seems to the Rush's lucky number at this point in the year as Brodie Merrill and Gavin Prout are both eighth in the league in assists with 13, while Matt Disher is eighth among goaltenders with an 11.13 goals-against average.
Andy Secore had a productive game against the Bandits, scoring three times and adding three assists. Rookie Corey Small, Dean Hill, and hometown product Jimmy Quinlan also scored for the Rush.
The victory improved the Rush's overall record to 4-11 against teams from the East Division. It was Edmonton's second straight win over an Eastern foe, following a decision over Toronto last season. The current two-game streak over clubs from the East ended a run which saw the Rush go 1-8 versus the East in their previous nine meetings. Edmonton has now picked up victories over every East team except for the two they have never met - the NLL's newest teams, Boston and Orlando.
The NLL's Battle of Alberta has been a fairly one-sided affair since the Rush joined the Roughnecks in the league in 2006 with Calgary holding a distinct 10-3 advantage. In fact, the Rush have suffered two of their most-lopsided losses against Calgary - an 18-7 loss in the Saddledome in 2008 and a devastating 22-10 setback in a fight-filled game at Rexall Place last season. Those two losses were also unfortunate record-setters for the Rush - the first setting a club-low for goals scored in a game, and the latter, the club record for most goals surrendered in a game.
However, there have been some bright spots for the Rush when playing their provincial rivals. The Rush earned the only victory of their inaugural season with a dramatic 12-11 win in Calgary thanks to Cam Bergman's goal with less than one second remaining in regulation time. The following year, the Rush shocked the Roughnecks with a second road win in the Saddledome as Chris Gill registered the Rush's first-ever "sock trick" (six goals in a game) in franchise history, leading them to a 13-12 win. The Rush finally earned their first home-turf win over the Roughnecks in 2008 with an 11-9 decision, but dropped all three games to Calgary last season including a 10-9 overtime loss in the season-opener.
It has been a somewhat difficult start to the season for the Roughnecks, who won the NLL Champion's Cup in 2009 and 2004. They opened their campaign with a home-and-home split against the Minnesota Swarm and then dropped a home-turf outing against the Washington Stealth last weekend. Leading the Roughnecks is top sniper Josh Sanderson, who sits second in NLL scoring with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists).
Statistically Speaking: Faceoffs have long been an issue for the Rush, but that may just be turning around for the club this season. Defender Pat Jones, who was specifically brought in for his touch in the circle, is third in the league going 46-for-78 (59.0%) on draws through three games. Brodie Merrill continues to be one of the NLL's best at collecting loose balls. He is currently third in the league with 35 scoops in three games while both players ahead of him have played four games.
By The Numbers: Rush goalie Matt Disher is building off his career-best season of 2009 as he is currently sixth in the league with a.778 save-percentage. Head Coach Derek Keenan has obviously instilled a definite sense of discipline with the Rush as the club has a league-low 33 penalty minutes trough three games. Edmonton sits ninth in the league on the power at 26.7% (4-for15) and have had a stunning turnaround in penalty-killing. Last year, the Rush were worst in the league while shorthanded but are currently third in NLL at 64.3% (five goals in 15 shorthanded situations) and they've counted two shorthanded goals.
Notes this week:
* Team practice is Friday, January 29th, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Leduc Recreation Centre.
* Shoot around is Saturday, January 30rd, 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. at Rexall Place.
* Captain Chris McElroy and players will shave their pink hair locks for the St. Valentines' Hair Massacure following the game on Saturday, January 30rd during the autograph session at Rexall Place.
Tickets for Saturday's game are available by calling the Rush office at 780 732-RUSH or Ticketmaster at 780 451-8000 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.ca.
National Lacrosse League Stories from January 29, 2010
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- Edmonton Rush Game Notes For Calgary - Edmonton Rush
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