Edmonton Rush Sign Small, Quinlan and Seven Players
Published on November 2, 2011 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB-----Edmonton Rush GM/Head Coach Derek Keenan announced today the signing of nine players for the 2012 National Lacrosse League campaign including Corey Small, the club's leading scorer from last season, and Jimmy Quinlan, the Rush's all-time leader in scoring and games played.
Both Small and Quinlan were signed to new one-year deals.
"Both Corey and Jimmy are two of our key players heading into a very important season," said Keenan. "We have a number of new faces coming in but to have both of these guys back is critical to achieving our goals for the 2012 season."
Small had a strong rookie season for the Rush in 2010, scoring 17 goals and adding 22 assists for 39 points. But the St. Catharines, Ontario, product took over as the team's go-to offensive force in 2011, finishing the year as the Rush's leading scorer with 23 goals and 40 assists for 63 points plus 58 loose balls. Small, the Rush's first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft, was a key contributor on specials teams as well with four power-play goals and two shorthanded markers.
The last remaining original member of the Rush, Quinlan, who grew up in nearby Sherwood Park, Alberta, has played 103 regular-season games for Edmonton and missing only one game in the club's six-year history. Quinlan stands atop the all-time Rush scoring list with 101 goals and 112 assists for 213 points.
A three-time 20-goal scorer, Quinlan has moved to more of a transition game in the past two seasons which has resulted in him collecting 167 loose balls. In 2011, Quinlan collected six goals and five assists for 11 points plus 74 loose balls and six forced turnovers. Quinlan's best offensive season came in 2007 when he set career-highs in goals (23), assists (32) and points (55).
In addition to Quinlan and Small, the Rush also signed Alex Turner and Brodie MacDonald, two of the players who came to the Rush in the trade which sent Brodie Merrill to Philadelphia. Turner is coming off his best season in the NLL as he registered 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points last season with the Wings. MacDonald, one of the NLL's brightest goaltending prospects, was selected 19th overall by Philadelphia in the 2010 Entry Draft.
Three returning players have also signed new contracts for the 2012 NLL season - Tyler Codron, Dane Stevens, and John Lintz.
Codron joined the Rush last season in a trade with Washington, and appeared in nine games for Edmonton, picking up 17 loose balls and four forced turnovers. The four-year veteran defender has played 50 NLL regular-season games and compiled eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points plus 27 loose balls.
Stevens was one of the Rush's top rookies in the 2010 campaign notching 17 points including seven goals in just six games. Last season in eight games, Stevens managed 10 points. Lintz has appeared in 10 games for the Rush over the past two seasons, registering one goal and two assists plus 21 loose balls.
Agreeing to a one-year deal was Eric Lewthwaite, a Rush pick from the 2010 Entry Draft that missed all of last season due to a torn ACL, as well as Jesse Fehr, Edmonton's lone selection from the 2011 Entry Draft. Fehr, who played field lacrosse with both Harvard and Duke, was recently named the technical director for the Alberta Lacrosse Association.
The Rush opens the 2012 National Lacrosse League season on January 20 at Rexall Place against divisional rival Colorado Mammoth.
National Lacrosse League Stories from November 2, 2011
- Defenseman Joe Cinosky Leads Minnesota Swarm's Movember Campaign - Minnesota Swarm
- Rush Sign Top Defender Mydske to Three Year Deal - Edmonton Rush
- Minnesota Swarm Re-Signs Matt Kelly to One-Year Deal - Minnesota Swarm
- Edmonton Rush Sign Small, Quinlan and Seven Players - Edmonton Rush
- Philadelphia Wings Sign Former Team Captain Thomas - Philadelphia Wings
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