Game 1: A Sense of Relief
Published on May 27, 2015 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton Rush vs. Toronto Rock
(Edmonton Rush)
Robert Church admitted there was a sense of relief amongst the Edmonton Rush after they got past Calgary in the NLL's West Final after falling to the Roughnecks one year ago.
With that hurdle cleared there's just one job left to check off the to-do list.
"This is where we expected to be all season. Our goal has been to win the Champion's Cup all season so that was just another step to achieving that," said Church.
The Rush will get their shot at a first Champion's Cup reign beginning with Game 1 of the best-of-three series against the Toronto Rock in the first-ever All-Canadian championship. Edmonton will host Game 2 on Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place on Friday, June 5, and if Game 3 is necessary, the series shifts back to the Air Canada Centre for the rubber match on Saturday, June 13th.
The Rush were bounced by the Roughnecks in the 2014 West Final when they failed to win the deciding 10-minute mini-game. A year later, the Rush doused any hopes of a second straight upset by dominating the mini-game thanks in large part to a pair of outstanding individual effort goals mustered by Mark Matthews and Jeff Cornwall.
So the Rush bid farewell to the Roughnecks and now wave hello to the Rock, who dropped the three-time defending Cup champion Rochester Knighthawks in a winner-take-all mini-game in the East Final. Toronto narrowly held onto home-turf advantage throughout the playoffs on the final week of the season, but the Rush aren't the least bit fearful of facing a hostile environment inside the ACC.
In fact, the Rush have won three straight games in Toronto so home turf is not the advantage it normally might be for the Rock which suits the Rush just fine.
"We've had some success in Toronto because for a lot of guys on our team it's almost like a home game," said Church. "A lot of our players are from Toronto so it's a chance for them to play in front of their friends and family and sometimes that brings the best out of guys."
The Rush will clearly need their best to beat the Rock who have captured the Champion's Cup a record-setting six times - the last coming in 2011. The two teams have split this season's two contests - the Rock winning an OT battle in Edmonton, and the Rush taking a two-verdict in Toronto. Both teams have a foursome of elite scorers, solid defenders, and brick-wall net minders.
As cliché as it sounds, the series and who takes the Cup will come down to the little things.
"It's going to come down to attention to detail, and who ever can limit each other's mistakes will be the difference maker," said Rush defender Brett Mydske, one of the remaining players from the Rush's last quest for the crown in 2012.
"Both games this year were extremely close. We are expecting the series to be the same way."
Mydske spent much of the West Final going nose-to-nose with Calgary's Shawn Evans, who set an NLL record by scoring 130 points during the regular season. The seven-year veteran defender along with his all-star mates Kyle Rubisch, Chris Corbeil and Ryan Dilks will now get up-close and personal with longtime NLL sniper Josh Sanderson and the Rock's other big guns including Rob Hellyer who torched the Rush for 10 points including the game-winner during the OT win in Edmonton.
At the other end of the floor, Rush top gun Mark Matthews along with Church, 40-goal gunslinger Zack Greer, and rookie sensation Ben McIntosh will have to contend with Toronto's defense that including former Rush captain Brodie Merrill.
And both teams boast terrific goaltending as well in the Rush's Aaron Bold and Toronto's Brandon Miller.
"They have been the two most consistent, best teams in the league all year," said Rush GM/head coach Derek Keenan.
"We're really similar to be honest. We both have big, athletic defenses, a ton of skill and speed on offense, and great goaltending. It's really a pick 'em series."
So a betting man won't find much separating the teams. It's bound to be close games with one or two moments deciding who gets crowned with the Champion's Cup.
"It's going to come down to a break here or there, a call here or there," added Keenan. "It's so tight. Both teams are highly motivated and both teams have tremendous will.
"It's really going to come down to a few breaks, a bit of luck, and who wants it more in the end."
Back to Church: The Rush certainly missed their second-leading scorer in Game 1 of the West Final as Robert Church was recovering from a knee injury. Upon his return in Game 2, it was evident Church's presence was key factor in the Rush attack particularly on the power play.
Church, who had a career-high 92 points during the regular season, notched a hat trick in Game 2 including a pair of goals on the man-advantage, and he'll definitely be counted on for more when the Rush go up against the Rock in the Cup Final.
"It felt great getting back into the lineup and being able to contribute," said Church. "I wasn't sure how I would feel in a game situation after not playing for a month but everything felt great."
Images from this story
 Edmonton Rush vs. Toronto Rock |
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 27, 2015
- Game 1: A Sense of Relief - Edmonton Rush
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