Keenan Keeps Rush Pointed Forward
February 27, 2014 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Derek Keenan has done his part in keeping the Edmonton Rush level-headed as they revel in an undefeated start to the 2014 NLL season.
The Rush's GM/Head Coach is making sure the team stays focused, particularly on the fact that this is the longest season in league history with 10 more games left to go including what could be the year's toughest home-turf test when the potent Toronto Rock come calling on Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place.
And as instructed by the coaches, the players have bought into the need for a virtual silent treatment on the 7-0 start.
"No one really openly discusses the streak," said Rush captain Chris Corbeil. "I think the guys realize that we don't want to get ahead of ourselves and thinking we're better than we are.
"We're all aware of the work it takes to win games in this league and the moment a team gets complacent, they'll pay for it. I also think a number of guys don't want to address it because they're superstitious and are just afraid of jinxing it."
Still it has to be exciting to be part of such a start. One more Rush win will equal the best-ever start to an NLL campaign set by the 8-0 Buffalo Bandits in 1993. With Keenan anchoring a talent-rich squad, the Bandits finished the year 10-0 and captured the Champion's Cup.
The Rush leadership group set a solid list of goals coming into the season, but an unblemished beginning didn't make the cut. And why would it? Not with such a high level of parity throughout the league. Yet to this point, the Rush have mowed through the opposition in a variety of ways. They've blasted Colorado and Calgary. They've dodged bullets from Vancouver and Rochester. If there's been a way to win, the Rush have found it.
"I've never gotten out to start like this at any level," noted Corbeil. "It's exciting to win but an undefeated season in an incredibly tough feat, especially at the professional level, and isn't the focus of our team.
"I'm just satisfied that we've been able to achieve one of the goals we outlined at the start of the season by getting off to a solid start. Hopefully we can continue playing well at home and cross another goal off our list."
Corbeil, who is tops among all NLL defenders with five goals including two shorthanded markers, knows the Rush will have a tough time defending their home turf against the Rock, a visiting foe that has often fared quite well at Rexall Place. The Rock have won the last two encounters in Edmonton and still boast one of the NLL's most dangerous offensive attacks with the likes of Colin Doyle, Stephan Leblanc, and Garrett Billings. The Rush have boosted their own offense in the past couple seasons with standouts like Mark Matthews and Curtis Knight, but it will be Edmonton's defense that will have to come up big to block the Rock.
That's been a task the Rush defenders have welcomed to this point in the season, however, as they've allowed the fewest goals in the league (54) and goaltender Aaron Bold can tout a minuscule 7.97 goals-against average.
"The Rock have many different threats and a great balance on offence," said Corbeil. "Obviously our team takes great pride in our defense but a lot of our success is attributable to our offensive players cutting off transition opportunities and staying out of the box.
"It makes our lives much easier on the back end when we have time to organize ourselves and play 5-on-5 defence. We'd definitely like to avoid a track meet and just focus on chipping away at Toronto.
"The key for us this will be staying committed to our systems, both on offense and defense. The times we've struggled this season have occurred when we've lost faith in our systems and gotten away from the game plan."
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National Lacrosse League Stories from February 27, 2014
- Dawson, Rochester's Ironman - Rochester Knighthawks
- Keenan Keeps Rush Pointed Forward - Edmonton Rush
- Rush Defense to Face Powerful Toronto - Edmonton Rush
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