Keenan's Gone Fishin'
June 8, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton Rush GM/Head Coach Derek Keenan Celebrates Championship
(Edmonton Rush)
As quick as he could after the celebrations stopped, Derek Keenan hung the 'Gone Fishin' sign on his office door.
It's a well-deserved break for the Edmonton Rush's GM/head coach. With the Rush earning their first NLL Champion's Cup title with a dramatic victory in Game 2 of the best-of-three series against the Toronto Rock, there was plenty of good times and cheer to be had and coach Keenan certainly wanted to be a part of that. But after a couple of hours, it was time to get on with his much-needed vacation.
"It's always a little more rewarding when it's not easy, but I can put my mind at ease now and step away for a bit. I'm tired emotionally, I'm tired physically. I'm going fishing with three of my best buddies," said Keenan as he prepared to board a red-eye flight back Ontario and then embark on a five-hour drive to Quebec.
The Rush completed an amazing year on Saturday night, sweeping the championship series from the Rock - the first all-Canadian final in NLL history - and claiming their first league title after 10 years of some highs and many lows. Edmonton finished first in the West Division and then took out the arch-rival Calgary Roughnecks in the West Final resulting in a huge sigh of relief from the entire organization after falling to Calgary in last year's division final.
The Rush then dominated the Rock in Game 1 of the final and showed their fortitude by navigating some rough waters in Game 2, wrapping up the Cup on Matthew Dinsdale's game-winner with 62 seconds left in regulation and getting some clutch saves from goalie Aaron Bold in the dying moments.
While the year ends in complete championship success, it started with sad news and there was more midway through the season. Still the Rush battled and persevered. It all paid off.
"To steal a line from a new coach in Toronto who's making a lot more money than I ever will, you don't win just because you have the best players. You win when you have good people," said Keenan, borrowing from new Maple Leafs coach and Team Canada bench boss Mike Babcock.
"It makes it even better. The guys helped me get through a difficult time. Being with them was good for me and good for my family. It's such a good group from top to bottom."
Coach Keenan, who lost his beloved wife Wendy to her battle with cancer just before the 2015 season started, came back to a Rush club 0-2 off the start of the year and clearly missing its General. Keenan got things straightened then, he did it again when the team lost back-to-back overtime games at home, and he made sure his team didn't waver going into Game 3 (the dreaded mini-game) in the West Final.
He'll deflect credit to his players, but this Cup win rests firmly in his hands and with Wendy.
"I hope she's looking down on us," said Keenan as confetti rained down from the Rexall Place rafters onto Crystal Glass Field at game's end.
"I can only imagine when Derek was going through but it shows what a great man he is," said Bold. "He didn't leave us in the dust when things were bad. He knew Wendy wanted him to carry on and lead us.
"I hugged him after the game and said 'This one's for Wendy.' It was emotional win for all of us."
Images from this story
 Edmonton Rush GM/Head Coach Derek Keenan Celebrates Championship |
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National Lacrosse League Stories from June 8, 2015
- League to Announce Finalists for 2015 NLL Season Awards - NLL
- Keenan's Gone Fishin' - Edmonton Rush
- Knighthawks' Cody Jamieson on the Road to Recovery - Rochester Knighthawks
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