Plenty Up For Grabs At Rush Training Camp
Published on November 18, 2011 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB-- Compete. That's the message sent to all players attending the Edmonton Rush training camp sessions from head coach and general manager Derek Keenan as the Rush breaks camp Nov. 19 in the first of two weekend sessions at Six Nations, Ont., in preparation for the 2012 National Lacrosse League season.
With 30 players expected at camp -- including several new faces to the team after Keenan re-tooled the line-up with three blockbuster off-season deals -- a high-level of competition is expected with a variety of positions up for grabs in black and silver silks.
"We're bringing more guys into camp this year and we've done that because we really want the players to compete," Keenan said. "We really didn't have that last year. With about 25 guys in camp then, we didn't have guys looking over their shoulder and battling for jobs."
This time, with about one-half of the training camp roster being newbies to Rushland, Keenan expects the players he's acquired, the several free agent signings and fresh faces to make an impact on the carpet with the club.
"We're bringing some real good guys in, too. I look at a guy like Brock Boyle - whose got NLL experience - and he's a real fast, skilled guy who'll fit into our defensive system, but, he's in a battle for a job and there's about four or five other guys in the same situation who'll be battling as well," said the Rush bench boss.
With multiple transactions in the off-season, Keenan changed the club's makeup in all departments and especially bolstered his offensive attack by switching in four key players to the mix.
His offence now boasts veteran forward Shawn Williams and the `A-plus' combo of Aaron Wilson, Alex Turner and Athan Iannucci provides the Rush with a combination of scoring, playmaking, size and skill, joining the likes of 2011 leading scorer Corey Small, Ryan Ward, Shawn Evans and Zack Greer.
"As a group, this is the most talent and the most skill the team has had on the front end," Keenan said. "Now it's time to build up the chemistry and building simple systems and principles they can live by.
"There's a ton of skill there with an inside and outside presence. There's size, speed, some youth and experience. There's a real good mix up there and I like that."
A handful of scorers from Major Series Lacrosse are in camp including Jason Mainer and Travis Bland from the Ajax Rock and former Stealth lefty Tom Johnson is also looking for a spot.
The club's backend also features a handful of new faces to Edmonton, however, the group is battle tested in the NLL, MSL and in international play with defenders Kyle Rubisch and Chris Corbeil joining fellow Team Canada mate and Rush 2011 top defender Brett Mydske.
"There's some quality there and those three players are young studs," Keenan beamed. "They are young guys but you'll see a lot of them for us."
Add in second-year players Jarrett Toll and John Lafontaine with veterans Derek Suddons and Tyler Codron and local product John Lintz and the club boasts a formidable defence.
"We're extremely athletic with a ton of speed. I think we've got a real good mix back there of size, skill and speed," Keenan added.
"We're all excited about the moves this summer. We lost some good guys, but we picked up some great ones, as well," chipped in Toll, coming off a remarkable summer with the Langley Thunder. "So, we're kind of a new team and we just have to use these training camps to jell and be ready to go when the season starts."
When it comes to Edmonton's goalie situation, it's no secret that should be the grandest competition at camp with Aaron Bold, Kevin Croswell and Brodie MacDonald in the mix for the starting position.
Croswell had four seasons of relief work in Minnesota and had impressive numbers with Peterborough Lakers in summer ball, while the massive and focused MacDonald shone for WLA champion Langley Thunder and charged to a Mann Cup appearance as a 20-year-old. Bold, who came over from Rochester, looks to follow up on his impressive league-leading 11 wins in summer ball with the MSL's Brooklin Redmen.
"It's very open, that's for sure," said Keenan on the netminder battle. "I like all three of them. They all bring different elements to the spot and it's going to come down to performance at training camp and in our exhibition games. Then we'll see where the chips fall."
Bold -- who enters his seventh NLL campaign that includes the last two seasons in Rochester and three prior with San Jose Stealth after he began his career with Keenan's then Portland club in 2006 - feels he's on the inside track for the starting position.
"I've paid my dues, so now coming to Edmonton, I think I have a real legitimate shot at getting the No. 1 spot," said the 26-year-old backstopper. "No offense to the other guys, but I think I've put more into it than any other player.
"I work my butt off 24-seven, whether it's training or eating right and I have the desire and if they're going to push me in training camp, I want them to push me. I'm all about the competition and getting that spot no matter what it takes."
"I've always likes his demeanor, his work ethic, fitness level and he's a student of the game," Keenan said of Bold. "I just like him a lot. He's got a good combination of being a big kid and being athletic too and super-fit, too. So that's a good combination for a goalie as well as having the right mindset to be a quality netminder in the NLL."
While the goaltending situation is in a changeover, Edmonton's transition game is up for change as well with the loss of former captain Brodie Merrill. Mainstays Jimmy Quinlan and Scott Stewart return, as does Bobby McBride from injury, yet, that trio will be challenged by Boyle and 2011 Rush draft pick Jesse Fehr. Fehr, the lone selection by the club, is amped up for his first professional camp.
"I'm just really excited about getting an opportunity to compete for a spot and meet everyone at training camp," said the Calgary product, who played his junior box with both Calgary and New Westminster and his field lacrosse at Harvard and Duke. "This is a dream that I've had for a long time, so I just look forward to making a good go of it and doing my best.
"The biggest thing I can do is compete real hard. That's something Coach Keenan emphasized that they wanted a high level of competition, so I've done everything I can to get ready to compete."
Fehr and the rest of the hopefuls will get an opportunity to showcase themselves back in Alberta once the opening two weekends of camp wraps up at Six Nations, as Edmonton's third training camp weekend goes at the Leduc Recreation Centre December 16-18.
The Rush opens the NLL regular season Friday, Jan. 20 against Colorado Mammoth at 7 p.m. at Rexall Place.
Season tickets are on sale now. Reserve your seats today by calling 780 732-RUSH.
National Lacrosse League Stories from November 18, 2011
- Washington Stealth Re-Signs Transition Player Kyle Hartzell - Washington Stealth
- Plenty Up For Grabs At Rush Training Camp - Edmonton Rush
- Mammoth Signs Coates and McMillen - Colorado Mammoth
- Bandits Sign Six Players for 2012 Season - Buffalo Bandits
- Fans Can Have 'Brunch with the Knighthawks' - Rochester Knighthawks
- Minnesota Swarm Re-Signs Nick Patterson for One Year - Minnesota Swarm
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
