Rookie's debut against Rock a gem
Published on February 25, 2010 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--The coach wanted new size and scoring in the lineup. And the rookie forward delivered that and more for the Edmonton Rush last weekend at Rexall Place as Dane Stevens sparkled in his Rush debut with a two-goal and two-assist performance as the club dumped the Toronto Rock 14-13 last Sunday.
Stevens, a six-foot-three, 205-pound forward, added a new dimension to the Rush offense in the contest and helped the club snap a two-game losing skid with the win to remain undefeated at home.
The Rush had struggled offensively in the two previous games going into the matchup against Toronto with a paltry 15-goals for and was widely outshot, however, Stevens' play -- primarily on the power-play -- boosted the club's firepower and created fits down low for the Toronto defense.
"I thought Dane Stevens on offense gave us another element that we haven't had," said Rush head coach/GM Derek Keenan. "He got in there and crashed and banged and got a couple of goals.
"That's what we wanted him to do. I thought he was very effective."
Stevens, the big lefty from Westham Islands, B.C., made his presence felt with two power-play markers in the second quarter as Edmonton's win over the Rock improved the Rush to 4-3 on the season and moved their home mark to 3-0.
"He's been kind of itching for the opportunity to play and he obviously came to play," Keenan said of the club's third selection (14th overall) at the 2009 NLL Entry Draft behind first-rounders Corey Small and Scott Tinning. "I think he'll continue to get better too. It's his first game in the National Lacrosse League."
"It was the best way to start it off," said Stevens of his debut. "It was really exciting to play in front of everyone. Especially to do it at home and on TSN2 with a lot of friends and family watching."
Stevens was able to use his frame down low on offense to generate chances and was rewarded with his two tallies that lifted the team and his spirits in front of the Rush faithful.
"It felt awesome," he said of his first NLL score. "At the time, we just needed a goal and we were on the power-play. I slipped into an area and Gavin (Prout) picked me out and give me the pass. I just wanted to bury it and it felt great.
"I was really excited. I play with emotion, so that comes out when I score a goal."
The rookie was especially effective as the Rush crease man during the man advantage and his size allowed the Rush to physically crash low and create a bigger target for cross-crease passes.
"He wanted me to play physical and bury my chances when I got them," Stevens said of Keenan's message. "I was crashing down and I've always been pretty physical like that and it opened up some room as we did have success there.
"The crashing definitely helped. It allowed us to push the D down so we could also get better looks up top."
This early success in his professional debut is not a surprise considering the B.C. product was part of the Jr. A Brampton Excelsiors that made a valiant run at the Minto Cup in 2009, only to lose the final in a heartbreaking seven-game series to the Orangeville Northmen.
Stevens racked up 52 points in 19 regular season games for Brampton and another 42 points in 15 playoff contests alongside fellow Rush rookie forward Scott Tinning with the Excelsiors.
His sparkling numbers garnered much attention as he was drafted both in the MSL by the Ontario-based Excelsiors and fourth overall by Burnaby Lakers in the recent WLA draft and he will make the jump from Junior to Senior lacrosse in the B.C. summer loop.
"It was an honour to be drafted so high," he said. "It's a situation where I can become a better player and get a lot of minutes and hopefully be something the team can build around.
"Hopefully we can win a Mann Cup. That's the goal."
And if hardware becomes an issue, he can rely on his main occupation outside of lacrosse as the former Delta Islanders and Jr. Burnbay Lakers forward operates his own business as a diamond and gem wholesaler after his graduation from the Canadian Institute of Gemmology.
He's been around the gemstones wholesaling industry for several years now through his family, yet, his own company -- Adams Stevens Importers -- is an operation that sees him travel coast-to-coast across Canada a handful of times a year to build up his client base.
While he has clients in Edmonton already, he's also been able to add a handful of more through his new teammates on the Rush and hopefully long-term with success on the carpet.
"If the guys don't have enough jewellery for the girlfriends just yet, hopefully they can buy a little more from me," he said laughing.
"Eventually, it would nice to see everyone on the team get a NLL championship ring, whether it's from me or league issue. A championship, that's the goal."
The Rush go on the road this weekend for a Saturday Feb. 27 contest (5:30 p.m. MT) at the Rochester Knighthawks and then will compete in their sixth road game of the season March 13 at the Colorado Mammoth.
Edmonton returns home March 20 for a 7 p.m. start against the Boston Blazers at Rexall Place.
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 25, 2010
- Mammoth Signs Forward Derek Malawsky - Colorado Mammoth
- Wings Sign Free Agent David Mitchell; Release Veteran Crosbie - Philadelphia Wings
- Bandits Radio Broadcast On WGR 550 This Saturday - Buffalo Bandits
- Titans Face Tough Test In Toronto - Orlando Titans
- Rochester Lacrosse Game Features Knighthawks, Tigers, And Bears - Rochester Knighthawks
- Effort By Nighthawks Veterans Leads To Win And NLL Weekly Awards - Rochester Knighthawks
- Toronto Rock Host Orlando Titans Saturday - Toronto Rock
- Rookie's debut against Rock a gem - Edmonton Rush
- NewsWings Shuffle Off To Buffalo Looking To Stop Winless Streak - Philadelphia Wings
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