Rush Announce 2009 Roster
Published on December 29, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--The Edmonton Rush will enter the 2009 season of National Lacrosse League with several new faces and a revamped look as the players and coaching staff target the franchise's first ever playoff berth. "We have brought in a number of players - some with a good amount of experience in the league and others who are our top prospects - in an effort to maximize all the potential we have," said GM/Head Coach Bob Hamley.
"I think our fans, who have been very patient through the team's first few seasons, will be excited by what these players can do on the floor. The Rush are going to be more talented and tougher than ever before and we expect the changes we have made are going to produce some very appealing results." In goal, the Rush have made wholesale changes with three new net minders led by 16-year veteran and former league MVP Steve Dietrich, who comes to the Rush following a trade with the Calgary Roughnecks. The two other newcomers are former Colorado goalie Chris Levis, who was signed as a free agent, and Brandon Atherton, another free agent who previously played for Hamley in Arizona.
On defence, the Rush boasts two of the leagues best in Rory Glaves and Team Captain Chris McElroy. They are backed by Ian Hawksbee, the club record-holder for loose ball collection, returnees Chris McKay and Chris Seller, newcomers Scott Self and Andrew Biers, and rugged Ryan McNish, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed at CFB Edmonton who comes to the Rush after making a name for himself with the Calgary Roughnecks.
The Rush have also undergone significant changes to the offensive ranks in effort to improve the scoring woes that have plagued the franchise since its inception in 2006. Returning to the line-up is last year's leading scorer Mike Hominuck but he'll have much greater support from the likes of Dan Teat and Lindsay Plunkett. Re-joining the Rush after a short stint in Colorado is Jason Wulder, who holds the club record for assists in a season, and he'll have more targets to find with the arrival of Andy Secore, an NLL All-Star a year ago picked up via the Dispersal Draft (Arizona).
Two more additions up front come from the 2008 NLL Entry Draft. Jamie Floris, selected fourth overall out of Bellarmine University, and Ryan Campbell, taken 10th overall from Dowling College, are both considered elite prospects and they should factor into the line-up thanks to their potent offensive skills.
2009 EDMONTON RUSH ROSTER
Goaltenders:
00 Brandon Atherton
30 Steve Dietrich
33 Chris Levis
Defense/Transition:
6 Scott Self
8 Chris Seller
11 Ryan McNish
15 Chris McElroy
17 Tyler Gibbons
18 Andrew Biers
29 Buck Stobart
36 Chris McKay
43 Rory Glaves
55 Shayne Bennett
88 Ian Hawksbee
Offense:
12 Lindsay Plunkett
14 Ryan Campbell
22 Jason Wulder
23 Callum Crawford
24 Jamie Floris
27 Mike McLeod
51 Dan Teat
81 Jimmy Quinlan
90 Mike Hominuck
Injury Reserve:
5 Ian Crashley
Physically Unable to Perform:
21 Andy Secore
-- Darryl Gibson
The Edmonton Rush start the 2009 season on the road against their provincial rivals the Calgary Roughnecks on January 10, 2009 and play their first home game on Friday, January 16, 2009 against the Portland Lumberjax.
National Lacrosse League Stories from December 29, 2008
- Rush Announce 2009 Roster - Edmonton Rush
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.
