Rush deal O'Connor to Boston
September 27, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB -- The Edmonton Rush announced today that the club has traded forward Ryan O'Connor to the expansion Boston franchise in exchange for a conditional draft choice.
Edmonton will receive either a fourth- or fifth-round pick from Boston in the 2009 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft.
O'Connor, who was acquired by the Rush last season in a trade with the Chicago Shamrox, notched seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in nine games last season. He was placed on the injured reserve list and missed the final seven games of the 2007 season after suffering an ankle injury in the March 16 game against Toronto.
With the new franchise in Boston, O'Connor joins fellow former Rush members Pat Campbell and Dan Finck.
In another roster move, the Rush have released veteran forward Kevin Howard, transition Ted Jenner and defenceman Jordan Sundher.
Howard finished second in Rush team scoring with 21 goals and 19 points for 40 points in the club's inaugural season, but was limited to just nine points in only seven games in 2007. Jenner appeared in six games for the Rush in 2007 and picked up two goals and seven assists. Sundher played in five games in '06 and spent all of last season on the club's suspended/holdout list.
Great rivalries highlight
Rush schedule
Intense clashes with rivals - some old and some new - are featured in the 2008 National Lacrosse League schedule for the Edmonton Rush.
The Rush will meet their provincial rivals, the Calgary Roughnecks, three times during the '08 season including a pair of matchups at Rexall Place on Saturday, January 19 and Friday, April 4.
"We've had some unbelievable games against the Roughnecks in our two-year history," said Rush President Duane Vienneau. "We've beaten them twice in Calgary but for this season, I know our players are intent on beating them on our own floor for the first time."
The Rush have five former Roughnecks on the roster, including Kyle Goundrey - a former Calgary assistant captain who was signed as a free agent this off-season, along with goaltender Curtis Palidwor, the 2007 Rush Team MVP.
Another key divisional rivalry for the Rush in '08 is the three-game set with the Colorado Mammoth. The two teams will meet in early February in Denver and then conclude the regular season with a home-and-home series that wraps up at Rexall Place on Saturday, April 19.
The Rush are expecting a big outburst of offence from three former members of the Mammoth. Chris Gill was the Rush's leading scorer in 2007 and joined the prestigious 300-career goal club last year, while Dan Stroup provided a number of key goals. And this off-season, the Rush added to their arsenal by acquiring Sherwood Park native Ben Prepchuk from the Mammoth.
In one of the season's most anticipated matchups, the Rush will play host to the reigning NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks on Saturday, March 15. It is the first meeting ever between the teams and Rochester's first visit to Western Canada.
There are some interesting ties between the Rush and Knighthawks.
Rush GM/Head Coach Paul Day was the Knighthawks' coach before joining Edmonton and Rush Captain Andrew Turner is a former All-Star defenceman with Rochester. And while re-tooling the Rush's offence this off-season, Day signed free-agent forward Mike Accursi - one of the Knighthawks' all-time leading scorers who also led Rochester in goals during last season's run to the Champion's Cup title.
"We're very excited about having the Rochester Knighthawks coming here, especially on the same weekend that we are hosting the NLL All-Star Game. It will be a great weekend for lacrosse in the City of Champions," said Vienneau.
The Rush will launch their third season in the NLL with a home-opener against the league's newest team from Boston. That game will mark the return of former Rush Team MVP Pat Campbell plus two other members of last year's Rush roster - Ryan O'Connor and Dan Finck.
Rounding out the Rush's '08 schedule are divisional contests against Arizona, Portland and San Jose plus a meeting at the Air Canada Centre with the five-time champion Toronto Rock.
The entire Rush 2008 schedule is as follows (all times MT):
Boston at Edmonton - Saturday, January 12, 7:30 p.m.
Calgary at Edmonton - Saturday, January 19, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton at Calgary - Saturday, January 26, 7:30 p.m.
Arizona at Edmonton - Saturday, February 2, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton at Colorado - Thursday, February 7, 7:00 p.m.
Edmonton at Portland - Sunday, February 17, 4:00 p.m.
San Jose at Edmonton - Saturday, February 23, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton at Arizona - Friday, February 29, 7:30 p.m.
Rochester at Edmonton - Saturday, March 15, 7:30 p.m.
NLL All-Star Game at Edmonton - Sunday, March 16, TBA
Edmonton at Arizona - Friday, March 21, 8:30 p.m.
Portland at Edmonton - Saturday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.
Calgary at Edmonton - Friday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton at San Jose - Sunday, April 6, 2:00 p.m.
Edmonton at Toronto - Saturday, April 12, 5:00 p.m.
Edmonton at Colorado - Friday, April 18, 7:00 p.m.
Colorado at Edmonton - Saturday, April 19, 7:30 p.m.
Rush season tickets for 2008 are on sale now. Visit the website www.edmontonrush.com for more details.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from September 27, 2007
- Rush deal O'Connor to Boston - Edmonton Rush
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