Rush defender Corbeil talks hockey and lacrosse
April 13, 2012 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Call it the flow or hockey hair? No worries for Edmonton Rush defender Chris Corbeil as he has both covered.
Whether he's playing lacrosse or hockey -- the long and wavy locks coming beyond the ear flaps and âsalad' out the back of the helmet -- is common for this two-sport athlete as Corbeil's recognizable mane is almost as prominent as his effort and skills on either the carpet or a sheet of ice.
Maybe the 23-year-old didn't have time to get locks trimmed as the Oakville, Ont., product juggled National Lacrosse League play with the Rush, university hockey for the Western Ontario Mustangs and wrapping up his studies for a Business Degree from UWO.
"I was doing double time with lacrosse and hockey," said Corbeil, who patrolled left wing for the Mustangs and brought his hard hat on game nights. "I try to do a little goal scoring, but it's mainly banging and crashing in the corners in hockey."
The six-foot-three, 195-pounder - in his third season in the NLL and first in Edmonton - is coming off a memorable ride in Canadian Interuniversity Sport playoff hockey as the Mustangs dispatched the host University of New Brunswick in the semi-final before a gut-wrenching 4-3 overtime defeat to McGill Redmen in the men's final to just miss out on the University Cup, by a hair.
"That was pretty amazing but we ended up losing a heartbreaker in overtime," he said of the March 25 game in Fredericton. "I was pretty privileged I was able to come back from my injury and play the final games of my hockey career at Western."
The Rush then welcomed back a healthy Corbeil back on the carpet, alongside his hairstyle.
"I'm rockin' the flow," he said of his longer brown hair. "It's known as hockey hair, but it just transforms into lacrosse, too.
"Jimmy Quinlan keeps coming back with new names and comparisons and his latest one is calling me (former NHLer Mike) Ricci. That's a good one, but I still have my own jibs (teeth)," said Corbeil, a fan of the Canadiens living in Leaf Nation, who's pinned another original six club -- New York Rangers - to grab Lord Stanley's mug this go-around.
More importantly for the Rush is Corbeil's ability to play shut-down defense, scoop loose balls and move the ball up in transition as Edmonton has four games remaining, including three home contests, in the back-half of the NLL campaign.
And if the Rush (4-8) have post-season aspirations, the weeks ahead provide the opportunities as Corbeil and Edmonton (4-8) hosts the Buffalo Bandits (5-8) Saturday, April 14 for a 7 p.m. face-off at Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place and then follow it up with matchups against Colorado and on home carpet versus Calgary and Toronto.
"We're definitely going to have our hands full," said Corbeil, acquired by Edmonton from Buffalo last summer. "We're trying to make a push for the playoffs and they're (Buffalo) fighting for a playoff spot, too.
"I think we're playing pretty well and I think we can do some damage down the stretch and get into the playoffs. Everybody wants to feel like you've earned a spot, that's the mentality in our room.
"We have our work cut out for us, but we're confident we can play with the best of them," added Corbeil, who's snagged 36 loose balls and scored five points in seven Rush games this year. "It's not going to get any easier once you get into the playoffs, so this can serve as great preparation for us leading towards the playoffs."
Then, maybe he can start on a beard.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 13, 2012
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- Rush defender Corbeil talks hockey and lacrosse - Edmonton Rush
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