Rush Defender Ryan Dilks Dropping the Hammer
March 2, 2012 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB---Ryan Dilks is making a difference. On and off the lacrosse carpet that is, as the six-foot-one, 185-pound defender has played a significant role in Edmonton's strong defensive play in the 2012 National Lacrosse League season and in the community as a Rush representative for the club's at school program.
The 21-year-old from Hamilton, Ont., relocated to Edmonton from the "ËSteel City' early in the year and when he's not trying to shut down the opposition's goal scorers, he spreads the good word of Rush land and the game of lacrosse to the budding young minds in Edmonton-area schools.
The Rush school program, powered by Booster Juice, has Dilks and other Rush players visiting schools from February to May and the comprehensive curriculum covers the history and explanation of lacrosse, an interactive skills session as well as a question and answer period. The program emphasizes the importance of education and the benefits of living a healthy, active lifestyle and each student also receives a free game voucher for a Rush home game and a team calendar, to boot.
"I'm there to promote the game of lacrosse and the Edmonton Rush," said Dilks. "And to get kids active and having fun and learn about playing team sports. I try to send as many positive messages in the time I'm there."
He follows in the footsteps of previous Rush school program facilitators in current players John Lafontaine and Corey Small and former contributors Andy Secore and Chris McElroy.
"The school programs have been great," Dilks added. "I've been around younger kids most of my life having four younger brothers and have worked as a camp counsellor at other lacrosse camps. It's been a lot of fun so far and I'm really enjoying it."
And while many of us can recall meeting a sports figure or celebrity at an impressionable age and having the interaction make an impact, Dilks has the opportunity to make a difference every time he enters the scholastic environment and interacts with the children.
"My favourite part has to be the looks on their faces when you show up and taking pictures and signing autographs for them," he said. "It just makes their day and they're so excited to see you and it's not a feeling that's easy to describe. You're a role model when you walk in and it's a really good feeling."
The Rush has benefitted from having Dilks on the lacrosse carpet, as well, as the second-year man -- originally drafted by the Toronto Rock in 2010 -- was flipped to the Boston Blazers early in the 2011 season before landing in Edmonton via the dispersal of Blazers players this past September. That same day the Rush made a strong case for the defense as Edmonton also snapped up stud defenders Kyle Rubisch and Chris Corbeil to solidify Edmonton's back end.
Those three, along with several other key defensive pieces and goaltender Aaron Bold, provides Edmonton with the league's top defending club six games into the NLL campaign.
"It's really started to pay off," said Dilks, who nabbed the outstanding defensive award in Ontario's Junior A loop last summer season and has translated that play into his pro career.
"It's a great bunch of guys here and it's really starting to come together for us."
The former Six Nations Jr. "ËA' Arrows standout takes pride in his speed and quickness on the carpet, as well as a high compete level, that's helped in making his adjustment from the junior game to pro level.
"My speed has really helped me defensively and my body positioning as well," he said. "And I really like to push the ball up in transition and create odd-man rushes, too.
"Making a run for the Minto Cup in the past has provided me with top-notch competition and my compete level really helped me and I'm trying everything I can to win."
He's also proud of his roots as he played minor lacrosse and Junior "ËB' in Hamilton before moving on to the ultra-successful Six Nations program. And while Hamilton's better known for putting coffee and doughnut staple Tim Hortons on the map rather than producing top lacrosse talent -- although former Rush players Andy Secore and Scott Stewart are fellow Hamiltonians - Dilks won't shy away from his pedigree.
"It's definitely a proud moment to be from Hamilton and play at this level," Dilks said.
"There are not many guys that have come from the system and it's funny when I say "ËI'm from the Hammer'. Guys give you the "ËSteel City, eh?' with a bit of a look.
"I'm proud to come from Hamilton and want to thank my coaches and everyone who helped me get here."
While he's full of pride of his hometown, he's hoping he can have a bit more success in winning some swag from Canada's most-popular coffee chain in the company's last promotion.
"Not too good," he said on his attempts at flipping the cup lid for a winner. "I think I'm 0-for-7, so far."
At least he's having better success on the carpet with the Rush and in the school program than grabbing a winner from his favorite beverage.
Double-double.
The Rush has a bye-weekend and next play a home-and-away weekend series against provincial rivals Calgary Roughnecks March 9 at Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place and continues the Battle of Alberta the next night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
• Discuss this story on the National Lacrosse League message board...
National Lacrosse League Stories from March 2, 2012
- Minnesota Swarm Heads to Calgary this Saturday in a Battle for Second Place - Minnesota Swarm
- Washington Stealth Re-Signs Sorensen, Temporarily Releases Sedgwick - Washington Stealth
- Mammoth-Bandits Match-Up Features Two of League's All-Time Greats - Colorado Mammoth
- Knighthawks Make Four Roster Moves - Rochester Knighthawks
- Saturday's Washington Stealth Game in Toronto to be Re-Broadcast on Root Sports - Washington Stealth
- Rush Defender Ryan Dilks Dropping the Hammer - 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.
