Rush Face Big Game with Stealth

March 4, 2011 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release


The Edmonton Rush will look to win their third straight game over the defending National Lacrosse League-champion Washington Stealth while also trying to end a two-game losing skid and keep themselves in line for playoff positioning.

The Rush swept the Stealth in a home-and-home weekend series in February, earning their first victory of the year with a 14-12 decision at Rexall Place and then following that up with a 15-14 win at the Comcast Arena the next night.

Edmonton is clinging to the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division, holding a one-half game lead on Colorado, though the Mammoth have one game in-hand. The Rush are 31/2 games behind West Division-leading Calgary and two games back of Washington.

Big Brother

Greer siblings together in Rush lineup

Rush defender Bill Greer's been peppered with similar questions about his role in Edmonton acquiring his brother Zack from the Minnesota Swarm Wednesday. Just moments after the Rush announced they traded for the highly-skilled forward from Minnesota, for a first round pick in the 2013 National Lacrosse League draft, the many phone calls, e-mails and texts came in.

"I was kind of left in the dark and that's probably the best way to do it," said Bill, in his tenth NLL season and first in Edmonton.

"Derek (Keenan) told me right near the end just before the deal got done and my brother gave me the news that the deal might happen.

"I was just kind of hoping at that point and then we got the good news," added the 29-year-old rear-guard.

Keenan then put to bed the theory that big brother Bill, played a part in the transaction that sent the NCAA field lacrosse scoring record holder to Edmonton.

"No. I've talked to Minnesota on this player for about one month now," said the Rush general manager and head coach. "And finally we came to terms.

"Billy really didn't have anything to do with it, but I know they're both real happy to be playing with one another."

"We're both pretty excited," Bill added.

For the Greers, it's an opportunity for them to play professional lacrosse together for the first time and be in the same lineup since Junior-A ball in Whitby almost ten years ago.

"I am definitely excited about the chance to play with my brother, building that chemistry with a great new group and just getting back to work," Zack told IL Indoor.

"True story, I have been traded to the Edmonton Rush. Going to miss the boys in MN, but jacked up to play with my bro and good group in EDM," said the 25-year-old via his Twitter account.

Keenan made the trade to boost the Rush's offense that continues to be sub-par into the back-half of the season and sees tremendous potential in Zack's arrival for a playoff push this year and success on the carpet down the road.

"We not only looked at the present, but the future and he's a young player that's scored at every level he's played at," Keenan said. "I think he hasn't performed quite to what the expectations were of him coming into the National Lacrosse League, but, typically when a player with his calibre, eventually those types of skills come out to the forefront again if he's in the right environment which we think we'll have for him in Edmonton."

The same surroundings with big brother Bill and standouts like captain Brodie Merrill and veteran forwards Gavin Prout and Ryan Ward. Separated by five-years in age, the Greers have played only a handful of games together when Bill was wrapping up his Junior-A days and young Zack was a call-up. The two met earlier this season though, when Minnesota defeated Edmonton 9-8 Jan. 22 . So with Zack on board with the silver and black, does Bill play more like a big brother or teammate

"It's going to be interesting," said Bill, who assisted on Zack's first-ever junior goal back in Whitby. "We have a great relationship. But, when it comes to this, we're going to be teammates first and I'll always be there to have his back."

The Greers and the Rush (2-7) will get that opportunity Saturday night as Edmonton hosts the defending champions Washington Stealth at 7:00 pm at Rexall Place.

"We're both really excited and I just can't wait to play this weekend," said Bill. "I'm really looking forward to it."

The Rush swept the Stealth in a home-and-home weekend series in February and Edmonton looks to win its fifth straight regular season game over Washington and halt a two-game losing skid. And Keenan's expecting Zack to have an impact Saturday in his Rush debut.

"He's a skill guy with good size," he said. "He's a kid we had our eye on for a while and we feel he's going to help our left side."

Greer, the third overall pick by Minnesota at the 2009 NLL Entry Draft, recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points in four games this year with the Swarm and now has a shot at producing more as a member of Edmonton's group of left-handers.

"We think Zack is going to come in and really help our left side and we feel he's definitely going to be given a full opportunity to do so."

Big brother will be watching, too.



National Lacrosse League Stories from March 4, 2011


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