Rush Rookie Loewen Relocates to the City of Edmonton
January 8, 2014 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Riley Loewen was probably the least known of the three top picks the Edmonton Rush made in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft.
But come Game #1 of the 2014 NLL season, it was Loewen in the starting lineup and Loewen who counted two goals in his first pro game as the Rush topped the Colorado Mammoth 13-10 in the season-opener. It wasn't the easiest assignment for a rookie - stepping into arguably the NLL's wildest building and against one of the Rush's stiffest opponents.
Loewen battled through it all and conquered the elements to help the Rush to an all-important first win and momentum as they rematch the Mammoth this Saturday in their home-opener on Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place.
"It was awesome," recalled Loewen of the game in Denver back on Dec. 28. "The Pepsi Center is crazy place to play especially for your first game. I was a bit nervous before the game but I felt good as we got going.
"The number of fans was something I wasn't used to. We had 15 or 16,000 for the championship game in college but that was one time. It was just so noisy and exciting. But I got past it. Actually it was more exciting than nervous. There were so many fans that I just loved it."
Loewen was the Rush's first of two second-round picks in the '13 Draft, taken 11th overall from Limestone College where he finished as the school's Athlete of the Year. He came with less fanfare than first round Robert Church and fellow second-round selection Adrian Sorichetti, yet it was Loewen who made the starting lineup for Game 1 of the season and then went out and made an instant impact.
The Burnaby, B.C., native accomplished what he did in his game by simply keeping it simple.
"I thought I did a good job of doing what the coaches wanted me to do," said Loewen. "They wanted me to run back on defense and I did and even got my first goal in transition so I was pretty pumped about that. My second goal was just running the offense and getting open.
"The coaches wanted me to buy into the system and I did that. I'm playing my role the best I can. I just want to chip in on offense and help the team win."
Although Saturday's tilt against Colorado will be Loewen's first on the Rexall Place turf, he is well aware of the Rush's struggles at home in the past few years. The leadership core of the team took it upon themselves to prioritize home success in 2014, and Loewen has heeded that call. The fact that mixed martial arts icon Georges St. Pierre will be witness the game as the Rush's special guest makes it all the more important to show signs of progress on the Crystal Glass Field.
"We've had two weeks off and we're dying to get back out there," said Loewen as he moved into his new Edmonton digs with Church.
"All the guys have been talking about getting off to a good start to the season. Obviously a lot of people are coming to see GSP but we want to make sure we put on a good show for them to keep them coming back to see us."
The Rush season home opener is set for Saturday, January 11, 2014, 7:00 pm on Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place against Colorado Mammoth. (GSP and 2014 Season media accreditation available at www.edmontonrush.com).
Rush fans will see Georges St-Pierre, Georges "Rush" St-Pierre, also known as "GSP," a Canadian professional mixed martial artist and world champion as well as a three-time Canadian Athlete of the Year at the season home opener.
"Georges St-Pierre will stand alongside our team, behind the Rush bench, for what promises to be a powerful start to the Rush 2014 season." states Bruce Urban, Owner.
Rush fans will have the opportunity to meet GSP at half-time through contesting opportunities during the first half of the game.
Season tickets, mini-pack and single game tickets for the 2014 Rush Season are available by calling the Rush Office at 780 732-RUSH.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from January 8, 2014
- Philadelphia Wings Enter Span of Four Games in Nine Days - Philadelphia Wings
- Rush Rookie Loewen Relocates to the City of Edmonton - Edmonton Rush
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