Rush Season Opens Saturday, December 28

December 23, 2013 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release


Edmonton, AB---Rookies made a huge splash with the Edmonton Rush during the 2013 NLL season with Mark Matthews leading the way.

Not only did Matthews win the league's Rookie of the Year Award, but the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 Entry Draft led the Rush and finished fifth in the league with 38 goals during his first pro campaign. Matthews, though, wasn't the only first-year pro to make an impact in the Rush lineup last season. His former junior teammate, Curtis Knight, was amongst the NLL's top freshman, ending his season with 46 points and becoming a major focus on the Rush power play.

Year 2 for the duo is coming up quick and both are expected to bring more to the Rush roster in 2014.

Matthews spent much the summer working on his overall conditioning back in Denver - the city where the Rush will make their '14 season debut in taking on the Colorado Mammoth.

"It allows him to add an extra dimension to his game," said Rush GM/Head Coach Derek Keenan. "He's a big body and the other teams go hard physically against him. Being in better shape is going to allow him to escape some of that and be more of a threat with the ball."

Matthews' production last season was about all the Rush could have expected out of him. A more finely tuned athlete should results in Matthews expanding on the 69 points he totaled.

The Rush are also hopeful that the sophomore jinx steers clear of Knight, who was taken eighth overall in 2012. The Whitby, Ont., native came out of the blocks on fire, snapping in a hat trick and earning Rookie of the Week honors in his very first pro game.

Knight would go on to rack up 19 goals and 27 assists, and like Matthews, more is expected of him when the Rush hit the floor starting on Saturday night in Denver. Knight, too, spent much his summer in the gym trying to bulk up his frame to handle the rough sledding in the slot.

"He got a lot stronger and now he needs to bring that strength into the game and still use his quickness," noted Keenan. "He had a solid rookie season and he's very dedicated to the game. I'm confident he's going to continue to get better.

"I've coached him since he was 17 and he gotten better every year."

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.



National Lacrosse League Stories from December 23, 2013


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