NLL Saskatchewan Rush

RUSH vs. SWARM Game Notes

Published on January 3, 2017 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Saskatchewan Rush News Release


Saskatchewan Rush (0-0) vs. Georgia Swarm (0-0)

Saturday, Jan. 7 @ 6:05 p.m. CT

The Saskatchewan Rush begin their reign as two-time defending National Lacrosse League champions as they launch the 2017 season on the road against the Georgia Swarm.

In their inaugural season in Saskatchewan, the Rush captured their second consecutive Champion's Cup by besting the Buffalo Bandits 2-0 in the best-of-three championship series. The Rush had previously eliminated the Calgary Roughnecks 2-0 in the best-of-three West Final, and had finished in a tie for the best regular-season record in the NLL at 13-5.

The Rush begin the new season with much of the same roster that has won back-to-back NLL crowns, led by 2016 Champion's Cup MVP goaltender Aaron Bold and 2015 Champion's Cup MVP top-scorer Mark Matthews. Amongst the other returnees to the Saskatchewan lineup are 2016 NLL Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Dilks, four-time Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Rubisch, and 2015 NLL Rookie of the Year Ben McIntosh.

But the Rush are integrating some new faces into the lineup as well. Joining the Rush in a blockbuster off-season trade is two-time All-Pro and former Rookie of the Year Adam Jones, and 2016 first-round draft picks Ryan Keenan (the No. 1 overall selection) and Mike Messenger.

Georgia finished third in the East Division last season and dropped the one-game division semi-final to New England.

The Rush and Swarm met only once last season and this will be their lone meeting of the 2017 campaign. Last March in Saskatoon, Mark Matthews racked up eight points on four goals and four assists as Saskatchewan toppled Georgia 14-8 before a crowd of over 13,000 at SaskTel Centre.

Prior to moving to suburban Atlanta, the Swarm, who were then based in Minnesota, and Rush split two meetings in 2015 with each team winning on the road. The Swarm beat the Rush 14-10 as they rallied by outscoring the Rush 9-1 in the fourth quarter. Robert Church, Mark Matthews, and Ben McIntosh each scored twice for the Rush with singles going to Riley Loewen, Jarrett Davis, Chris Corbeil, and Zack Greer.

In the second-last game of the '15 regular season, the Rush returned the favor by notching a 16-12 win over the Swarm. The Rush outscored the Swarm 6-0 in the third quarter to take over the game. Zack Greer scored four goals for the Rush and Robert Church had a hat trick plus four assists for a seven-point game. Mark Matthews, Matthew Dinsdale, and Ben McIntosh each scored twice with singles from Adrian Sorichetti, Chris Corbeil, and Tyler Melnyk.

The Rush hold an all-time record of 8-6 in regular-season action against the Swarm with three games decided in overtime. In their lone playoff encounter, the visiting Rush blasted the Swarm 15-3 in the 2012 West Division Final which propelled them to their first-ever appearance in the Champion's Cup Final.

Rush vs.  Swarm  - Season-by-Season Glance

2016

14-8 Rush win (Mark Matthews scored four goals and added four assists for eight points)

2015

16-12 Rush win (Robert Church with a seven-point game including a hat trick)

14-10 Swarm win (Callum Crawford registers eight points including five assists)

2014

14-9 Rush win (Jeremy Thompson scores hat trick plus team record 19 loose balls)

2013

14-8 Rush win (Zack Greer scores hat trick and adds two assists)

13-8 Swarm win (Ryan Benesch racks up seven points including six assists)

2012

*15-3 Rush win (Ryan Ward registers seven-point game including hat trick)

9-8 Rush OT win (Zack Greer notches hat trick)

10-9  Swarm  OT win (Ryan Benesch scores game-winner in second-longest NLL game)

*Denotes playoff game

2011

14-13 Rush win (Zack Greer pots five goals including game-winner)

9-8  Swarm  win (Ryan Benesch notches five points including four assists)

2010

16-14 Rush win (Ryan Ward scores twice and adds five assists)

13-12 Rush OT win (Brodie Merrill scores three times including game-winner)

2009

9-7  Swarm  win (Aaron Wilson scores two goals and added one assist)

2006

7-6  Swarm  win (Nick Patterson makes 40 saves in the victory)

Historical Moment: The Rush and Swarm will be involved in some history in this game as it marks the most brothers to play in the same professional sports game. Saskatchewan's Jeremy Thompson, a Second Team All-Pro last season, will square off against his three brothers - Lyle, Myles, and Jerome - who are all with Georgia. Lyle and Myles were first-round picks of the Swarm, while Jerome was acquired via trade this past summer. Jeremy has been an integral part of the Rush for the past four seasons, and in 2016 was among the league-leaders in faceoff wins and loose-ball pickups.

New Face: The Rush have added goaltender Peter Dubenski to the Practice Roster. The 2013 fourth-round draft pick may wind up serving in the backup role behind Tyler Carlson should starter Aaron Bold be suspended for the season-opener. Bold and Rush forward Ben McIntosh, along with three players from Calgary, are all facing one-game suspensions for their roles in the line brawl during the Christmas Showdown, although all five players have the right to appeal.

Statistically Speaking: Special teams played a big part in the Rush's dominant win over the Swarm last season. Saskatchewan went 2-for-4 on the power play on goals by Robert Church and Zack Greer and the Rush held Georgia to just 1-for-8 on the Swarm power play ... The Rush and Swarm had the two worst power plays in the NLL last season. Saskatchewan was ninth at 47.1% and Georgia was eighth at 48.5%. Conversely, the Rush had the second-best penalty kill at 51.9% with a league-leading 14 shorthanded goals, while the Swarm were seventh in penalty killing at 47.3% ... Despite the poor power plays as a whole, both teams had some standout performers. Saskatchewan's Robert Church led the NLL with 17 power-play goals and Mark Matthews was third with 23 power-play assists. Georgia's Johnny Powless and Shayne Jackson combined for 25 power-play goals ... Mark Matthews and Shayne Jackson tied for ninth in the NLL with 40 goals last season. Matthews finished sixth in scoring with 109 points and second with 69 assists ... New Rush forward Adam Jones was tied for seventh with 42 goals. He was tied with Zack Greer, whom Jones was traded for this summer ... Mark Matthews and Rush captain Chris Corbeil were tied for third in the league last season with three shorthanded goals. Matthews and Robert Church were tied for fourth with three game-winning goals apiece.

By the Numbers: The Rush went 6-3 in road games last season, while the Swarm were 4-5 at home ... The Swarm will be without two of their best for the season-opener as Johnny Powless and Jordan McIntosh are both sidelined with injuries. McIntosh narrowly beat the Rush's Jeremy Thompson in voting for the 2017 NLL Transition Player of the Year ... Jeremy Thompson was second in faceoff wins last season with 279 and finished third in loose-ball pickups with 174. Right behind in loose ball scoops were teammates Kyle Rubisch, who was fifth with 133, and Rush captain Chris Corbeil, who placed 10th with 121 ... Saskatchewan defencemen dominated the forced turnovers category with Ryan Dilks leading the way with 51. Kyle Rubisch, the league record-holder, was second with 36, Brett Mydske was tied for third with 32, and Chris Corbeil was tied for seventh with 27 ... The Swarm gave up 240 goals last season, the second-highest number in the league. They're hoping Mike Poulin can help in lowering that as the former Calgary Roughnecks goalie was signed by Georgia on the first day of free agency. Poulin was fourth in the league last year with a 11.46 goals-against average ... Rush goalie and playoff hero Aaron Bold led all NLL goalies in 2016 in wins (12), minutes played (1,042), and goals-against average (10.30). The Rush also finished the year with the fewest goals-against at just 190. Saskatchewan scored 233 goals of its own - the third-best total in the NLL.

How to Watch

Watch on NLLTV.com for FREE, only this weekend! Register for an account on NLLTV.com, and you'll be set to watch every Rush game this 2017 season. NLL TV is available on all devices, so you will never miss a beat!

Rush Nation Comes Up Big for Saskatoon Food Bank

Once again, the best fan base in the National Lacrosse League has come together and delivered a special gift in the season of giving. At the Christmas Showdown game between the Saskatchewan Rush and Calgary Roughnecks on December 16th, 2016, all 12, 379 in attendance at SaskTel Centre donated 4,814 pounds of food (amounting to $10,377.74) to the Saskatoon Food Bank. Great work Rush fans! To learn about how you can contribute to the Saskatoon Food Bank, visit them at http://www.saskatoonfoodbank.org/.

Check out the Saskatchewan Rush Statistics

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National Lacrosse League Stories from January 3, 2017


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