The only thing that’s changed about the Saskatchewan Rush is their postal code. Saskatchewan hopes to repeat as National Lacrosse League champions a season after moving to Saskatoon from Edmonton.
Although their home arena has changed, the Rush’s roster and coaching staff have remained largely intact, setting them up for another solid run in the playoffs.
“We’re really comfortable with each other. Everyone is best buddies, it’s our favourite time of the week when we see each other,” said Rush forward Robert Church on Thursday, adding head coach Derek Keenan has to tell them to wait until after practice to catch up with each other.
“We’re not too serious, but once the game starts, we show up to the rink and it’s all business. We know that we’ve got to focus down and do what we’ve got to do to win championships.”
The NLL playoffs begin on Friday when the New England Black Wolves host the Georgia Swarm in the East semifinal. On Saturday, the Calgary Roughnecks visit the Colorado Mammoth in the West semifinal.
As West division champions, Saskatchewan will be waiting in the wings for the winner of that game.
“To me it doesn’t make a difference. I think everyone’s the same,” said Church. “Whoever we get, we’ve got to play our best because it’s going to be a great team. We’ve got to bring our A-game whoever it is.”
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Captain Chris Corbeil, a defensive specialist who is regularly tasked with playing against opposing teams’ best scorers, says he’s a little worn out by Roughnecks forward Curtis Dickson, who led Calgary with 61 goals and 46 assists.
“I think I’ve guarded Curtis Dickson enough times over the last three or four years that I wouldn’t mind a little break from him,” said Corbeil.
“That said, Colorado is obviously right on our tail in the West division and proved that they are the class of the West. We’ll have our hands full either way.”
Both Church and Corbeil say they’ll be closely watching Saturday’s game between Calgary and Colorado.
For his part, Dickson says the Roughnecks are focused on the Mammoth on Saturday night, even though Calgary would love to meet the Rush in the West final.
“We’re not looking past Colorado, they’re a really good lacrosse team, same goes for Saskatchewan,” said Dickson. “We’ve seen (the Rush) four times this year. We know what to expect from them. They’re first place and got that bye for a reason.
“They’re a heck of a lacrosse team at the same time we have to get through a great Colorado team to even get a shot at them.”
Saskatchewan finished the regular season with a 13-5 record, tied with the Buffalo Bandits for best in the NLL.
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A large part of that success is due to the Rush’s balanced attack. Four players finished the season with 30 or more goals, led by Mark Matthews (40 goals, 69 assists), Church (35-51), Zack Greer (42-28) and Ben McIntosh (36-26).
“I think last year it was the same thing, there was four of us over 30 goals,” said Church. “It just makes it so a defence can’t focus on one guy. Obviously they’ve got their focus on Matthews but if he’s having an off night then there’s three or four or five other guys that can step up.”
“I’d say we’re just an offence by committee. No one in our offence is selfish.”
The division semifinals are single-game elimination, while the division finals are two-game series. In the event of a tie, a 10-minute tiebreaker mini-game will be held immediately after the conclusion of the second game.
The Champion’s Cup final for the NLL title is a best-of-three series.
Corbeil likes his team’s chances of repeating as NLL champions, regardless of the post-season format or who the Rush end up facing.
“I think we have all the pieces,” said Corbeil. “I really believe that if we bring our best game and another team brings their best game in a two- or three-game series in the final that we’ll wind up on top because we have what it takes.”
“Now we have the experience of winning a championship before. I think it’s just that consistency and making sure we play our best for a full 60 minutes.”
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