Adam Jones and Zack Greer have a lot in common. Both hail from Ontario – Jones is from Owen Sound, Greer from Whitby – both were drafted third overall and both scored 42 goals last season.
But a couple of key differences led Saskatchewan Rush head coach and general manager Derek Keenan to make a trade Monday, swapping one sniper for the other.
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In five seasons with the Colorado Mammoth, Jones scored 210 goals and added 181 assists. The trade didn’t take him by surprise, however. Jones’ teaching commitments led him to miss games last season and with the scheduling conflict looking like it would extend into the 2017 campaign the Mammoth had informed Jones he might be moved.
But where he wound up is a different story and he’s looking forward to bringing his talents to the Prairie province.
“I didn’t think I was going to be going to Saskatchewan but now that it’s happened I can’t be more excited that it’s a good group of guys and great fan base and super exciting place to play and I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
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While Jones is leaving the only NLL team he’s ever known, the prospect of joining a championship club is an exciting one for the 27-year-old. Colorado hasn’t tasted post-season success in several years.
“There’s nothing more frustrating than losing in the playoffs. So far in five years I haven’t won a playoff game so I’m hoping that’s going to change this year,” he said.
Saskatchewan’s new acquisition comes at a high price, however. Greer has been with the Rush since 2011 and is a fan favourite in Saskatchewan.
The Rush and Mammoth also exchanged draft picks in the deal, with Saskatchewan sending the ninth overall selection in the upcoming draft for Colorado’s second-rounder in 2017. The Rush still hold the first and third overall picks in this year’s draft, which takes place Sept. 26 in Toronto.
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