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Saskatchewan Rush Returns to the Playoffs After Long Hiatus
Robert Church fondly recalls the exhilarating atmosphere in the early days of the Saskatchewan Rush, which relocated to Saskatoon in 2015. The team clinched two NLL championships at the SaskTel Centre, establishing a legacy of success. Church has been yearning for moments like those for the past six years.
“You can’t take it for granted,” Church stated. “I experienced it young, and now it’s been six years… All I want is to return and seize the moment.”
Fans and players alike have waited 2,185 days for playoff lacrosse in the province. This Saturday, Saskatchewan will host the Georgia Swarm in the NLL quarter-finals, marking the return of playoff action since 2019.
“Getting back has been a tough grind,” commented Rush captain Ryan Keenan. “Starting my career with immediate success makes it challenging to endure a playoff drought. But it drives you even harder to reach this point again.”
The Rush has faced challenges in the past three seasons, each time finishing with an 8-10 record. However, the narrative shifted during the 2024-25 season when the team displayed significant improvement, concluding with a 13-5 record and securing second place in the NLL standings.
Team Resilience and Mindset
Co-head coach Jimmy Quinlan credited the team’s talent and unity for their successful season. “In previous years, we had to figure out how to win,” Quinlan explained. “Now, we understand what it takes. We’re focused on maintaining our mentality and staying the course. That mindset has brought us to this point, and we aim to uphold it this weekend.”
As they concluded the regular season with consecutive victories against the Colorado Mammoth and Ottawa Black Bears, the Rush is approaching Saturday’s game with the same mindset they’ve had throughout the season. Yet, the stakes are notably higher due to the single-elimination format of the playoffs.
“It’s one game,” Rush forward Austin Shanks emphasized. “We’ve been saying it all year… We need to perform for 60 minutes, and there’s no greater test than [Saturday] night.”
In their previous encounter with the Swarm on March 8, the Rush secured an 8-7 victory thanks to a stellar 45-save performance from goaltender Frank Scigliano.
Despite entering the playoffs with the second-best record in the NLL, Church acknowledged that the difference between teams is often minimal. “I think playoff seeding doesn’t matter as much; all eight teams are capable of advancing. Securing the home game advantage is crucial, as it’s the only edge we have going for us right now,” he noted.
The Rush plans to leverage its home ice advantage this Saturday, fueled by the passionate support of their fans. Keenan is hopeful that their postseason return will spark a deep championship run, a feeling he savored back in 2018.
“When we’re winning, there’s no atmosphere quite like it in the sport,” Keenan remarked. “We expect the crowd to be loud and supportive.”
The match between the Rush and the Swarm is set for 7:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to the NLL semi-finals.
Source
globalnews.ca