Saskatchewan Rush off to best start since 2018

Saskatchewan Rush (Courtesy: NLL)

At four wins and a loss, the Saskatchewan Rush are off to their best start since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saturday’s 15-9 win over the Vegas Desert Dogs was the largest goal spread of any game the Rush have played this season, with most being decided by a single goal.

Those tight games were a problem for the Rush a year ago.

“This team was 1-7 in one or two goal games last season, they weren’t good in close games,” said Cody Janzen, play-by-play voice of the Saskatchewan Rush. “And now they’ve found a way to close out these types of games.”

The team’s top scorer, Zach Manns had three goals Saturday, giving him 17 on the year. That’s good enough for fourth in the National Lacrosse League.

“He’s just been one of those emerging stars in the league,” said Janzen. “I think last year was a bit of his coming out party. Obviously, Toronto didn’t value him as much as other teams and Saskatchewan gets him in what’s looking like an absolute steal of a deal.”

Manns remembers the pain of those narrow losses last season, and it’s fuelling him and his teammates.

“I think everyone probably took a look at themselves in the mirror after last season and thought, what can I do to become a little bit of a better player and help this team win?” said Manns, the Victoria BC product. “And I think we did so in the offseason, and it’s showing so far.”

In a league where possession is so important, the Rush have the second-best faceoff man in Jake Naso, defender Matt Hossack forcing the most turnovers, and Jake Boudreau is sixth in loose balls.

“Every other team’s playing one-goal games, two-goal games, overtime games,” said Boudreau. “One hundred percent, the more possessions you have, the better. And we always stress that we have a hard-working team, so we have no trouble getting the loose balls.”

“Boudreau is the guy who will get an extra ten plus possessions a game just because he’s finding those loose balls,” said Janzen.

Once they have the ball, the team is spreading the goals around, making them harder to defend.

“A lot of people are getting two, a lot of people are getting three,” said Boudreau. “It’s hard to stop an offense like that rather than having six from one guy.”

In past years, Janzen admits the scoring was more focused.

“It’s always been top heavy,” he said. “You’ve got the top three guys kind of hauling the water, and if not for them the team’s losing the game. So, to have a bunch of guys, there’s 12 guys with five or more points through five games. When you get that type of contribution, it’s going to equate to wins.”

But maybe the biggest advantage for the Rush, six players have set their home base in Saskatoon for the season. It will cut down on travel and give them a real home field advantage.

“As the season goes by, it takes a lot of toll on your body,” said Manns. “And I think just cutting those flights down in half does a lot for your legs.”

Janzen says it’s great for marketing too.

“Having some star players now living locally, it’s huge,” he said.

Boudreau says the advantage lies in the Monday to Thursday routine.

“They put us in a great situation to be successful, so the Monday to Thursday, we’re putting in the work. That’s the real good part.”

The last time the Rush had a four win, one loss start to a season was 2018, a year that ended with a Champions Cup victory.

But the team isn’t focused on the end of the year.

“Obviously, everyone wants to win,” said Boudreau. “But if we lose one game, we’re right back in the middle of the standings. So, we’re very, very focused on Saturday and getting it done in Toronto.”

The Rush head to Toronto this weekend for a game against the winless Rock. But former Rock draft pick Manns knows in a season like this, no team can be taken lightly.

“You saw their game last week against the best team in the league, Buffalo, one goal game until the very end,” said Manns. “We know their record doesn’t really show how good of a team they are, so we are going to be ready.”