The Edmonton Rush
is a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) that started playing in the 2006 NLL season.
The NLL announced that Edmonton, Alberta, Canada would receive an NLL franchise on May 5, 2005. They play their home games at Rexall Place. The Edmonton team is owned by businessman and Calgary resident Bruce Urban, [1] who purchased the dormant Ottawa Rebel to start the Edmonton team.
Although early reports suggested that they would be playing as the Edmonton Speed
, they selected the name Rush
on June 9, 2005.
On February 17, 2006, the Rush recorded the first victory in their franchise history, defeating the Calgary Roughnecks 12-11 in a thrilling game, scoring the winning goal with only 0.2 seconds left in the game. Their first home
victory didn't come until their second season, when they defeated the Philadelphia Wings 13-12 on January 6, 2007 in the season opener.
After starting the 2008 NLL season with an 0-5 record, the Rush fired the franchise's original head coach and general manager, Paul Day, and replaced him with former NLL Coach and GM of the Year, Bob Hamley. [2] The Rush finished the season last in the West with a 4-12 record, and after rebuilding much of the team in the off-season, the Rush struggled again in 2009. After finishing last in the West for the second straight season, Hamley was fired. [3]
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EDMONTON RUSH TICKETS
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Rivalry with the Calgary Roughnecks
The arrival of the Rush created another version of "The
Battle Of Alberta". The head coach of the Edmonton Rush however, has come under fire by the
Calgary Roughnecks. The Rush took out ads in Calgary newspapers before their first meeting that the Rush would "Open a Can" on the Roughnecks.
This proved to backfire as the Roughnecks defeated the Rush in their first meeting.
The tactic continued though when the Rush were playing the
Toronto Rock, but once again it proved to backfire as the Rock easily won.
However, Calgary tried this tactic against Edmonton before the April 5, 2008 game by taking an ad in the
Edmonton Sun saying that Edmonton was a "City of Losers" instead of a city of champions. Just as it had for the Rush, the plan backfired as the Rush won 11-9.
Roster
All time Record
| Season
| Division
| W-L
| Finish
| Home
| Road
| GF
| GA
| Coach
| Playoffs
|
| 2006
| Western
| 1-15
| 6th
| 0-8
| 1-7
| 150
| 202
| Paul Day
| Missed playoffs
|
| 2007
| Western
| 6-10
| 5th
| 4-4
| 2-6
| 160
| 189
| Paul Day
| Missed playoffs
|
| 2008
| Western
| 4-12
| 5th
| 3-5
| 1-7
| 141
| 197
| Paul Day (0-5)
Bob Hamley (4-7)
| Missed playoffs
|
| 2009
| Western
| 5-11
| 6th
| 4-4
| 1-7
| 159
| 200
| Bob Hamley
| Missed playoffs
|
| Total
| 4 seasons
| 16-48
|
| 11-21
| 5-27
| 610
| 788
|
|
|
| Playoff Totals
|
| 0-0
|
| 0-0
| 0-0
| 0
| 0
|
|
|
Team Records
Single Season
Goals
- Chris Gill, 37 (2007)
Assists
- Dan Teat, 41 (2009)
Points
- Dan Teat, 69 (2009)
PIM
- Jamie Floris, 67 (2009)
Loose Balls
- Ian Hawksbee, 150 (2009)
References
- Bruce Urban Bio at Edmonton Rush Website
- Bob Hamley hiring made official
- Breaking: Bob Hamley released by Edmonton Rush