Edmonton Rush

NLL Team Infobox
team_name=Edmonton Rush
bg_color=black
title_color=silver
division=Western
logo=EdmontonRush.jpg
founded=2005
home_arena=Rexall Place
hometown=Edmonton, Alberta
team_colors=Black, Grey, Amber
head_coach= Bob Hamley
general_manager= Bob Hamley
media=Shaw TV Edmonton, CFRN
plpa=
website= [http://www.edmontonrush.com/ www.edmontonrush.com]

The Edmonton Rush is a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) that started playing in the 2006 season.

The NLL announced on May 5, 2005, that starting the 2006 season, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada would receive a franchise. They play their home games at Rexall Place. The Edmonton team is owned by businessman and Calgary resident Bruce Urban, [cite web |url=http://www.edmontonrush.com/frontoffice/bruce.php|title=Bruce Urban Bio at Edmonton Rush Website|accessdate=2008-02-21 |author=|date=|work= EdmontonRush.com|publisher=] 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. [cite web |url=http://www.nllinsider.com/2008/02/21/bob-hamley-hiring-made-official/#more-654 |title=Bob Hamley hiring made official |accessdate=2008-02-21 |author=Paul Tutka |date=2008-02-21 |work= NLLInsider.com|publisher=]

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

Team Records

"Single Season"

Goals - Chris Gill, 37 (2007)
Assists - Jason Wulder, 35 (2007)
Points - Chris Gill, 62 (2007)
PIM - Trent Smalley, 64 (2006)
Loose Balls - Ian Hawksbee, 123 (2008)

References

ee also

*