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 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, 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. 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.
The Rush will have Derek Keenan as head coach and general manager for the 2010 season. Keenan joined Edmonton after the demise of the now-defunct Portland Lumberjax.
Read more about Edmonton Rush: Rivalry With The Calgary Roughnecks, Roster, All Time Record, Franchise Scoring Leaders, Team Records
Famous quotes containing the word rush:
“When words fail us or, quite the opposite, when they rush from our mouths faster than we would like, we can console ourselves that if no single moment is going to define our relationship with a child, neither can a single lapse of good judgment or patience destroy it.”
—Cathy Rindner Tempelsman (20th century)