When the Saskatchewan Rush signed Austin Shanks to a two-year contract within the low season, they anticipated memorable moments from the 30-year-old.
What was doubtless slightly sudden was how rapidly one of many moments would come. Shanks delivered the time beyond regulation snipe for the Rush final Saturday to provide Saskatchewan a 10-9 victory over the Albany FireWolves to open the 2024-25 National Lacrosse League season.
“That was a loopy sport,” Shanks stated post-game. “Backwards and forwards going all the best way to time beyond regulation, fairly a couple of possessions. I used to be simply the one to pot it, however it was all the fellows working arduous for me.”
Zach Manns led the best way with 4 objectives and an help for the Rush of their Week 1 victory, heaping reward on their low season splash and the impression he supplied instantly to the lineup.
“That’s why we picked him up proper there,” Manns stated. “He’s a veteran participant, he can shoot the ball at a really excessive degree. He’s a really good participant, so he’s simply one other man so as to add to our offensive arsenal and you’ll see why we added him.”
Opening the season with a 1-0 document for the primary time because the 2022-23 marketing campaign, the Rush noticed goaltender Frank Scigliano step up with plenty of key saves in time beyond regulation.
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Whereas on the offensive aspect of the ground, co-head coach Jimmy Quinlan stated the group noticed contributions from up and down the lineup within the midst of a quiet night time from certainly one of their brightest stars.
“There’s not many nights the place Robert Church doesn’t put a ball behind the web and also you come out on the correct aspect,” Quinlan stated. “We had been capable of present some good depth. [Brock] Haley was as marketed capturing the ball. Shanks was good once we wanted him to be. Zach Manns was superior on the opposite aspect.”
For the second yr in a row, the Rush have been handed an early bye week with no video games scheduled till their house opener versus the Halifax Thunderbirds in mid-December.
However that’s not an issue for Quinlan and the remainder of the group, who’re embracing the bye week after a few lengthy days of journey to get to Albany to battle the FireWolves.
“Speaking to a few of the gamers they’re nonetheless making an attempt to get better from the weekend,” stated Quinlan. “For us to have the ability to get a great week in of health and get some video on Halifax, they play this weekend, I feel it is going to be a constructive.”
Whereas relaxation is being prioritized, the coaching isn’t stopping for Manns and his teammates with the purpose of carrying over the constructive parts of their sport in Albany to the remainder of December.
“The most important factor with our group is we’re all the time working,” Manns stated. “Guys put within the time away from follow and video games with the group, so there’s actually no concern that approach and I feel it simply provides us an additional week to arrange for Halifax. They sort of laid the boots to us twice final yr, in order that further week perhaps goes to be a great factor for preparation.”
Popping out of their bye week, the Rush will maintain their house opener on Dec. 14 in opposition to Halifax at 7 p.m.
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