JJ Seaward, Beat Writer Saskatchewan Rush
Lacrosse is Awesome
Now that I will be covering the World Champion Saskatchewan Rush, here’s who I think that the Rush will choose in the upcoming NLL Draft tonight September 26, 2016.
Ryan Keenan- LF out of Brooklin Redmen & Quinnipac)
Hometown: Oshawa,Ontario
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 180 pounds
This pick is looking to almost be a lock, and the Rush cannot afford to wait until the third overall pick to get him, because he simply will not last that long in the draft. The Quinnipiac forward led the team with 33 goals, 18 assists for a total of 51 points this past season with the Bobcats. Throughout his entire lacrosse career with Quinnipiac, Keenan finished fourth overall in the schools lacrosse scoring list with a total of 94 goals, and finished fifth overall in the schools lacrosse points list with a total of 131 points.
Mike Messenger- RT, New Westminster Salmonbellies
Messenger would be able to fit into the Rush system immediately, and compared to the other candidates to be drafted to the Rush he could be one of the few who have this ability. He is a youthful and an inexpensive defender who will be playing in the summer for the Salmonbellies and will grow accustomed to the style of play that is played there that will prove to be valuable for when Messenger is ready to play in the NLL.
Josh Currier- RF; Peterborough Lakers & Virginia Wesleyan
The Peterborough, Ontario native would also provide some additional scoring depth for the Rush, as last season with the Lakers Currier recorded 59 total points ( 37 goals, 22 assists), while also recording a 120 point (88 goals, 32 assists) season in 2015-16. Currier received the honors of 2015 USILA Honorable Mention All-American, 2015 All-State Second Team, and 2015 All-ODAC First Team.
Keegan Rittinger- RD; Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs
The 6’1″, 200 pound defenseman would add some more grit for the Rush defensive core, as the young defenseman loves to throw his body around. In a total of 55 games for the Adanacs, Rittinger had a total of 52 penalty minutes. Assuming that the Rush will also draft Michael Messenger and Rittinger, these two will have immediate chemistry as they have played together for the Adanacs. Rittinger anchored a group that gave up only 118 goals against in a total of 21 games, that were only 47 fewer than any other team in the entire league.
Bryan Cole- Midfielder; Oakville Rock & Maryland
Drafted as the 16th overall pick in the second round in the 2016 MLL Draft to the Ohio Machine
This is one of the players who I am most excited about, simply because of his success with a powerhouse team that the Maryland Terrapins have. The 6’3″, 190 pound midfielder will provide a unique scoring touch for the Rush, as well as be able to use his body to create turnovers. Some of the accomplishments the Cole has achieved with the Terrapins are as follows; 2016 USILA First Team All-American, 2016 First Team All-Big Ten, 2016 Big Ten All-Tournament Team, and Cole has a total of 101 career points (43 goals, 58 assists) with the Terrapins.
Adam Jay (RD; Delta Islanders)
The 6’4″ 215 pound defenseman plays a stay at home defenseman style of play that would prove to be effective with the Rush, and could be implemented right away. His defensive style would only add to the depth of the Rush defensive system, making the team only more of a nightmare to play against.
Jay feels as if the greatest asset that he would be able to translate into the NLL is having the ability to gather up loose balls, which would prove to be fairly valuable for the Rush. The player who he most likely relates himself with is the style of Brett Mydske, and his greatest accomplishment in his lacrosse career was winning the BC Junior A Lacrosse League.
JJ Seaward, Beat Writer Saskatchewan Rush
Lacrosse is Awesome