Matthews makes history as Rush rout Black Wolves 24-11

The Saskatchewan Rush put a win under the tree in their first home game of the season.

SaskTel Centre proved to be a tough venue to return to for former Rush goalie Aaron Bold, as his first game back in Saskatoon following an offseason trade to the New England Black Wolves saw him yanked from the net after surrendering 10 goals in the first half.

The Rush ended up with a decisive 24-11 win over New England.

The gaudy score was fueled in part by a record-setting performance out of Mark Matthews, who piled up six goals and seven assists. The 13-point effort is the most ever put up by a Rush player in a single game.

Matthews’ third goal of the first half of the contest was the one that saw Bold relegated to the bench by the Black Wolves/

Ben McIntosh (5 goals, 4 assists), and Robert Church (2 goals, 8 assists) also put up impressive numbers en route to the win.

Shawn Evans and Kevin Crowley each scored three goals for the Black Wolves. Kevin Buchanan, Mark Cockerton, Matt Spanger, JP Kealey, and Stephan Leblanc all got one each.

The Rush will be off now until Jan. 6, when they go on the road to face the Georgia Swarm in a rematch of last season’s Champions Cup final