Rush announces training camp schedule, contract extensions for coaching staff

The Saskatchewan Rush is gearing up to return to the Prairies.

The club finalized its training camp dates, with a return to Saskatoon set for Nov. 5.

Saskatchewan will then move to train at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ont., for two weekends beginning Nov. 12.

The Rush will come back to Saskatoon on Nov. 26 for the final week of training camp before opening up the 2021-22 National Lacrosse League regular season on the road against the Halifax Thunderbirds on Dec. 4.

The Rush also announced the entire coaching staff and general manager have signed multi-year contract extensions.

Head coach Jeff McComb and assistant coaches Jimmy Quinlan and Jeremy Tallevi signed two-year deals. General manager Derek Keenan signed a three-year extension.

“Derek has proven over the last several decades that he is the standard bearer for general managers in the sport of lacrosse,” Rush president Colin Priestner said.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have him and his staff committed to us long-term, bringing championship-level lacrosse to Saskatchewan.”

Keenan and McComb are looking to continue their string of success that’s racked up three NLL championships (2015, 2016, 2018) over the last decade, in addition to qualifying for the Championship Series five times since 2012.

“The Rush organization has always prided itself in stability,” Keenan said. “Whether it’s player procurement, management or the coaching staff, we like to stay consistent with strategies and messaging. I’ve got 100 per cent confidence that with Jeff, Jimmy, and Jeremy on our bench, stability and consistency will continue.”

The 2021 home opener at SaskTel Place is scheduled for Dec. 11 against the visiting Calgary Roughnecks.