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With less than a month remaining in the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) regular season, the Saskatchewan Rush will be looking to fine tune its game as it gets set to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The Rush clinched a playoff spot two weeks ago before its game against Halifax, which it ended up losing 8-17.
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After three consecutive seasons where the club finished just outside a playoff spot with an 8-10 record, the Rush have been able to put its rebuilding pieces together in 2025.
The Rush currently hold a record of 10-4, which is good enough for the second-best record in the entire league.
So what’s clicked for the Rush this season?
“I think just the confidence of the whole group as a whole … the experience that some of the young guys got last year playing in a lot of tight games helped us learn how to win,” said forward Zach Manns, who leads the Rush in scoring this season with 59 points in 14 games.
“A couple of guys that we added in the summertime were huge pieces for us, so they all make us play better,” said Jake Boudreau, who plays the transition position for the Rush.
“Bringing a guy in like Matt Hossack, he just knows how to build the culture in a room. He did amazing things for the locker room, on the floor and off the floor.”
Manns said he’s not surprised the Rush have been able to play so well this season. He credits the player relationships for the reason why they’ve been able to have such a strong season.
“I think we get along really well off the floor and I think that that helps a lot,” Manns said.
“On the floor, guys are just really happy to be around each other, happy to come to the rink every weekend. That’s like the first thing you need.”
On Saturday night, the Rush host the Colorado Mammoth at 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, where the team could possibly clinch a home playoff spot with a win and some help from a few other teams along the way.
Manns knows that despite having a playoff spot wrapped up, the Mammoth will be coming in hungry as Colorado tries to get closer to clinching a playoff spot of its own.
“I think not just this game but the next four are the most important for the season. You want to play your best lacrosse going into playoffs and that’s what we’re looking to do,” Manns said.
“There might be a couple injuries on the Colorado side, but we don’t take anyone lightly,” he added.
“Anyone in this league can come in and beat you, especially when you have that attitude. So we’re not taking anything lightly. It’s been two weeks since we’ve played, so we’re excited to play, ready to go.”
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