A FATHER’S FIRST PICK
Keenan gives son a Rush
The Rush family, really, is Derek Keenan’s family. Now in more ways than one. Ryan Keenan — the son of Rush head coach and general manager Derek Keenan — was selected No. 1 overall Monday in the 2016 National Lacrosse Entry Draft.
“It means a lot,” a proud dad was saying late Monday night from Oakville, Ont., where the NLL Draft was held.
Ryan Keenan, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward from Oshawa, Ont., led NCAA’s Quinnipiac Bobcats in scoring this past season with 33 goals and 18 assists for 51 points in 16 games.
“It’s a very special thing,” Ryan said of joining his dad on the Rush.
“It’s such an amazing organization with back-to-back championships and an incredible fan-base, so I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a very special opportunity.”
Ryan’s mother and Derek’s wife, Wendy Keenan, lost a 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer in early 2015 after being diagnosed in October of 2014.
Later in 2015, the Rush won the NLL championship and added a second straight Champions Cup last spring in Saskatchewan after the franchise transferred to Saskatoon from Edmonton.
Seeing Ryan get chosen No. 1 overall is something that Wendy would approve. Derek agreed she’d be looking down from above and smiling.
“That’s for sure,” said Derek. “No question about that.”
Saskatchewan acquired the pick two years ago by trading Corey Small to the Vancouver Stealth. Ryan Keenan was the consensus No. 1 pick but his dad wanted to make sure they were doing the right thing.
“It was a little bit stressful whether we would take him first overall, mainly based not on talent or skill or ability but more on the pressure that comes with not only being the first pick in the draft but playing for your dad, who is GM and coach, so once we got over that hurdle, we were pretty sure we were going to pick him,” he explained. “Growing up, he was never the best player on his teams but he worked his way into a position where he became the best player because of how much he put into it. Now he continues to mature and grow.”
Ryan was a first-team MAAC conference all-star and made the MAAC Conference all-academic team.
“By trading Riley Loewen away, we made room on the left side of our offence,” noted Derek Keenan. “He’s got to earn his way into the lineup. We’re pretty strong there. Overall, he’s a pretty dedicated and committed kid, so I’m sure he’ll come in ready.
“He’ll fit in real well with the group.”
Ryan has one sister, Kianna, a multi-sport athlete who has played lacrosse, hockey and soccer. Their uncle, Joe Nieuwendyk, played in the National Hockey League. Derek played lacrosse in the NLL, where his son now joins him.
“My family’s had a number of challenging years the last couple of years but I had such a great supporting staff to finally get here,” said Ryan.
Said Rush owner Bruce Urban in a release: “There is the obvious family connection, but, with the first overall pick, you don’t play hunches or favourites. You take the best player on the board and without a doubt that player is Ryan Keenan.”
With the No. 3 pick overall, the Rush chose big 6-foot-2, 203-pound defender Michael Messenger, from Surrey, B.C., who played for NCAA’s Limestone College.
Saskatchewan made a trade with the New England Black Wolves during the first round, dealing their 19th overall pick and a second-round draft pick in 2017 for the 14th overall pick, which the Rush used to take Matthew Hossack from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers.
With the 30th overall pick, Saskatchewan nabbed midfielder Mason Pynn, a native of Victoria, B.C., who plays for the NCAA’s Drexel University Dragons.
The Rush also selected lefty Spencer Bromley, a gritty forward from the Delta, B.C., Islanders and close out the 2016 NLL Draft by selecting defender Rylee McKinnon from the Whitby Jr. A Warriors.