Rush head into camp with blend of youth

Derek Keenan wants to add a little spring, a little bounce, a little youthful vigour to his veteran team.

The Saskatchewan Rush head coach and general manager says some of the team’s recent draft picks have a chance to step into the lineup and make an impact, starting with this weekend’s training camp in Saskatoon.

“We need to get an influx of youth into the team, try to be athletic and fast and an uptempo team, and I think adding some younger guys helps that,” Keenan said Thursday.

The Rush, who won National Lacrosse League titles in 2015, 2016 and 2018, lost an 11-10 overtime decision to Calgary in their division semifinal last season. They went 11-7 during the regular season.

Keenan plans to give 2018 firstround pick Connor Robinson, who played sparingly last season, an expanded role in 2019-20, and he thinks 2019 first-rounders Holden Garlent and Justin Robinson can step into the lineup.

The Rush also welcome back veteran defenders Ryan Dilks and Jeff Cornwall — who both missed last season while launching firefighting careers — while saying goodbye to forward Curtis Knight (expansion draft), and defender Nik Bilic (traded to Vancouver). Defender Brett Mydske is pursuing a firefighting career, and while it’s not completely decided, Keenan is planning as if he won’t be in the lineup this season.

“We all know what our goal is,” Keenan says. “It doesn’t change year to year. I still believe we’re built as a championship team, and we still have a lot of talent.

“Our biggest thing this year, going into camp, is we want to implement our young guys into our culture, into our program, into our systems. We’re going to count on some young guys this year, and we’re due for that. We’re due for a little bit of a changeover. But having said that, it’ll be awesome having Ryan Dilks and Jeff Cornwall back. They were big voids last year. But some of the guys we drafted, provided they come into camp fit and ready to compete and do well, they’re going to play.”

The Rush open training camp Friday at 3 p.m. at the Henk Ruys Soccer Centre, and will work out again Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

They’ll take the following weekend off before heading to Langley for training and pre-season games against Vancouver and San Diego, then they’ll shift to Toronto the following weekend for one final camp session and a pre-season contest against the Toronto Rock.

Saskatchewan opens its regular season Nov. 29 in Colorado, followed by their Dec. 14 home opener against New England.