Saskatchewan Rush heading into 2025-26 season with high expectations

For the first time in nearly seven years, the Saskatchewan Rush’s expectations are set on a championship.

The team made the National Lacrosse League finals last season for the first time since 2018, but ultimately fell short as the Buffalo Bandits beat them two games to one in the best of three series.

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“That standard is back to what it was in years past, and that’s to win a championship,” said Rush captain Ryan Keenan. “We have the team, and it’s just getting over that hump and following through with it.”

As the Rush get ready to suit up for Saturday’s home opener against the Calgary Roughnecks, one question remains: How does the team get back into the finals?

“It’s going to take some growth from each guy,” said Keenan. “That experience last year from the playoffs with a young team really helped us coming into this year.”

The Rush are running a similar roster this season, but with a couple of fresh faces like Levi Verch added into the mix.

“We’ve got some new additions through the draft I think will be great for us,” Keenan said. “It won’t be easy, and we have to get better and we have to score a little more… I think there’s a bit more of a target on our back.”

The final whistle of the NLL finals sounded on May 24, 2025. Since then, 195 days have passed, but Keenan said a sour taste still lingers in the mouths of many Rush players.

“It definitely didn’t sit well, the way the second half and the way that final game went. It was a learning experience for us,” said Keenan. “To know that we were right there and couldn’t get the job done, I think provides that little extra hunger and spark for this season.”

Keenan added it’s important the high expectations don’t get in the way of the team’s production this season.

“It’s about going into each week and seeing each game and coming with the expectation that we should win every week,” he said. “We’re really not thinking too far ahead.”

As the Rush get ready to kick off the 2025-26 NLL season, they’ll get to do so in front of their faithful fans in Saskatoon. Keenan said SaskTel Centre will be full of excitement this weekend.

“I know there will be a lot of energy in there,” he said. “Last week, we had some fans out for practice and did a little meet and greet in between sessions. So good to see the excitement from the fans coming into this year.”

Saturday’s home opener gets underway at 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre.