Latest news with #JakeBoudreau
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Saskatchewan Rush optimistic after turnaround season comes up short
The Saskatchewan Rush came up one game short of a National Lacrosse League (NLL) championship against the Buffalo Bandits Saturday night, losing 15-6 to the Buffalo Bandits in game three. (Source: Saskatchewan Rush/X) The Saskatchewan Rush came up one game short of a National Lacrosse League (NLL) championship against the Buffalo Bandits Saturday night, losing 15-6 to the Buffalo Bandits in game three. The win makes the Bandits the second team in league history to complete the three-peat, winning three consecutive league championships. Being a part of history doesn't take out the sting for the Rush. 'They're a good team, and we kind of played with them for ten quarters,' said Jake Boudreau, Saskatchewan Rush defense. 'And then just kind of lost it in the second half there. So that sucks, but I think we have a lot to be happy about. Obviously not satisfied, but happy.' For a team that posted losing records since the pandemic, pushing an eventual dynasty opponent to game three of the NLL finals leaves room for perspective. 'We didn't get the result we wanted,' said Jerrett Smith, Saskatchewan Rush defense. 'But making it to game three of the NLL finals against the Bandits, I think at some point you've got to chalk it up as somewhat of a win.' The Rush finished the regular season with a 13-5 record, tied for the second best in franchise history, despite being dismissed as young and inexperienced all year. But that all changed after this year's team got six playoff games under their belts. 'I saw a stat, it was like over half the guys on our team, their first playoff run,' said Zach Manns, Saskatchewan Rush forward. 'And that's valuable experience. It's an experience that not everyone gets. And you've got to take it for what it's worth. Those are high pressure games and those are the type of games that can really make or break a season.' Now that the season has ended, it gives players time to appreciate how far the team has come in just a year, and it gives them time to start looking ahead. 'We really just had a special group this year,' said Brock Haley, Saskatchewan Rush forward. 'To make it this far and compete with one of the best teams, kind of ever, it goes to show what we can do and what we're going to be capable of next year.' The Rush got five individual awards, Frank Scigliano for best goalie, Matt Hossack for best defender, Jimmy Quinlan for top coach, and Derek Keenan won best general manager. Keegan Bell won the best teammate award as voted by the NLL Players' Association. Despite the individual success, it was the enjoyment of coming to the rink every week that made the season especially fun. 'It was just a fantastic group of guys from the top down,' said Manns. 'I can't say anything better. It was probably the most fun year I've every had playing lacrosse, so couldn't be more excited for the future.' The 2012-2014 Rochester Knighthawks are the only other team to win three consecutive NLL championships.
Global News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Saskatchewan Rush prepare to kick off NLL semifinals on the road in Halifax
The last time the Saskatchewan Rush found themselves matched up in an NLL semifinal series, Jake Boudreau was a 19-year-old burgeoning lacrosse star with his hometown Brampton Excelsiors in Ontario. Now after three professional lacrosse seasons seven years later, he's aiming to help the Rush get back to the NLL championship finals. 'I came around three years ago and a lot of the guys came in the same year as me or after,' said Boudreau. 'We always kind of said [2025] we should be pretty primed. To have it kind of come to fruition and we still have more lacrosse to play, it's awesome.' For the first time since 2018 when they won it all, the Rush are back in the NLL's 'Final Four' with a three-game semifinal series approaching against the third-seeded Halifax Thunderbirds. Story continues below advertisement The Rush are coming off a 13-9 victory over the Georgia Swarm on Saturday night, keeping their season alive and pushing the team forward to a best-of-three series against Halifax. Rallying from a 2-0 deficit to Georgia, it's a story which has been written all season long on Saskatchewan's ability to overcome early deficits and win games. Something that isn't fazing the team heading into their second-round series versus the Thunderbirds. 'Every time we let in goals early our offence finds a way to score,' said Boudreau. 'We don't usually leave the first quarter down a lot. We might be down 3-0, 4-0, 2-0, but we always are within reach at the end of the quarter. So that helps us a lot.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Halifax has been an Achilles heel of sorts for Saskatchewan over the past three NLL seasons, winning four of five meetings including a decisive 17-9 win on their home floor back on March 14. Scoring the second-most goals across the league this year, the Thunderbirds will be Saskatchewan's biggest test this season according to co-head coach and general manager Derek Keenan. 'They kind of thrive on unsettled play,' said Keenan. 'They're very good at it, they obviously have a very good faceoff player in Jake Withers. Their offence has been absolutely on fire lately, they have two good goalies, so it's going to be a big challenge for us.' Story continues below advertisement In net, the Thunderbirds will likely send out Drew Hutchison who is coming off a 16-12 victory over the Calgary Roughnecks in Halifax's quarterfinal matchup. 3:18 Rush head east for best of three semi-final in Halifax However, Halifax has deployed a two-goaltender system this season and the Rush could see Warren Hill at the other end of the floor. Saskatchewan's starter meanwhile will be Frank Scigliano, after putting up 39 saves in the team's victory over Georgia last weekend. 'We have a real good group,' said Keenan. 'We got a good offence, we have a great transition game, our defence is very athletic and we play our pressure-style system. But you got to get saves and [Scigliano's] been there all year for us.' Story continues below advertisement Two of the NLL's premier faceoff talents will be matched up in the dot in Halifax, with Thunderbirds veteran Jake Withers and Rush rookie Jake Naso going head-to-head in a battle which could decide much of the possession on Saturday night. According to Scigliano, it will be up to the Rush to stay disciplined against the Thunderbirds' powerful offence and lock up defensively where they can. 'They're a great team, super fast, super talented,' said Scigliano. 'We're just going to take it one game at a time right? We're not going to look too far ahead, obviously it's a big test and they did take it to us last time. 'It will be good for us to get in there and show them that we've changed since the last time we played each other.' The Rush and Thunderbirds will square off for Game 1 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the series shifting back to SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon the following weekend for Game 2 and Game 3, if needed.
