Training Camp Recap: Weekend Three
Nov 21, 2023After a first visit to Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Rush have wrapped up weekend three of training camp.
The group came into the weekend with 27 players, but after another cut in Rylee McKinnon, the squad is down to 26 currently.
Following a 13-10 pre-season loss in Ontario, the coaches and players were able to prepare and adjust based on their first taste of game film.
“We just handed Toronto six of their seven goals in that third quarter,” said Jimmy Quinlan. "That's unacceptable."
Even with the depth players getting looks in the second half of that first exhibition game, the starters on offence got to sharpen their chemistry even more in Saskatoon after only putting up four goals in the opening half.
“Camp is feeling really good right now,” commented Robert Church. “We’ve got a ton of speed up front.”
Currently, GM Derek Keenan’s squad is down to three goaltenders in Frank Scigliano, Laine Hruska and Thomas Kiazyk. Scigliano and Hruska will likely be the two starting the season on the active roster, while the 19-year-old Kiazyk could end up on the practice roster.
For forwards, there’s only nine in camp currently with Robert Church, Ryan Keenan, Clark Walter, Zach Manns, Patrick Dodds, Mike Triolo, Cam Wengreniuk, Nathaniel Kozevnikov and Jake Bowen. The four righty’s are seemingly set in Church, Dodds, Triolo and Kozevnikov. On the left side, the battle between Wengreniuk and Bowen for that final active roster spot will be one to watch in the Rush’s second pre-season game.
Defensively, that’s where the last cut will likely come from. Lefties Holden Garlent, Connor McClelland, Jake Boudreau, Ryan Barnable and Isaac Ngyou have stood out from the pack as the top five. Mike Messenger, Bobby Kidd III, Jerrett Smith, Adam Jay and Mike Mallory are the most experienced of the five right shooting dmen.
The last three spots up for grabs are likely in the battle between Jeremy Searle , Jamison Dilks, Keegan Bell and Nick Preston. With 26 players currently at camp, the Rush have to release one player before the November 27th deadline at 2PM Sask Time.
National Lacrosse League teams can carry a total of 25 players. Four on the practice roster and 21 on the active roster.
With more time to gel together, a true test comes this upcoming weekend in Moose Jaw. It will feel like a true NLL regular season game when the Saskatchewan Rush face off with the Calgary Roughnecks in front of a likely sellout crowd at MJEC.