SASKATOON –
The Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse will take over the field from the SaskTel Center on Saturday night for its first home game.
It will be the first game in 644 days, and it will be played in front of more than 10,000 fans.
One of the people in attendance will be Kelvin Ooms, a huge Rush fan who is better known as “Rush Hulk.”
“It means the world is back. We have been waiting for this, ”Ooms told CTV News.
The Rush began the season with a 12-11 loss to the Halifax Thunderbirds and they are looking for their first win.
“644 days is a long time to be away from something you are so passionate about,” Ooms said. “I missed the fans, I really miss the fans. The energy you feel before the game, during the game, the conversations you have with the fans after the game. I can not wait to return “.
The passion is shared by the players, who are eager to rush out onto the field in front of a fan base yearning to see their team play.
“Just the energy that it brings, I don’t know, you get carried away,” said Rush Captain Chris Corbeil. “It’s always great to play SaskTel in front of the fans. Had I not had a chance for the last 21 to 22 months, and finally been back, I’d probably say it’s the most excited I’ve ever been. “
Corbeil says that if they are to win, they will have to play the ball responsibly. The team will also have to curb Roughnecks forward Curtin Dixion, who Corbeil believes is one of the best players in the world.
“It is a great advantage to play here at home and that is not something that can be said for all the teams in the league.”
Fans will also notice a new bank chief when Jeff McComb replaces Derek Keenan, who has moved to a full-time general manager position. McComb will be the second coach since the team arrived in Saskatoon.
“For me, I think this is my fourteenth year in the league, so sometimes you forget how privileged we are, how amazing it is to be able to do this weekly, annually and have it taken away, I think everyone recognizes and how much it means. for us to do this, ”said Saskatchewan Rush head coach Jeff McComb.
The return of local games also generates business for places like Shoeless Joe’s Sports Grill.
The Grill is a sponsor of Rush and sends several party buses to their games.
“It is huge, especially in the world in which we find ourselves with the pandemic. It’s good, like I said, to get back to normal and have some butt on the seats, “said Shoeless Joe’s Sports Grill owner Ryan Sutherland.
Shoeless Joe’s estimates that the party buses will bring more than 200 people. He plans to send four buses to the game on Saturday.
The Rush’s next home game will be on New Years Eve, where they will face the San Deigo Seals.
Reference-saskatoon.ctvnews.ca