The Saskatchewan Rush season is almost here!

By Olivia Lawrence

RP Show Intern

The Saskatchewan Rush welcomes new head coach Jeff McComb, as the team gets ready to open training camp this weekend! McComb gets to put his expertise to the test this year in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) as the sport returns to Canada after a cancelled season last year due to the pandemic. Rod Pedersen was excited to have the new coach on Wednesday’s episode of The Rod Pedersen Show, Rod has been a NLL season ticket holder for a few years now. 

“It’s been a while, I was named head coach in August 2020, it has been a year,” said McComb. “I think I’m the first guy ever to go zero and zero in my first year so I’m excited to finally get started with it.”

McComb is no stranger to Rush fans, he played for the team for nine years and has participated in three championships the team has been a part of before becoming the coach. He is taking over from former head coach and now general manager, Derek Keenan—the cousin of NHL head coach and Hall of Famer, Mike Keenan. McComb and Derek Keenan were former teammates, and have very similar coaching styles, so the transition has been seamless. Rod Pedersen asked McComb how competitive he expects this training camp to be this year.

“We have a ton of new guys,” said McComb. “We’ve got 16 guys that haven’t been in our organization before coming to camp, and about 14-15 that have been here before. Bringing 31 guys to camp and there’s going to be competition all over the roster for spots, so we’re looking forward to it.”

The training camp begins in Saskatoon this weekend, and then the team will head to Toronto next weekend for a couple exhibition games and practices. The team will then take a week off, and then training camp will conclude back in Saskatoon on Nov. 26. 

“I think there’s five NFL teams in Canada, up to 14 in the league and there’s still a lot of people I hear say ‘I haven’t been to a Rush game yet, haven’t been to an NLL game yet’,” said Rod Pedersen. “It shocks me a little bit because the second I went I was hooked.”

“I think you’re like a lot of people are Rod, like once we get them in the building, they come back because they’re like oh my god, I had no idea it was this good, this fast, this physical,” said McComb. “We have the best athletes in the world playing, and every night you’re going to see something different and something spectacular.” 

The season will begin for the team in Halifax on Dec. 4, and then the team will have their home opener at SaskTel Centre on Dec. 11 against Calgary.

Sports fans, get your tickets!