General Manager and Head Coach Derek Keenan announced today he is stepping away from the Rush of full-time duties for the 2015 Season for personal family reasons.
At the start of last season, on October 15, 2013, Wendy Keenan, Derek’s wife, was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and facing the hardest game plan of life.
Derek has taken a leave of absence from his job with the city of Oshawa, where he manages a civic recreation complex, and is stepping away from the Rush for the 2015 season, which begins Jan. 3 in Buffalo. He needs to be by Wendy’s side full-time now.
“It will be a challenge this year,” Corbeil says. “There is no question Derek is the leader of this group. He is well respected and he provides a lot of guidance and a certain calmness to things.”
Even though Keenan won’t attend practice or games, he will be involved. He doesn’t have a choice.
“Wendy said to me last week that I still have to be part of it,” explains Derek. “I’m just not going to be there until further notice. I think she wants me to stay involved, just so she can too.”
The Rush organization respect the privacy of the Keenan family and are in our thoughts and prayers.
