The Edmonton Rush are finally National Lacrosse League champions after winning their first title in their ten year existence. They defeated the Toronto Rock to win the 2015 title just two years after falling to the Rochester Knighthawks in the Champions Cup.
The other day we took a look at how the Rush built their roster, and we saw they have drafted exceptionally. Of course, having two first overall picks helps. One of those picks, Mark Matthews, has defined the team’s identity as he took home the MVP.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable,” said Matthews after the game to the Canadian Press. “As a team, we worked all year and have been through a lot of stuff with everything behind the scenes. We just battled through it and stuck with everything we needed to do and proved it tonight. We wore them down and got some late there and obviously our back end and goaltending was second to none in any sport.”
Matthews scored back to back key goals in the fourth quarter of game two in Edmonton, scoring the tying and go ahead goals late to give the Rush a 10-9 lead. The Rock would tie it up at ten before Matthew Dinsdale scored the game winner.
The former first overall pick has become the face of the team along with a true MVP contender year in and year out. He was the team’s leading scorer on a team known for its defense. In their ten year history, Matthews has become the player you think of when you think of the Rush.
Now an MVP and a champion, Matthews and the Rush have one more question to address; where will they play next season? Fans of the Rush, whatever city that might be i, should just be thrilled to have this star for years to come.
