Rush crush Rock in season opener

New Rush goaltender Evan Kirk made 39 stops on Saturday night in Toronto as Saskatchewan beat the Toronto Rock 17-9.

Jeff Shattler led the way for Saskatchewan with an eight point game, notching two goals and six assists.

Ryan Keenan had a goal and six assists while Robert Church had three goals and three assists.

The Rush got off to a strong start in Toronto as they begin their season with three of their first four games on the road.

It was 2-2 in the first quarter, when Church, Adrian Sorichetti and Matthew Dinsdale scored late in the opening quarter to give the visitors a 5-3 lead. Church and Mark Matthews scored second period goals to give the Rush a 7-4 advantage, a lead Saskatchewan did not give up. The Rush kept a torrid pace up all game scoring eight of their seventeen goals in in the second half.

Kirk now faces his former team on Saturday as the Rush host the New England Black Wolves Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Sask-Tel Centre.