Cornwall brothers keeping Saskatchewan Rush in the family

The Saskatchewan Rush are set to raise their championship banner to the rafters of Sasktel Centre when they welcome the expansion San Diego Seals Saturday for the team’s first home game of the season.

They’ll do so with a slightly different roster than last year, especially defensively.

With 2016 playoff hero Jeff Cornwall taking a year off to be a firefighter in Burnaby, Saskatchewan head coach and general manager Derek Keenan acquired his brother Travis from the Vancouver Warriors.

Keenan is the first to admit Travis will challenge the eye test on Saturday.

“They’re very similar,” Keenan said of the Cornwall brothers. “They’re both great athletes — strong, fast, big, good skills. Travis might have a little bit more offensive skill, but they’re very similar in how they play.”

“They both have high lacrosse IQ, so it’s been an easy transition for (Travis) to come play with us.”

Cornwall knew that was the motivation in bringing him in for the season.

“It’s tough to with differentiating factors,” Cornwall said with a smile. “A little veteran presence, step into the lineup and it makes it a little easier of a transition.”

Cornwall instantly called his brother after finding out about the trade that sent him from Vancouver to Saskatoon.

“He told me I have to be roommates with (Curtis) Knight, I have to sit between him and McGrotty in the dressing room.”

Little did he know he was just a replacement in his brother’s eyes.

“Afterwards, he goes, ‘When I come back, all that stuff is mine again,'” Cornwall said of the frank conversation.

“I guess I’m just a fill-in.”

At any rate, Keenan feels that going a year without a Cornwall wouldn’t have been good for a team defending a championship.

“I feel a lot more comfortable with a guy who has seven years in the league than someone with no experience. He gives us a lot more of a comfort level, that’s for sure.”