Rush clinch division title, home playoff game in win over Mammoth

The Saskatchewan Rush sealed another Western Division title with a 13-8 win over the Colorado Mammoth Saturday in their regular season finale at SaskTel Centre.

The Rush secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs with the win and now lay claim to their sixth consecutive division title.

“It shows the consistency of the team and our players and the hard work they put in, and the organization as a whole,” head coach Derek Keenan said of the accomplishment that came down the season’s final day.

“I thought the guys really showed, especially in the first half, we were dominant in all areas.”

Saskatchewan entered the game with something to prove after last week’s 18-8 beating at the hands of the Calgary Roughnecks, the team’s most lopsided loss since moving to Saskatchewan.

With goalie Evan Kirk stopping every ball fired his way, it was Jeff Shattler leading the scoring with a double during a three-goal outburst in a 2:25 stretch to start the game.

The onslaught continued in the second quarter with the Rush already up 5-0. Two more goals would chase Mammoth starting goalie Dillon Ward from the game briefly before Marty Dindale completed his first-half hat trick with a deceptive shot as he ran across the front of the Mammoth goal to give the Rush an 8-0 lead to start the game.

“We were just shooting well,” Dinsdale said after his four goals and two assists on the night. “We were getting some pretty good looks, but were able to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Jacob Ruest broke through with Colorado’s first goal of the game with 6:30 remaining in second quarter to salvage an 11-1 first half deficit.

The Mammoth outscored their opponents 7-2 in the second half, but were unable to overcome the large Rush lead on their way to a fourth straight loss.

The good news for Colorado is getting a chance to redeem themselves as Saturday’s result sets up a Western Division semifinal game against the Rush on May 3.

After a season sweep of the Mammoth, Keenan knows the playoffs present a different challenge.

“It’s not easy to beat a team four times in a season, so we’re going to have to be really good,” he said. “What you saw in the second half is more like what you’re going to see next week for 60 minutes.”

History favours Saskatchewan for the single elimination playoff game. The last playoff meeting between the two teams was in the 2017 West Final that resulted in a Rush sweep, as well as winning  12 of last 14 regular season games against Mammoth.

Securing first place in the division and home field advantage throughout the playoffs becomes even more important when the loyal fans at SaskTel Centre are cheering their team on.

Kirk can’t wait to experience that again.

“I never really experienced that (atmosphere) prior to coming here,” Kirk said. “Once we play in front of these fans, it’s just such a lift. It’s really key to be here.”