Saskatchewan Rush take on the Buffalo Bandits in game 3 of the NLL Finals (Steve Hiscock/Submitted)

Saskatchewan Rush searching for first NLL title since 2018

By Craig Silliphant May 24, 2025 | 9:00 AM

Saturday marks the biggest game the Saskatchewan Rush have played since 2018, when they won the National Lacrosse League Championship.

Now in 2025, just 60 minutes stands in the way of the Rush and lacrosse immortality as the team takes on defending champions Buffalo Bandits in Game 3 of the NLL Finals.

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Jimmy Quinlan, Rush co-head coach, joined The Green Zone on Friday ahead of the game.

Listen to Jimmy Quinlan on The Green Zone:

Quinlan said his squad will have to do more than play a full 60 minutes.

“In both games we got out to a good start … then we ran dry in Buffalo on Friday night,” said Quinlan.

“Obviously you always want to play a full 60, but for us it’s going to be those timely moments and when we need a save we need to get it and when we need a play we’re going to have to make it.”

Looking back on the Rush playoffs there have been two defining moments — Mike Messenger’s diving play that led to the tying goal in the dying seconds of game two against Halifax and Holden Garlent’s painful block in Game 2 against Buffalo.

“They know what it takes — we always talk about investing and loving the grind,” Quinlan said.

“Early in the year (it) became real evident that we like working, we like the hard part of the game and a lot of that stuff doesn’t take a whole lot of skill, it’s just a decision and we seem to be making the right decision more often than not.”

During the playoffs forward Austin Shanks has stepped up big time, leading the way with 16 goals and 30 points in five playoff games.

“He’s been unbelievable and it’s funny because our guy (Robert Church) who puts all the balls in the net hasn’t been putting them in the net,” said Quinlan.

“Church has been instrumental in Shanks’ success in terms of playing on the inside and grinding and banging away.”

The Buffalo Bandits are looking to be the first team to three-peat as NLL champions since the Rochester Knighthawks did it from 2012 to 2014.

But Quinlan said that’s not something the team is focusing on.

“We just worry about us. I think that’s what’s fun about our group,” he said. “We know what they have over there, but really at the end of the day it’s what we’re doing, so our focus is 100 per cent on making sure we’re ready.”

Last Sunday the Rush were powered by 8216 fans, this weekend they are in enemy territory and Quinlan said it’s important to take the crowd out of it.

“You can see when a home team’s place starts rocking it just feels like the whole building tilts, so we got to avoid that Saturday night,” he said.

Game 2 begins at 2:30 p.m.

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