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It was a Saturday night shocker at the Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon as the Saskatchewan Rush punched their ticket to the National Lacrosse League (NLL) finals with a 10-9 overtime win over Halifax Thunderbirds.
It is the first time the team has been to the finals since 2018.
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The Rush came out buzzing and with Halifax’s Mike Robinson taking a five-minute penalty for cross-checking, the Rush were able to grab a quick 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Robert Church, who netted two, and Zach Manns.
Holden Garlent also scored for the Rush, but the Thunderbirds answered back with three goals, including one with two seconds left in the first quarter, cutting the Rush lead to 4-3.
Around the halfway mark of the second quarter, Halifax scored the tying goal and the Rush challenged for a crease violation but to no avail. Saskatchewan did answer back, however, giving them a 5-4 lead at halftime.
Halifax scored just under three minutes into the third quarter to tie things up, before Rush defenceman Mike Messenger gave the home team the lead once again.
But, with four seconds left in the third, Thunderbirds forward Clarke Petterson found the back of the net, tying the game at six apiece.
The fourth quarter was quiet until the final three and half minutes, when Halifax found the back of the net giving them the lead, before Saskatchewan responded to tying it up at seven.
Then Thunderbirds forward Thomas Hoggarth scored back-to-back goals, giving Halifax a 9-7 lead with 1:36 remaining on the clock.
Zach Manns found the back of the net for the Rush with 44 seconds remaining, bringing them within one before a diving play by Mike Messenger turned the ball over to Matt Hossack, who found the back of the net with six seconds left, tying the game at nine and pushing it into overtime.
“The play Mike Messenger made to track down that loose ball and dive and hit Terefenko’s stick was a game saver,” said Rush defenceman Garlent.
“Hossack will obviously get the credit for the goal but Messenger deserves all the credit for the hard work.”
In overtime, the Thunderbirds Mike Robinson found himself in more penalty trouble as he took his second five minute penalty for boarding.
Rush forward Austin Shanks then scored the overtime winner against his former team, giving the Rush a 10-9 win and punching their ticket into the finals.
“I wanted to knock them out tonight,” said Shanks. “I only brought one suit and I wanted them gone tonight.”
Down 1 goal with 4 seconds left the @SaskRushLAX tied the game and won it in overtime. They are now headed to the @NLL finals for the first time since 2018. @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/REqmd6lIwJ
— Will Mandzuk (@WMandzuk) May 11, 2025
Saskatchewan will now face Buffalo Bandits in a best-of-three series, starting on May 16 in Buffalo, New York.
Shanks said the team’s youthfulness could be a big key to its success.
“A lot of people say we’re young — maybe we’re young and dumb,” he said. “We just don’t give up, we have so much heart. Guys want it so bad and that was a wild ending.”
Jimmy Quinlan, co-head coach of the Rush, said it was a one-of-a-kind game.
“The way we just won that game is pretty surreal, to be honest,” he said. “Being around the game for as long as I have I feel like maybe I’ve been on the other end of one like that.”
Quinlan said it’s back to business right away to prepare for Buffalo. In their only matchup this season, Buffalo won 9-7.
“I think we have a good start on them (Buffalo) having played them this year,” he said.
Buffalo has won the finals in each of the last two years and finished top of the NLL regular season standings this season, with 13 wins and five loses.
— with files from CKOM News
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