RHINO ON A RUSH- Powell boosts Edmonton’s offense
Friday, December 11th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
12/11/09- edmontonrush.com
Edmonton, AB–Would you rather have a bull in a china shop or a rhino on the lacrosse carpet?
Although the rhinoceros may be a critically endangered species in some parts of the world — the Rush has added a rhino of their own — in Ryan “Rhino” Powell.
The 6-1, 205-pound transplanted New Yorker is not on the endangered list, but rather a veteran forward with excellent scoring and playmaking skills as well as strong leadership qualities.
This right-handed Rhino — recently acquired by Edmonton in a three-way trade involving Colorado and Minnesota — boasts 100 regular games played in the National Lacrosse League, netting 119 goals, adding 207 assists for 326 points and 442 loose balls. Powell, a Syracuse product, is reunited with head coach Derek Keenan and joins a trio of other Ryans on the Rush in Ward, McNish and Campbell.
Better call Powell “Rhino” or “RP” as he’s known in lacrosse circles, however, whatever the nickname, Powell is another quality player joining forces with Rush right-handed forwards Gavin Prout, Ward, Jamie Floris and Justin Norbraten in the new-look Rush offense.
“I’m very excited to come on board,” said Powell, who earned the “Rhino” handle early in his career. “I’ve very much enjoyed playing for coach Keenan for one season in Anaheim and four seasons in Portland, so I know his system and what he expects of his players and the type of guy that he is. I think that’s something that’s important to me and something I’m very excited about, as well.
“This training camp will be good for me to understand the guys on the right-side of the floor — Prout and Ward, primarily. Getting a sense of what they like to do and then obviously Andy Secore and Jimmy Quinlan on the other side. Having the opportunity to jell with those guys is super important, so I’m very much looking forward to this training camp and the pre-season with those guys.”
“We didn’t have anyone on offense that knew my system, so when Powell became available, we made it happen,” said Keenan, who sent out Callum Crawford in the transaction. “Now we have a guy that’s played with me for five years.”
Powell scored 18 goals and 44 assists for 62 points for Portland last season, two shy of his career-best total earned one year earlier, giving him back-to-back 60-points campaigns under Keenan.
“He’ll be a bit of a floor leader for us. He’s a veteran player who I’ve always liked a lot and he’s going to help us,” said Keenan of Edmonton’s lone American-born player. “He’s an ultimate team player. He’s an energy guy that players feed off him. He’s good in the locker room. He’s good on the bench. He’s an infectious guy. For the players that don’t know him – they’re just going to love him.”
Powell makes his Rush debut at the Leduc Recreation Centre this weekend as training camp continues in preparation for the 2010 NLL season. And while he may be a new face to some players, his transition to the Rush is assisted by six other former LumberJax players on Edmonton’s squad.
“That’s something that’s important to me at this stage in my career is playing with guys I’m comfortable with and that are team guys,” said Powell, now in his ninth NLL campaign. “Coach has assembled a great bunch of players with that team-first mentality, are competitors and want to win.”
While Powell is impressed with the Rush changes, he’s also intrigued by the role he’ll play this season, that will be determined over the next three weeks. He’s been successful in the league as both a disher and a finisher.
“It will be a feeling out process and a team-first mentality for me,” said Powell, a two-time field lacrosse most-valuable-player award winner in the MLL. “How can I help the team the most and that’s what I’ll be looking to do. Although, I’ve always been the type of player that likes to feed the ball before I like to shoot it.”
“He can do a bit of both,” added Keenan, who’s seen Powell mature his box game. “He’s one of those players that makes people around him better. He creates with his one on one dodging ability and from there he gets a lot of attention and then he’s a tremendous passer.
“He’s not a three-goal a game guy, but, he is a creator in terms of making plays and getting assists and he’s a gritty guy, too. He’s a complete offensive player now.”
Off the field, Powell continues to work in lacrosse year-round, keeping busy with both his companies — Rhino Lacrosse and Powell Lacrosse — providing top-notch instructional camps to younger players as well as lacrosse gear. While he keeps the Rhino name going in his ventures, it’s unlikely he’ll forget his nicknames in the game — a spin on Ryan and his style of play.
“I get called Rhino primarily from my earlier days,” said Powell. “It’s a little bit of a both. It’s a good fit with my name being Ryan but also the way that I play. I’m not the fastest guy, so I’m going to lower my shoulder and get some ground that way.”
The Rush starts the 2010 season on the road Jan. 15, 2010 versus the Washington Stealth in Everett, Wash., while the club’s first home game is set for Jan. 23 at Rexall Place against the Buffalo Bandits.
Training camp continues this weekend at Leduc Recreation Centre.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – First Session
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Kids up Front with Captain Chris McElroy
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Second Session
Sunday, December 13, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – First Session
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Second Session
For further information, please contact:
Pauline Hughes
Director of Communications
Edmonton Rush Lacrosse Club
(780) 720-3359
