The Saskatchewan Rush ended their regular season with a bang—and a whole lot of goals—blowing past the Ottawa Black Bears 16–7 on Saturday night.
Robert Church was on another level, notching a sock trick and finishing the night with nine points to lead the way.
While the game didn’t carry playoff implications for these two teams—thanks to Georgia’s earlier win over Buffalo—you wouldn’t have known it by the way the Rush showed up. With the win, Saskatchewan now preps to host the Georgia Swarm in the first round of the playoffs.
This one could’ve been even more lopsided if not for Ottawa goalie Zach Higgins, who stood on his head with 49 saves. But the Black Bears’ offense went ice cold in the second half, and the Rush took full advantage—going on a monstrous 11-goal run and outscoring Ottawa 12–2 after halftime.
First Quarter Fireworks
Ottawa struck first, with Jeff Teat scoring just 50 seconds in. He stayed hot early, netting a natural hat trick and helping the Black Bears jump out to a 4–0 lead.
But the Rush started clawing back. Austin Shanks went bar down on a delayed penalty, Zach Manns followed up 21 seconds later, and Church buried one in front off a feed from Clark Walter to cut the lead to 4–3 by the end of the quarter.
Quiet Second, Then a Spark
It was a tight defensive second quarter until Connor Kearnan scored with just under five minutes left.
But the Rush answered immediately off the draw—Jake Naso won the faceoff and took it all the way to the net himself, making it a one-goal game at the half (5–4).
Rush Take Over in the Third
Whatever was said in the locker room worked.
Jake Boudreau tied it up just 57 seconds into the third on a shorthanded transition goal. Ottawa briefly retook the lead, but that was the last time they’d be in front.
From there, it was all Rush. Church answered, Manns scored a beauty leaping across the crease, and Garlent blasted one in transition to give Saskatchewan a two-goal cushion. Church added another on the power play, Boudreau found him again in transition, and Shanks closed the quarter with a highlight-reel goal while falling into the crease.
After three quarters, it was 11–6 Rush—and the fans at SaskTel Centre were loving it.
Rush Show No Mercy
The Rush kept their foot on the gas in the fourth. Keenan connected with Church for his sixth goal of the night. Boudreau went end-to-end again, and Walter hammered home a quick-stick off a slick feed from Brock Haley.
On a 5-on-3, Shanks fed Keenan for another beauty before Robert Church capped off his incredible night with a power play tally. Larson Sundown added one more with 28 seconds left to seal the 16–7 win.
Rush co-head coach Jimmy Quinlan and faceoff specialist Jake Naso spoke to the media after the win.
Top Scorers
Saskatchewan Rush
Robert Church, 6g 3a
Ryan Keenan, 1g 5a
Zach Manns, 2g 3a
Ottawa Black Bears
Jeff Teat, 3g 1a
Connor Kearnan, 1g 2a
Travis Longboat, 1g 1a
Taggart Clark, 2a
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