2025-2026 Record: 12-6, third place, lost to the Toronto Rock in the first round of the playoffs
New Faces: Connor Kearnan, Sam Firth, Reilly O’Connor, Jake Stevens, Jaxon Fridge, Reed Kurtz, Xavier Delormier, Aaron Toguri, Alex Lemieux, Jayden Richards, Calum Brennan
Key Losses: Austin Shanks, Clark Walter, Holden Garlent, Jerrett Smith
Even if he hasn’t come right out and said it, Saskatchewan Rush general manager Derek Keenan’s message is clear: A first-round exit last season isn’t good enough.
The Rush made an immediate splash in the Philadelphia/Ottawa dispersal draft by selecting Jake Stevens in the first round before bolstering the offence with Sam Firth.
With Holden Garlent unable to play this season because of work commitments, Keenan pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire Connor Kearnan and Jaxon Fridge from the Oshawa FireWolves.
He wasn’t done there. Keenan then went out and signed Reilly O’Connor to a contract.
Needless to say, Keenan was busy this off-season, adding to an already championship-calibre team that should once again compete near the top of the standings.
Saskatchewan Rush Offence
The left side of this offence will be a nightmare for opposing defences. Zach Manns and Ryan Keenan are already in the mix. Now, add Levi Anderson, Reilly O’Connor and Sam Firth to the equation, giving Saskatchewan plenty of depth.
The right side will be just as potent. Robert Church will be the go-to guy, with Connor Kearnan joining the lineup after Austin Shanks departed in free agency.
Brock Haley is poised for a breakout season. He has a wicked shot; he just needs to use it more often. Josh Zawada adds depth, along with Julien Belair, who will be competing for a spot on the main roster, and Calum Brennan.
Saskatchewan Rush Defence/Transition
Fast and athletic — that’s the best way to describe the Saskatchewan Rush defence.
Mike Messenger, Jake Boudreau, Matt Hossack, Bobby Kidd III, Ryan Barnable and Connor McClelland are all returning. Messenger, Boudreau and Barnable, in particular, can take the ball down the floor and punish teams that fail to account for the transition game.
Saskatchewan also added Jake Stevens in the first round of the dispersal draft, bringing even more speed to the lineup.
Jake Naso was re-signed in the off-season. With fewer teams and fewer roster spots available, it’ll be interesting to see if he gets more floor time on defence rather than being used exclusively as a faceoff specialist.
The Rush also added Reed Kurtz in the dispersal draft. He can take faceoffs as well and could serve as a backup to Naso, allowing Messenger to focus on defence and transition.
Saskatchewan Rush Goaltending
If there’s one area that raises some questions, it’s goaltending. However, I wouldn’t hit the panic button just yet.
The goaltending lineup is more or less set, with Frank Scigliano as the starter and Thomas Kiazyk as the backup. Xavier Delormier will likely start on the practice roster.
The concern is that Scigliano can begin to falter down the stretch when he starts 16 or 17 games in a season.
Kiazyk has shown he’s more than capable of starting when called upon. Giving him four or five starts to spell Scigliano could make a difference over the course of the season.
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