Robert Church, a seasoned forward with the Saskatchewan Rush, is currently enjoying his 12th season in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). This year, Church and his team are experiencing a remarkable turnaround, boasting an impressive 10-1 record and a nine-game winning streak, reminiscent of his inaugural professional season with the Edmonton Rush before the team’s relocation to Saskatchewan.
“It’s probably the second-longest win streak I’ve been a part of in my career,” Church reflected. “The first one was my first 14 games in the league. It’s been awesome. It doesn’t really feel like there’s anything hanging over us.”
Church is making significant strides within the franchise’s history. In a recent commanding 14-6 win against the Philadelphia Wings, he achieved his 951st career point, overtaking former teammate Mark Matthews, who tallied 949 points, thereby marking Church as the all-time leading scorer in the team’s history.
“Jimmy (Quinlan) had a game ball for me after the game, and mentioned it,” Church remarked. “It’s something I’m proud of. I’ve played a long time, managed to stay healthy, and I’m fortunate to stay with one team.”
Church previously ascended to the role of leading point scorer for the Rush since the team’s relocation to Saskatoon in 2015, and by encompassing the histories of the former Edmonton Rush, Ottawa Rebel, and Syracuse Smash programs, he has solidified his place in the franchise’s lore. This season has seen Church achieving multiple milestones, including becoming the Rush’s all-time leader in games played during the season opener against the Calgary Roughnecks.
During the recent game against the Wings, the Rush demonstrated resilience by coming back from an early 3-0 deficit to clinch a dominant second half, scoring 10 goals and securing their ninth consecutive victory. Church noted the intensity with which opposing teams come out swinging, likely driven by Saskatchewan’s top position in the standings.
“When you’re at the top of the league, teams are coming out extremely hard,” Church said. “They’re playing at a pace that they can’t really keep up with for 60 minutes. We kind of just got to weather that storm.”
This weekend, the Rush will face a tough challenge as they continue their road trip through New York with back-to-back games. This includes a highly anticipated rematch against the Buffalo Bandits, the team that defeated them in the NLL Finals, providing additional motivation for Church and the squad.
“Obviously the way our season ended and them beating us for a third straight championship, we’ll have a little extra motivation going into this one,” Church explained.
Furthermore, the Rush will welcome back defender Holden Garlent, who has been sidelined due to injury, potentially boosting the team’s performance as they aim to maintain their winning momentum. The first game against the Bandits is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a matchup against the Rochester Knighthawks on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Rush’s drive and determination this season are clearly indicators of their commitment to building on their success and striving for continued excellence in the league.