The Saskatchewan Rush

Courtney Murrison
December 29, 2021

What a lucky day it was for a few select Vendastians! 

On December 7, there was an announcement from Celine Martin that Vendasta had 20 box seat tickets to use for the Saskatchewan Rush home opener game that following Saturday night, for which 10 Vendastians would be drawn to win 2 tickets each! Vendasta acquired the tickets from MLT Aikins, one of the law firms in the city that the company has been working closely with for the last couple months. They weren't using their box for the night, and graciously offered it to Vendasta. 

The Saskatchewan Rush Experience

For those who don’t know, the Rush is Saskatchewan’s beloved professional box lacrosse team. Watching the Rush is a true ‘Saskatoon’ experience! Pump-up music blaring the entire game, exciting announcers, the occasional monster truck sighting, our mascot, Bruiser the Bulldog, and honorary mascot, The Rush Hulk (don’t ask), and Sasktel Centre’s infamous ‘steroid beers’. What may be the coolest part of a Rush game is the sea of green that erupts into a chant on every Rush goal. 

Not to mention the entertainment of the actual game! Boxla (as it is also known—short for ‘box lacrosse’) is sometimes referred to as the fastest sport on two feet. The game is played by teams of five players and a goalie; rebounds and checks off the boards make the game exciting to watch, and a 30-second shot clock, which requires a team to either shoot in half a minute or relinquish the ball to their opponent, leads to a high-scoring game. Very fast paced, very skilled players, and a lot of shins being bashed by sticks…. no joke. 

A sort of mix of basketball and hockey, Lacrosse has got to be one of the most entertaining sports to watch live. 

Box lacrosse (played indoor on cement or turf) was developed in Canada in the 1930s as a way to take advantage of hockey arenas left vacant during the summer months. It is the most popular form of lacrosse in Canada.

Vendasta at the Rush Game

One of those lucky winners to attend the Rush home opener was Roberto Morales, who provided highlights of his very first Lacrosse game: 

“My first Lacrosse game was much better than I would have expected it to be! My kids (it was also their first Lacrosse game ever) and I had a great time since we got to the arena. It was nice to see my fellow Vendastians at the suite with their families and friends. 

The energy of the place was inviting to just enjoy the game and have fun. The pre-show was fantastic, educational, and emotional, as the First Nation ambassadors reminded us that we live in a wonderful country that welcomes and invites anyone from anywhere to build a great nation for all of us who have the opportunity to live here. The game itself was very entertaining and exciting, from what I could see the rules are a mix of hockey and basketball. 

During the game, a couple of Vendastians explained to me about the game and its history. I could see that everyone was having a great time, singing, dancing, and cheering for the Saskatchewan Rush team. I was surprised by how much contact there is, I did not expect that. Growing up in Mexico City, I don't recall watching too many lacrosse games as it is not as popular as over here. In the end, we lost the game, but it seemed like it did not matter, everyone in the arena was having a great time! My kids and I consider ourselves the newest Saskatchewan Rush fans, and we look forward to going back. 

Thank you Vendasta for allowing us to experience this with our families, friends, and coworkers!”