'They just kind of take four or five steps back by doing this': Rush fan reacts to cancellations

Cody Stranger, otherwise known as "the horse guy," is upset that the first Saskatchewan Rush home game is cancelled. 

"I was very upset when they cancelled the preseason game 'cause I know me and some of the friends who I play lacrosse with, they love going to these games," Stranger said. "One of my friends suffers from depression and he says the games are a way for him to escape out of that." 

Because of an ongoing contract dispute, the first two week of the National Lacrosse League have been cancelled. That means the first home game for the Saskatchewan Rush scheduled for Dec. 8 won't be played. 

Stranger said by cancelling the games, the National Lacrosse League is taking away from some fans who've already paid for the experience.

He said he feels as though the cancellations may push away some new fans of two expansion teams. Teams in Philadelphia and San Diego were set to make their debuts this year. Now those debuts are set back. 

"I heard some guy say on Twitter [say] it's not a good introduction to the game, and the game was growing so fast and so rapidly, and then they just kind of take four or five steps back by doing this," Stranger said. 

Stranger said he stands by the leagues' players and feels they deserve to get paid. 

"I don't see why the owners won't cough up any extra cash or benefits," Stranger said. "They're out here flaunting new offices and already planning to put more teams in the league when they can't even pay the players they already have, it's kind of sad."

Stranger said he still plans on attending games once they're being played, but he may be wearing a T-shirt to "express his frustrations" over the dispute.

"Hopefully they can get over this speed bump." 

League cancels first two weeks of play

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) cancelled the first two weeks of the season due to the ongoing contract dispute with the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association (PLPA).

The NLL rejected a new proposal tabled by the PLPA.

"We believe those terms would have both short- and long-term negative consequences on our member clubs and the League which we are not willing to accept," the NLL said in a statement.

We believe those terms would have both short- and long-term negative consequences on our member clubs and the League which we are not willing to accept.- National Lacrosse League

The NLL said since the PLPA has instructed players not to attend training camps or submit to physicals, the opening of the season is impossible.

The cancellation of the first two weekends of the 2018-19 season includes games on Dec. 1 (Saskatchewan at Georgia, Toronto at Buffalo and Calgary at Colorado) and Dec. 8 (Colorado at Saskatchewan, New England at Rochester, Toronto at Vancouver and Buffalo at San Diego).

The two sides cannot agree on how to tie revenue growth with players' salaries.

There is no word if those games will be rescheduled.

With files from Scott Larson