Saskatchewan Rush ready for home-opening game

The Saskatchewan Rush are ready to hit the ground running for their home-opener.

The Lacrosse team will face the Vancouver Stealth at SaskTel Centre at 7:30 p.m. CST Friday.

"We are excited about getting out here ... in front of new fans, a new building for us, new surroundings, but I think we will be ready to go," coach Derek Keena said.

The Rush moved to Saskatoon from Edmonton last season after they won the National Lacrosse League Championship. This will be their first game in their new home.

"We waited a long time for this and the boys are fired up," defence player Ryan Dilks said.

"It's new fans, new arena, new everything. You want to play your best. You want to show them what you can do."

Dilks said through their practices, training camps, and stops in Saskatoon the community has been very welcoming to the team.

Jeremy Thompson said he received a very special welcome over the holidays.

"It's amazing with the amount of support and not only that, with the First Nations people that welcomed me and did a Christmas dinner, it was unbelievable," he said.

"That's a very exciting part … for First Nation People to come and support the team."

Thompson is of the Onondaga Nation and is from Syracuse, New York. He said he is excited to work with the aboriginal people in his new community.

"It's something I did back home for my own people, my kids. It's all about setting that footprint for the next generation coming up," he said.

The Rush won their season opener in Calgary on Jan. 2, beating the Roughnecks 10-8.