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RUSH RE-SIGN TEAM CAPTAIN TO 2-YEAR DEAL

Chris McElroy returns as Edmonton guns for first playoff appearance

10/18/2008

The Edmonton Rush have announced that transition player and team captain, Chris McElroy, has signed a new two-year deal to remain with the club. In his first season as the Rush Captain, McElroy enjoyed a breakout season as a leader both on and off the floor. "Chris is the cornerstone of our team for his dedication, work ethic, and desire to win", said Rush GM/Head Coach Bob Hamley.
"Our goal this season is to make the playoffs and Chris will be a catalyst in that effort. No one wants this team to succeed more than Chris and his ability to lead will certainly be a big part of us reaching that goal of a playoff spot."
McElroy has played in all 16 games for the Rush the past two seasons and last season set a career-high with 101 loose balls. Both he and Ian Hawksbee (123) broke the franchise record for collecting loose balls previously set at 95 by Andrew Turner in 2006.
The Orillia, Ontario, native is entering his fifth season in the NLL, the last four spent with the Rush after being acquired in the 2005 Expansion Draft from the Anaheim Storm. Last season, McElroy took on a more defensive role and notched four goals and three assists for seven points to go with 29 penalty minutes.
The previous year, McElroy set a club-high for transition player/defenceman by registering eight goals to go with six assists for a career-high 14 points. The 26-year-old also shares in the Rush team record for assists in a game by a transition player/defenceman with three helpers.
McElroy will be relocating to Edmonton for the 2009 NLL season to continue working tirelessly towards charitable and community causes and bringing lacrosse to the forefront in the Edmonton area. McElroy will be focusing his efforts on the Rush school program which he started in 2007. The school program has spread the word to school aged children in over 300 schools in and around the Edmonton area since its inception in 2007. The program consists of teaching the sport of lacrosse along with living a healthy and active lifestyle. At the end of the 2008 season he was awarded the first ever NLL Community Service Award for his efforts. The Rush's team captain has worked with a number of charities for the past four years, including the Stollery Children's Hospital, the St. Valentine's Day Hair Massacure, and the Right to Play.