Love arrives without warning and in the places we least expect—but you’d be hard pressed to find a love story as strange as this!
In a surprise turn of events, O16 Electric Crew-member Shaylah Davies-Evans and the Saskatchewan Rush’s resident troublemaker Rowdy are excitedly preparing to tie the knot at halftime during Saskatchewan’s Valentines Day game against the Rochester Knighthawks. The two were hitched during halftime in Week 9, where Rowdy hijacked an already in-progress halftime proposal. The Rush mascot was sporting a hand drawn sign listing out the reasons Davies-Evans should choose him instead (it was a very short list, but an extremely compelling one). Davies-Evans, overcome with joy and emotion, dashed into the arms of her shaggy neon-green lover, and was whisked away into the frigid Saskatchewan night.
Sask Tel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, January 25, 2025
While the engagement may have come as a huge shock to Rush fans and lacrosse fans alike, their relationship has been an open secret in the Saskatchewan front office. Following the rebrand in 2023, wherein Rowdy took over the mantle as mascot from his predecessor Bruiser, he and Davies-Evans have worked together extensively on several different projects together. The two created a spark the two just couldn’t deny themselves of. “Tall, green and handsome is exactly what I’ve been looking for,” said Davies-Evans. Friends and family of the couple have expressed concerns for the longevity of their marriage, citing Rowdy’s “energetic” lifestyle as a potential bottleneck. Davies-Evans, on the other hand, sees no cause for concern, “I know who I’m marrying, I don’t think anyone can change him!”
Despite their unlikely pairing, the Rush staff have stopped at nothing to support their favorite couple. The organization is even handling the wedding planning and invitations—both of will be included with your purchase of Rush home game tickets for February 15th. Leading up to the ceremony, Saskatchewan invites Rush fans to participate in a number of traditional wedding day stunts, including the bouquet toss for the fellas and the garter toss for the ladies. Additional activities such as cake cutting and more family-friendly games have yet to be announced. All the Rush asks in exchange, however, is that fans bring a gameday date and wear their finest wedding greens. Fans should be advised to also wear comfortable shoes, as the groom-to-be has specifically requested dancing and exhaustive partying alongside the newly weds and Rowdy’s two best men, Poke Check and Barry the Bear.
But like any good TV wedding, expect a little bit of drama. Sources inside Rush HQ have caught wind of a group of wedding crashers quickly gaining supporters among the Rochester fan base, a retaliatory move by the Knighthawks following their exclusion from the guest list. The front office has assured fans that they are “hard at work preparing to chase them out of SaskTel Centre”. Rumors have also been circulating recently regarding Rowdy’s potentially unsavory inspiration for planning a Valentine’s Day wedding. AP sources have reported that Rowdy may be orchestrating the ceremony as a marketing strategy to make his replica jerseys a top seller in the team store. However, his bride-to-be was quick to shut down these rumblings, stating, “I don’t think he thinks that far ahead.”
Following the game, the newlyweds, groomsmen and all the O16 Electric Crew bridesmaids will be having a receiving line on the turf for members of Rush Nation. An opportunity to wish them well and get involved in the wedding reception. The happy couple can’t wait for gameday, and hope fans across the League come to share in their excitement. “You’ll just have to tune in because this is one wedding you won’t want to miss!”
