By Sanjay Parker
Much has been said about the Toronto RUSH heading into the 2025 season. With new leadership, an influx of fresh talent, and a return to their preferred stadium, expectations are high—but the big question remains: will it be enough to power a return to the playoffs?
After an underwhelming 2024 campaign, the RUSH front office made the bold decision to overhaul its leadership, bringing in former player Jamie “10Mile” Millage as head coach. Millage brings a developmental mindset and a deep connection to the program. He inherits a roster full of potential—but one that will need to gel quickly. Only 15 of the 28 players were rostered last season, making chemistry-building a key focus early on.
Among the most anticipated arrivals are five European stars: Simone Gasperini, Connor McHale, Arvids Karklins, Tom “Turbo” Blasman, and Toms Abeltins. All five bring elite technique and athleticism, along with a distinct playing style shaped overseas. Karklins was named European Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, McHale finished as MVP runner-up, and Turbo earned runner-up Defensive Player of the Year honors—credentials that speak for themselves.
Familiar faces are also returning: Mike Mackenzie, Ty Barbieri, and the Lewis brothers—James and Wilkie—all starred for the RUSH as recently as 2023 and bring both chemistry and national team experience. From Montreal, Toronto adds Brandon Adibe—a household name in local ultimate—and Martin Gallant, widely regarded as the fastest player around.
Rounding out the new faces are homegrown rookie Harry Norris, a standout on Team Canada U20, and RUSH legend Mark Lloyd, who returns for the first time since 2018. Lloyd still holds the franchise record for most blocks and most points played in a regular season.
The challenge ahead is steep. The East Division is arguably the league’s most competitive, with four playoff-caliber teams fighting for three spots. New York may not be the empire of old but still made key additions in the off-season, while D.C. boasts what could be the league’s top offense, and Boston, led by Jeff Babbitt, knocked out NY last year and remains a serious threat. Even Philly and Montreal are lurking, capable of flipping the script on any given night.
Helping the RUSH this year is a return to Varsity Stadium after a tough stint at Lamport. The centrally located venue offers fans a better experience, with improved seating, concessions, and facilities—not to mention a more robust broadcast setup to showcase the team to fans across the league.
The team starts the season with a double-header against DC at 7:00pm on Saturday May 3rd, then turnaround to play Philly at 2:00pm on Sunday May 4th.
The pieces are in place. The question now is: how quickly can they come together?
