Rush Reboot: Chapter 11 - Rush Outlast Royale for Road Win

A well-earned road win in Montreal keeps spirits high as the Toronto RUSH head into their final game of the 2025 season. Toronto struck early, winning the first quarter handily, and as owner Jim put it, “they bent but didn’t break.” Montreal fought back, but the RUSH never let go of the lead, sealing the win 21–18.

It’s now 2–0 against Montreal this season, with a chance to complete the sweep next week.

Winning the Edges

Toronto’s defense continues to shine in key moments—holding Montreal to just 55% on hucks while doubling their own break conversion rate. The D-line generated chances and, more importantly, converted them.

James Lewis swapped out his usual deep-cut statline for a quarterback role, notching 40 completions and 5 assists, showing off his versatility and value. Oscar Stonehouse played one of his most complete games of the season, contributing heavily to the D-line offense, particularly in the red zone. It was also a standout night for Connor McHale, who finally had time to settle into the squad. His chemistry is showing—and with it, the polish of a true high-level handler. And then there’s Keith McRae, doing what he always does: leading the team in total yards, throwing at 100%, and filling up the stat sheet with goals, assists, and hockey assists alike.

Unsung Hero: Phil Turner – Returning from injury this season hasn’t been seamless for the RUSH captain, but this week marked a milestone worth celebrating: career block #100, followed by #101 and #102. Phil now ranks 28th all-time in the UFA and 3rd all-time for the RUSH, trailing only franchise legends Isaiah Masek-Kelly and Cameron Harris.

More to Come
Nate Hsieh – Given a shot on the O-line this week, Nate didn’t waste it. 5 goals on relatively low yardage shows he was consistently creating space and winning against tight coverage. Expect to see more of him in 2026.

Other Milestone Moments this season

  • Luc Comire hit his 2,000th career completion on May 10 vs Philly, putting him 2nd all-time for the RUSH and 39th all-time in the UFA. He also passed 20,000 total yards, making him #1 all-time in RUSH history*.

  • James Lewis reached 100 career goals on May 30 vs DC (now sitting at 122), good for 7th all-time for the RUSH.

  • Ryan Poloz notched his 1,000th completion last week vs Montreal, also good for 7th in team history.
     

One Game to Go: June 19 vs Montreal

The season closes with a third and final clash against Montreal at Montreal. The winner finishes higher in the standings—and for the RUSH, a chance to cap a season of ups and downs with a rivalry sweep.

Meanwhile, Philly currently sits 3rd in the East with three games left against Boston, NY, and DC. If they pull off a surprise or two, they could earn a well-deserved spot in the playoffs. But for Toronto, all eyes are on one last win.

Let’s finish strong.

(*Yardage tracking has not always been apart of UFA stat keeping)