The Saskatchewan Rush have signed former first overall pick Ryan Keenan to a new three-year contract, the club announced today.
Keenan will be looking to build upon the numbers he has posted in the first four years of his career, topped by a 73-point campaign in 2018. He posted 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points in only 10 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
“We are really excited to have Ryan on board with the Rush for three more years,” said Rush Head Coach Jeff McComb.
“Ryan is an integral part of our offense as his versatility makes all his teammates around him better players. Ryan has been able to add new elements to his game every year since he came into the league, and we look forward to watching his game continue to grow with him wearing a Rush uniform.”
The Rush selected Keenan with the first pick in the 2016 NLL Entry Draft following his run in the NCAA with Quinnipiac University where he led the Bobcats to their first Championship Tournament appearance. Keenan was named to the MAAC All-Conference First Team, MAAC Tournament Team and MAAC All-Academic Team.
The Oshawa, Ontario, product put up 42 points in his NLL rookie season, immediately finding a niche in the set-up role on the Rush man-advantage where he earned nine power-play assists.
Keenan’s production soared the following season as he set career-highs with 26 goals, 47 assists and 73 points. He continued to be front-and-center on the Rush power play where he collected 14 goals and 11 assists. Keenan flourished in the Rush’s run to the 2018 NLL championship as well as he notched eight goals and four assists for 12 points in only four playoff games, helping pace Saskatchewan to their third title culminating in a 2-1 series victory over Rochester.
In 2019, the 6-foot, 205-pounder collected his second straight 20-goal, 40-assist season. Keenan opened that season with a seven-assist game against New England and finished the year with seven four-point games. *
