Saskatoon, SK - The National Lacrosse League’s all-time leader in caused turnovers and four-time Defensive Player of the Year will return to the Saskatchewan Rush for another season.
Rush General Manager/Head Coach Derek Keenan announced today that Kyle Rubisch has agreed to a new one-year deal with the team for 2020-21 NLL season, marking the defensive cornerstone’s 10th year wearing Rush colours.
“Kyle Rubisch is the best D-man in the history of the NLL – case closed,” said Keenan. “Kyle once again has shown his commitment to the Rush, his teammates, and our great fans by signing for another season despite the opportunity to become a free agent.
“It is great to have him back for another run at a championship.”
The 31-year-old has been an integral part of the Rush’s three NLL titles, is a five-time First Team All-Pro, and five-time gold-medal winner with Team Canada at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship.
“I’m happy to be back for another season and looking forward to getting back to Saskatchewan and playing in front of the best fans in the league,” said Rubisch.
Originally the second overall pick in the 2010 NLL Entry Draft, Rubisch earned the 2011 Rookie of the Year award with Boston, and then joined the Rush a year later as the second overall pick in the NLL Dispersal Draft. From that point on, he was not only was a defensive dynamo on the turf, but also a key member of the team’s leadership group.
In 2014, Rubisch put the league on notice with his ball-swiping skills, setting the NLL single-season record with 61 caused turnovers. He is the NLL’s all-time leader in caused turnovers with 362 – over 100 more than his closest rivals.
Rubisch was named the NLL’s Defensive Player of the Year in four consecutive seasons (2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015) and added a fifth First Team All-Pro honour in 2019 after earning a Second Team All-Pro spot in 2018. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder was the Rush’s Team MVP in 2013.
In 10 games during the pandemic shortened 2019-20 season, Rubisch led the Rush with 92 loose-ball scoops and registered 16 caused turnovers while also notching two goals and six assists for eight points. In 163 career regular-season games, Rubisch has amassed 19 goals and 61 assists for 80 points along with 1,295 loose-ball scoops. In 26 playoff games, Rubisch has recorded nine assists, 51 caused turnovers and 162 loose-ball scoops.
Rubisch has been a stalwart on the international stage as well with Team Canada. On top of earning his fifth gold medal at the 2019 World Indoor Championship, he was named to the All-World Team alongside Rush teammate Mark Matthews following Canada’s 19-12 victory over the Iroquois Nationals in the final.
