Published May 04, 2025 • 3 minute readSaskatchewan Rush forward Austin Shanks scores against Halifax Thunderbirds goalie Drew Hutchison, one of six goals he had Saturday night against his former team in Game 1 of the National Lacrosse League semifinal at Scotiabank Centre. Photo by Ryan TaplinYou couldn’t wipe the smile off Austin Shanks’ face.Not after a six-goal performance in a crucial playoff game against your former team in the arena you called home for four seasons.The 31-year-old’s sock trick helped propel the Saskatchewan Rush to a 16-7 rout of the Halifax Thunderbirds in Game 1 of their National Lacrosse League semifinal Saturday night at Scotiabank Centre.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe Rush will return to Saskatoon with a chance to clinch a berth in the NLL Final. Game 2 of the best-of-three series is next Saturday. If Halifax wins, the third and deciding game is slated for the evening of Sunday, May 11.“That felt really good,” Shanks said. “I had a good feeling going into the game. I wanted that one bad, for sure. And so did the team.”Shanks spent six seasons between the Thunderbirds and the former Rochester Knighthawks franchise, which relocated to Halifax in 2019. An unrestricted free agent last off-season, Shanks signed a two-year contract with Saskatchewan to be a key weapon on the Rush left side.“Playoffs are a different animal,” Shanks continued. “I really like playing in the playoffs, I like the big moments and that was a big one and felt really good to do right here at Halifax.“We go back home now to a back-to-back in our home arena. That was a big win for us, now that we have home-floor advantage. We’re going to enjoy it for a couple hours here and then start thinking about Saturday.”Article content Halifax Thunderbirds goalie Drew Hutchinson makes a save on Saskatchewan Rush forward Mike Messenger during Saturday night’s National Lacrosse League semifinal game at Scotiabank Centre. – RYAN TAPLIN Photo by Ryan TaplinThere’s no room for error for the Thunderbirds.If they want another home game at Scotiabank Centre – which would come during the league final – they have their work cut out. They need to be more disciplined (Halifax had 69 penalty minutes to Saskatchewan’s 35) and they need to shore up their special teams (Halifax failed to score with the man advantage while Saskatchewan had four power-play goals).“That wasn’t our style of lacrosse,” said Thunderbirds captain Cody Jamieson. “I thought we were selfish tonight, offensively and defensively.“Give credit to them. They blocked a lot of shots, and their goalie was seeing the ball well. But we didn’t capitalize.”The Thunderbirds sent the near sellout crowd into a frenzy when Randy Staats found Clarke Petterson in the high slot and Petterson beat Rush goalie Frank Scigliano 53 seconds into the game.But Saskatchewan quieted the crowd 26 seconds later as Clark Walter’s long shot trickled between Drew Hutchison’s pads and just crossed the goal line. The Rush went on to score five in a row in the first quarter, including three from Shanks.Article content“Clarke scored on the first shift and then we didn’t score again, That’s not typical of our offence,” Jamieson said. “Usually, we get a goal and we’re scoring in bunches. We just didn’t do that.“But these types of games happen. It’s a three-game series and we’re heading to Saskatoon for two games. We were prepared to do that all along. Our flights were booked for Monday regardless and we’ll be out there until the following Monday.”Zach Manns led all scorers with nine points for the Rush. Staats’ six points was tops for the Thunderbirds.Halifax failed to get anything going offensively against the Rush, who were among the stingiest defence in the league during the regular season.And behind the defence, Scigliano stood big. He finished with 41 saves before he was pulled with a minute remaining and the game in hand. As he walked off, he gave a mock wave to the few Halifax fans that remained until the bitter end.“Our defence is the backbone of this team and they have been all year,” Shanks said. “They’re young and hardworking, they’re so smart and they don’t give up.“And Scigs has been so good all year. We wouldn’t be where we are without him. He’s so consistent. We know what we’re getting from him every night, just great goaltending.“I honestly think if we play our game for 60 minutes, no one beats us two games in a best-of-three.”Hutchison allowed nine goals on 29 shots before he was replaced by Warren Hill, who played well in relief.The two-time defending league champion Buffalo Bandits opened the other semifinal with a 9-3 romp of the Vancouver Warriors in Game 1 Friday night in Buffalo, N.Y. Game 2 is Sunday night in Vancouver.Article content
That wasnt our style of lacrosse: Thunderbirds thumped 16-7 by Rush in Game 1 of NLL semifinal
