DULUTH, GA (MARCH 22, 2024) – The Georgia Swarm face the Saskatchewan Rush this Sunday, March 24 at 5:30 PM at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Field in the Gas South Arena. It is going to be an exciting late afternoon contest with a trio of themes: Family Night, School Spirit Night, and the annual Diamond Drop, presented by Tara Fine Jewelry. This is the third consecutive weekend the Swarm have hosted a game in Georgia before next weekend’s bye.
With an impressive history of encounters, the upcoming game between the Georgia Swarm (8-7) and the Saskatchewan Rush (5-6) will mark their 19th head-to-head battle. One of the most memorable moments in their rivalry dates to the 2017 NLL Championship, where Lyle Thompson’s game-winning assist to his brother Miles Thompson sealed the Swarm’s first-ever NLL Champions Cup.
Key players from the historic 2017 Championship-winning team continue to shine for the Swarm this season, with Bryan Cole, Shayne Jackson, Jordan MacIntosh, John Ranagan, and Lyle Thompson leading the charge. Notably, Jeremy Thompson, a vital player in the 2017 Champions Cup, who had once played for Saskatchewan, adds an intriguing narrative to the upcoming matchup.
In their recent game against the Philadelphia Wings, the Swarm displayed resilience despite falling short, with Shayne Jackson delivering 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists). Jackson’s performance brought him to 74 points (25 goals, 49 assists), which leads the team in scoring, closely followed by Lyle Thompson with 72 points (35 goals, 37 assists).
Georgia’s defense has shown improvement in various aspects. Last weekend Adam Wiedemann and John Rangan both blocked four shots each, which put them #1 and #2, respectively, in the NLL rankings. Brett Dobson played a significant role in stopping opposing offenses with his .779 save percentage, 692 saves, and 11.67 goals against average. Fans also witnessed veteran goalie Angus Goodleaf’s skills as he had 20 saves in 37 minutes during last weekend’s game versus the Wings.
Saskatchewan enters the matchup with a rigorous schedule, facing the New York Riptide on Saturday at 7:30 PM, before traveling south to Georgia for Sunday’s game. The Rush’s offensive threats include Robert Church (62 points; 29 goals, 36 assists), Ryan Keenan (57 points; 21 goals, 36 assists), and Zach Manns (54 points; 24 goals, 30 assists), presenting a formidable challenge for Georgia’s defense.
The Rush has a strong defense that limits their opponents to an average of 11.76 goals per game, ranking them ninth in the league. Their backline is led by goaltender Frank Scigliano, who has made 526 saves and boasts a save percentage of .776. This season, the Rush has caused 146 turnovers and blocked 58 shots. In comparison, Georgia has caused 160 turnovers and blocked 103 shots.
After Sunday’s matchup, the Swarm will have a week off until their next home game versus the Las Vegas Desert Dogs on Saturday, April 6, which is Fan Appreciation Night at 7:30PM. The Swarm then concludes their regular season on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 PM for Marvel Night when they welcome the Rochester Knighthawks to Gas South Arena
