truebluefan

Been there. Done that. The second weekend of the Edmonton Rush training camp wrapped up at the Leduc Recreation Centre that featured two-a-day practices sandwiched by a verbal preparation sessions with the implementation of head coach Derek Keenan's systems.

Defender Pat Jones -- now in his eighth season and sixth campaign under coach Derek Keenan -- was impressed with how the team has responded to both understanding system play and a challenging camp in preparation for the 2010 National Lacrosse League season.

"Things are progressing faster than I thought," said Jones after a workout. "There's a talented group out there.

"It's the most competitive camp and most talented camp I've ever been to in my career. The tempos great out there. I think we've got a solid lineup," added Jones, expected to be the club's face-off man.

For Jones, the system play is familiar to him, however, this training camp provides an opportunity for many players to learn Keenan's tactics en route for a spot on the 23-man Rush roster and are also challenging for a position on the 18-player game list coach Keenan will fill out January 15th when Edmonton's season debuts.

"Camp has gone very well so far and it's been very competitive to this point," said Brodie Merrill, the league's top transition player in 2009. "It's important for us to come together and work on the systems. It's not too complicated, but it doesn't happen overnight."

"It was really good. The quality was up," said Keenan after running the squads through systems play in both practice and theory. "The guys have responded well to the systems. They're the principles that if we live by, we're going to be successful."

And while the practice sessions also featured fierce battles on the carpet, forward Andy Secore appeared to be all smiles.

Secore, the 25-year-old lefty, had his Christmas time come a bit early as he was presented with a high-quality stable of players eager to dish out stick treats.

With right-handed forwards Gavin Prout, Ryan Ward and Ryan Powell joining the new-look Rush offence, Secore and the Rush lefties are expecting to be busy as recipients of passes while on the attack.

"There's three great feeders over there which is great to have on our team and it'll be our job as lefties to put the ball in the net this year," said Secore, who scored 63 points in 16 games last season. "With those guys on the other side feeding the ball, they can find you with one step open."

He's posted career-best numbers with Ward in Minnesota in 2008 and now Secore is fired up about the opportunities he'll receive with Gavin Prout and Ryan Powell also dishing from other side.

"I'm definitely excited," said Secore, an off-ball specialist. "They're two big names we have in lacrosse and now they're on our team. With those top-notch guys getting attention, I think we'll be open."

Loose balls: Keenan made roster announcements Monday as two more players were released from camp in defender Shayne Bennett and forward Mark Scherman. It was also announced transition player Chris Seller retired, bringing the Rush roster to 25 players. The club still has two moves in order to get to the 23-player mark for league approval.