Lunch with McNish

Defender prepares for Battle of Alberta

Thursday, March 12, 2009
By Bruce Rakoczy

Rugged Rush defender Ryan McNish has a reputation for serving up hearty portions of body checks, cross-checks and knuckle sandwichs to National Lacrosse League players. 

  Now, rather than handing an NLL player their lunch, McNish has a season-long promotion allowing Edmonton Rush fans the chance to have lunch with him.

  The 6’2’’, 230-pounder, known as either ‘The Minister of Defence’, ‘McSquish’ or ‘Corporal Punishment’, is a fan favorite at Rexall Place for his tough style of play. However, Rush patrons, by entering names at the concourse-level booth at every home game, get the chance to see another side of McNish at lunch.         

  “It gets me out in the community more and I get to meet some of our fans,” said McNish, a Manitoban-born turned Edmonton resident. “I’ve had some fantastic dinners with the fans and I look forward to meeting more.”

  For McNish, in his first season with Edmonton after four years with rival Calgary Roughnecks, professional lacrosse promotions allow him to connect with the fans in the sport he loves.  

  “I’ve been fortunate enough that this is my fifth year in the League and I love the interaction with the fans,” said McNish, originally drafted by the Ottawa Rebel in 2001. “I love meeting them and finding out about their favorites players and what they like and don’t like about the game.

  “I just love meeting with the fans because at the end of the day those are the ones that are paying so we can play the game of lacrosse.”

  Off the carpet - McNish - acquired from Calgary along with third-round pick in the 2010 NLL Entry Draft in exchange for Rush’s first-round pick in 2010 draft, recently joined the corporate life as a broker for World Financial Group, after spending 10 years of service with Canadian Armed Forces.  

  Although he has gone from wearing camouflage to a shirt and tie everyday, McNish  won’t stray from his hard-nosed style of play.

  “As far as my play, I think that I go out there and definitely add a physical role, so, the nicknames are great,” said McNish of his ‘Minister of Defence’ moniker, tabbed by Rush announcer Bruce Barker.

  Although he’s also known for his flair for fisticuffs, the Rush need McNish to continue his physical play without many stops to the sin bin, as his value is best-served covering opposing offensive stars. He does admit, players squaring off on the NLL carpet is a part of the game.

  “Fighting is always going be a part of lacrosse,” he said. “There’s definitely a time for it, however, the league is weaning away

from the guys that are strictly just fighters. 

  “I don’t think there’s anyone left in the NLL that is just a fighter,” said McNish, who scored the game-winning-goal versus Portland Jan. 16. “I think everybody that fights now are also legitimate players and deserve to be there for their playing abilities.

  “If somebody needs to go spark the team or if somebody gets cheap-shotted, there’s definitely a time to drop the gloves. Whether it’s me or someone else on the team as we have a lot of tough guys, a message needs to be sent.

  One message that needs to be sent is the urgency of the 3-6 Rush hosting Calgary Friday at Rexall Place in another round of lacrosse’s Battle of Alberta. The game marks the second contest between the two rivals this season and the first home matchup for McNish against his former mates.  

  He’s been on the other side of this Alberta argument as a Roughneck, but his only concern now is getting the Rush organization on the winning path.

  “Right now I’m so excited to playing for the Rush,” McNish said. “I think we have a great team here and I’m looking forward to playing Calgary.

  “I know the guys in the dressing room know we’re a better team than a 3-6 record. 

We’re set for an explosion here. I’m expecting some big things out of this team in the last seven games,” he added.

  “We have to. The fans of Edmonton deserve a winning team and they’ve been behind us since day one. We definitely owe it to the fans.

  “Living in Edmonton - the City of Champions - there’s no better fans in the league, that’s for sure.”

  Call him the Minister of Defence or McSquish - just don’t call late for dinner, err, lunch.