Dean Hill brings left-handed scoring

Story By Bruce Rakoczy

Derek Keenan played a hunch.

Dean Hill's added the goals.

The Edmonton Rush and their balanced scoring attack has seen the re-emergence of Hill this season and his deft scoring touch around the crease.

Keenan's sense to include Hill as part of the off-season trade for Gavin Prout from Rochester, has proved to be a marvellous addition to Edmonton's offensive attack.

Hill, the 25-year-old from Six Nations, Ont. -- who was hardly mentioned at the time of the transaction after coming off a couple of sub-par campaigns -- has added some punch to the Rush offense and created a crease presence.

He's also rekindled some chemistry previously held in Minnesota with forwards Andy Secore and Ryan Ward.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder, who started the season with 10 goals in the first five games, registered his season-high five-point night against Minnesota last weekend as Hill fired three goals and added two assists against his former club in Edmonton's 16-14 win over the Swarm at Rexall Place.

"I think for the majority of the game, we played well," said Hill. "Considering it was against Wardo's and my old team, I think we played pretty well against them."

The duo combined for five goals and 12 points in the game as the Rush improved to 7-4 on the season in the high-scoring affair during the club's three-game homestand.

Hill, who has 13 goals and 20 points in eight games this season, is finding his mark with the Rush.

"I'm playing with some great guys around me," said the left-handed shot. "I've played with many of them before and we just know where each other are on the floor. They've been doing a great job getting me the ball and I've been putting them in."

Edmonton continues the home streak Friday, April 2 for a 7 p.m. start against the Washington Stealth at Rexall Place in a key divisional matchup as the Rush aims to gain ground on the front-running Stealth. Edmonton then travels to Minnesota Saturday for a repeat performance against the Swarm, this time at Xcel Energy Center.

"Washington's in first place, so this will be a big game in the standings for us," said Hill. "And Minnesota's right up there too, so we just have to be prepared.

"This is their chance to came back at us for our second game this weekend. They'll be nice and rested, so we've got to be ready to go."

Edmonton's remaining schedule is chock full of divisional opponents and the Rush will continue to need a balanced attack and Hill’s complementary scoring for success down the stretch drive of the season.

"He's been great," said Keenan of Hill. "He's a really skilled player with some great finish.

"He's been really good for us, no doubt.

Hill -- who missed three games earlier in the season -- has seen the emergence of rookie players Corey Small, Dane Stevens and Scott Tinning in the Rush fold will all the players looking for a spot in the lineup.

"The younger guys have been really pushing him," said Keenan of his crowded forwards. "It's a healthy competition there for lineup spots.

"He'd been out for a couple of weeks and when he stepped in he really contributed and we hope that continues." Keenan hopes the balance and depth in his teams' scoring continues, as well.

"There seems to be different guys on different nights that step up," Keenan said. "What that shows is that we have pretty good talent, so it seems that teams can't focus on one or two guys."

Hill's resurgence in the NLL comes on the heels on a tremendous summer campaign in the Western Lacrosse Association where he starred with the Victoria Shamrocks.

He moved to the WLA from Six Nations last summer and helped the top-ranked Shamrocks to a regular season crown and produced 50 points, including 23 goals in 17 games as the change of scenery jump-started his scoring touch.

"I played on a great team out there," said Hill. "They had a lot of confidence in me and I tried to get by game back. It worked out well. I had a great summer and I'm going back out this summer."

His presence around the crease of late has brought back flashes of his 32-goal rookie season in Minnesota and Hill's just wants to be able to contribute to the Rush success and continue proving Keenan's hunch.

"He wants me to have a bit of an attitude and crash and bang a lot," Hill said. "And to get goals and chip in where I can." And assist Edmonton in the club's first foray into post season play.

"We're real close to the playoffs so a key down the stretch would be to get a home playoff game," he said. "Who knows, hopefully we can bring a championship."