Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/24/12
The Philadelphia Wings bring their two-game winning streak tonight (9:00) into Rexall Place to face the Edmonton Rush in what will be Wings Captain Brodie Merrill’s first game against his former team since being traded to Philadelphia this off-season.
On August 9, 2011, Merrill was acquired by the Philadelphia as part of a six-player trade that sent long-time Wing Athan Iannucci to the Rush. During the preseason Merrill was named team captain and has played an integral part in turning around a Wings team that finished just 5-11 last season, leading the team with 58 loose balls recovered, while also tallying five goals and five assists on the season. Currently the Wings sit atop the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) East Division with a 4-2 record.
The Wings enter Friday’s game coming off a statement 14-8 road victory last Saturday against the Toronto Rock catapulting them to first place in the division. Meanwhile the Rush are coming off a narrow 13-12 loss to the undefeated Colorado Mammoth last weekend. Edmonton opened the season with four consecutive road games and have struggled to find their stride early, sitting at 1-4 in the West Division.
That said, Wings Assistant Coach Jimmy Milligan said he is not taking the Rush lightly. “They’re a tough team, a good team,” Milligan said. “We watched a couple of their last games. They have great goaltending and good shots on goal.”
Wings players Merrill, Dan Dawson, Kevin Crowley and Max Seibald will travel from Edmonton to Buffalo following Friday’s game to take place in the NLL All-Star Game on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Wings will return home against the Rochester Knighthawks on Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m.
Tickets for all Wings home games are available by phone at 215-389-WING or online at WingsLAX.com.
