The Saskatchewan Rush lost 15-6 to the Buffalo Bandits, as Bandits won the team's third straight NLL title on May 24, 2025. (Saskatchewan Rush/X)

By Will Mandzuk - CKOM News

Falling short

Bandits blow out Rush to win third straight NLL Championship

May 25, 2025 | 10:41 AM

Sasktel Centre was packed last week as the Saskatchewan Rush took on the Buffalo Bandits in Game 2 of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) Finals.

On Saturday, Rush fans packed the Sports on Tap bar in Saskatoon as Saskatchewan fell to Buffalo 15-6 in Game 3.

The level of excitement grew as the game progressed, and the atmosphere did not disappoint. From T-shirt tosses that broke glasses to attempted voodoo curses after aBandits four goal run, Rush Nation showed out.

An early goal from Austin Shanks that looked like a Matrix move got fans so excited the building almost shook.

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Unfortunately for the Rush the good times didn’t keep rolling.

Shanks and Zach Manns gave the Rush two more goals but Josh Byrne, Dhane Smith and Chris Cloutier scored three for Buffalo, ending the first quarter in a 3-3 deadlock.

Then a four-goal run to start the second quarter for Buffalo got them out to a commanding 7-3 lead.

Rush forward Robert Church scored his first goal of the finals to start the comeback effort before scoring a second one and captain Ryan Keenan also found the back of the net, bringing the Rush to within one at halftime.

But the Rush wouldn’t score again, as Buffalo scored eight unanswered goals with six in the third quarter and two in the fourth highlighted by a one-handed behind-the-back goal from Chase Fraser.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, sombre faces filled Sports on Tap as Rush fans watched Buffalo celebrate its third straight NLL Championship.

“I was praying they’d (the Rush) get the win today, but they will be back next year,” said fan Candice Suberlak.

“I’m going to be sad tonight, but keep the team as it is and they’re going to kick butt all the way (next year).”

The Rush were the youngest team in the playoffs this year, something that is fuelling hope and excitement for 2026.

“These guys, we’ve watched them grow since they came to the team and I feel like they’re family,” said Suberlak.

“How BK three (Bobby Kidd III) was more meek and now he’s right up there wrestling it out with Mike Messenger.”

“Big improvement from last year, lots of youth, lots of ability, we’ll see what we can learn from this,” said Matt Peterson, Rush green man.

Fans made it clear a championship is wanted.

“This year is enough experience, now next year we win,” said Suberlak.

This was the first year the Rush made the playoffs since 2019, when they lost in the West Division semifinals.

This was also the Rush’s first trip back to the NLL finals since 2018, when they beat Rochester in three games to capture their third overall title and second since the team moved to Saskatoon.

— with files from CKOM News