By Scott Zerr, Saskatchewan Rush,

Saskatoon, SK - The Saskatchewan Rush have re-acquired standout transition Jeff Cornwall in a trade with the New York Riptide.

Rush GM/head coach Derek Keenan announced the trade this afternoon. In exchange for Cornwall, the Rush have sent the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NLL Entry Draft to the Riptide. Cornwall had been selected by New York during the NLL Expansion Draft held on July 9.

“I am really pleased to obtain Jeff and get him back where he belongs in a Rush uniform,” said Keenan.

“When we evaluated the 2019 season, it’s clear the most important areas to improve upon are defence and transition. With the return of Ryan Dilks and now Jeff Cornwall, I think there’s no question we are on the right track in both areas. We traded a pretty good pick in this year’s draft, but we believe Jeff is worth that pick. We still have the fourth, ninth, and 16th picks to work with.”

Keenan called today’s moves “a good day in Rush Nation.”

Earlier Friday, the Rush signed pending unrestricted free-agent Jeff Shattler to a new two-year contract, bringing the former NLL Cup and league MVP back to the team’s offensive front.

Cornwall and Dilks were both absent from the Rush’s 2019 roster as they were in firefighter academies in Coquitlam, B.C., and Edmonton, respectively.

A second-round pick in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft, Cornwall has become an iconic figure in Rush history. He scored the game- and series-clinching goal on a breakaway with 12 seconds to go in Game 2 of the 2016 championship final against the Buffalo Bandits as the Rush captured their second straight NLL title. The previous year’s playoffs saw Cornwall score a critical goal in Game 3 of the West Division Final as the Rush dodged past Calgary on their way to their first Cup win.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder set career-highs in goals (10), assists (16) and points (26) during the 2017 season. Cornwall’s speed is his biggest asset and has helped him reach 80-plus loose ball scoops twice and he is consistently amongst the team leaders in caused turnovers.

Through 121 regular-season game, the eight-year veteran has racked up 28 goals and 48 assists for 76 points to go with 468 loose balls and 118 caused turnovers. Cornwall has added 16 points, 86 loose balls and 21 caused turnovers in 24 playoff games.

RECOGNITION FOR RUBISCH: Also on Friday, Rush defenceman and four-time NLL Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Rubisch was named to the NLL’s All-Pro First Team.

It is the fifth time Rubisch has been named to the First Team, and it comes after a season in which he led the NLL with 45 caused turnovers. Rubisch was a finalist for the Defensive Player of Year again this past season, but was the runner-up in voting to Halifax’s Graeme Hossack.