By Saskatchewan Rush,

His career journey has taken him from Los Angeles to New York City, and of course, to Saskatchewan as a member of the Rush. When not in Saskatoon, Sorichetti is back home in Whitby, Ont., but still with a lacrosse stick in his hand.

The third-year transition is now coaching his hometown’s Pee Wee ‘A’ team, utilizing his vast experience and especially the lessons learned from coaches who had an impact on his own lacrosse career.

“I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career as far as coaching who I’ve played for and I owe a lot of my success to them,” said Sorichetti, who came out of the Whitby program that has produced a bevy of NLL stars including the Rush’s own Mark Matthews, Zack Greer, Curtis Knight, and John Lafontaine, not to mention GM/head coach Derek Keenan and his assistant Jeff McComb.

“Derek Keenan has impacted me a lot in my personal success and I apply what he’s taught me as much as I can. I’ve had a chance to pick his brain, and talking lacrosse with him never gets old.”

Sorichetti will have a chance to focus on his coaching this week as the defending Champion’s Cup title-holders have a bye in the opening round of the playoffs. The Rush await the winner of the West Semifinal between Calgary and Colorado.

A former standout at Hofstra University, Sorichetti was quick to also point out two other coaches who’ve been integral in his growth, Terry Lloyd and Stan Cockerton. When it comes to his own habits and tactics behind the bench, Sorichetti employs a method he’s very familiar with as a player.

“I expect respect because I do give respect, and what I’ve really preached this year is family,” explained Sorichetti, who was the Rush’s second-round pick in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft. “It takes many ingredients to make a recipe and without one it can’t be made. I’m direct but I add my own flavor to make sure they’re having fun.

“When it’s time to be in ‘locked-in’ mode, you have to be ready to compete, but just like now with the Rush, you can have success and have fun. When it comes to a ‘win-loss’ philosophy, I take mine right out of Coach Keenan’s book and it’s all about development. If you in the effort and time right from the start and play in the system that’s there, the wins will come.”

The wins have come for the Rush this season and they’ll be as tough out for the rest of the NLL as they try to defend their Champion’s Cup title. It’s been a strong campaign for Sorichetti as well, setting new career-highs for points, assists, loose balls, and forced turnovers. For all the right reasons, he’s been much more noticeable in games, making key contributions at both ends of the floor and being right in the thick of the gritty work in the corners and in front of the net.

Sorichetti, who is teaming with his brother for a soon-to-be announced sports consulting firm, now fits right in as a solid pro after learning the ropes over the course of his first two seasons.

“I’m very fortunate to be getting the playing time I have this season,” said Sorichetti. “My first year I knew it would be a lot work and learning the game but I had a clean slate and I told myself that I was going to work hard and push the guy next to me. I played the sponge role and absorbed all the info I could get.

“My second year, there was an injury so I was able to step in and compete on offense and defense playing whatever role the coach needed me to. I had more confidence stepping into my third season, and I’ve just taken each game one at a time. I compete as hard as I can, take the job that I’m given and set out to do it and do it well.

“I’m not sure if you would call it a breakout season but it has been easier for me to step in with more confidence and complete the job by the end of the game.”