Saskatchewan makes massive splash in free agency
Sep 7, 2024SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatchewan Rush have signed 30-year-old Austin Shanks to a two-year deal.
Shanks, one of the most dynamic forwards in the National Lacrosse League is ditching the purple and orange to be reunited with his 2013 Minto Cup winning teammates, Ryan Keenan and Matt Hossack.
“We are really happy to add Austin Shanks to the Rush offence. He’s been the model of consistency throughout his years in the NLL and is coming off a career season. He brings a little bit of everything on the O end,” said General Manager Derek Keenan, who coached Shanks with the Whitby Junior A Warriors. "He’s a very good finisher with excellent mid-range shooting abilities and a skilled playmaker. I don’t think a team can ever have too much of that skill set."
Over the course of his six seasons in the NLL, the Courtice, Ontario product has been to one championship, and accumulated 147 goals and 357 points in 90 combined regular season and playoff games. Last season, Shanks was fifth out of all right-handed forwards with 62 assists, a career high for the 5'9, 180 pound righty.
Shanks' ties to the Whitby connection run deep. During the summer in Ontario, he was 5th in Major Series Lacrosse scoring with 31 goals in 12 games for Brooklin L.C. at the Senior A level. When he's not playing lacrosse, the Ohio State University graduate is a firefighter.
Saskatchewan now has right-handed forwards Robert Church, Austin Shanks, Patrick Dodds, Mike Triolo and Nathaniel Kozevnikov all under contract for the upcoming season, with NCAA star, PLL attackman and last year’s 2nd round pick Josh Zawada still unsigned.