Calgary Roughnecks’ Logan Schuss returns to NLL play after knee injury

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Wednesday marked a yr to the day Logan Schuss went beneath the knife to repair the knee he wrecked in an unsightly Nationwide Lacrosse League incident.

Full tear of the ACL and injury to the MCL.

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Ouch.

However he’s again on the ground, now contributing for the Calgary Roughnecks. His apparent love of the sport shining via and serving to him to return to full motion, which isn’t simple for a participant on the superior — at the very least for a lacrosse professional — age of 33.

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“I didn’t need this damage to be the explanation why I’d retire,” stated Schuss, one among a handful of key low season additions made by the Roughnecks heading into the 2023-24 NLL marketing campaign. “I needed to show that I may come again from this and that I nonetheless had a shot within the NLL, and it’s been nice to this point

“You recognize … I’d like to clearly have been in a position to play extra video games, however I’m fairly pleased with the place I’m at proper now.”

Schuss is simply two video games — and 4 assists — into that return, with one other two tilts on faucet this weekend.

The Roughnecks (6-8) host the rival Saskatchewan Rush (6-8) in a pivotal contest within the NLL playoff chase Friday evening on WestJet Area at Scotiabank Saddledome (7 p.m., TSN). The groups then rematch Saturday night in Saskatoon (7 p.m., TSN+), with one among them hoping to tear off the double and pull themselves in to a post-season place forward of both — or each — the seventh-place Panther Metropolis Lacrosse Membership (7-7 heading into Friday’s sport with the host San Diego Seals (11-4)) and/or the eighth-place New York Riptide (7-8).

And playoffs? Nicely … that’s why Schuss switched allegiances within the fall and signed a one-year cope with the Roughnecks after almost a decade with the home-town Vancouver Stealth/Warriors.

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“I performed there for thus a few years,” stated the born-and-bred native of Ladner, B.C. “And I had the damage final yr, and I needed to have a recent begin someplace else and get an opportunity to play for a aggressive group that’s trying to win a championship.

“Calgary has all the time been that group that’s within the playoff hunt and and in search of a championship every year. Since I’m not getting any youthful, I needed to sort of win-now mentality, and Coach (Josh) Sanderson, messaged me and despatched me a textual content saying that he’s occupied with wanting me to come back out and be part of their group. So I sort of regarded within the mirror and stated, ‘Right here’s a group that’s reaching out and actually desires me to be part of it. Or I may simply keep in Vancouver and do the identical outdated I’ve for the final 9 years.’ So I needed to take an opportunity and alter issues up later in my profession, and I’ve been actually pleased with it to this point.”

What would make him even happier is a playoff run …

Of any type, actually, given Schuss has solely ever performed in a single NLL post-season sport since being drafted first general by the Minnesota Swarm within the 2013 draft.

“Nevertheless it was an enormous playoff sport,” stated Schuss, recalling that look with the Stealth method again in 2017. “I believe I had about 9 factors, if I keep in mind appropriately. I assume all you must do is get me into the playoffs, and that’s after I begin to carry out.”

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Make no mistake about it, he’s all the time been a performer.

Particularly, Schuss can shoot the ball, with 213 objectives as a part of 549 profession factors in 133 NLL video games over 11 seasons.

He broke in sizzling with the Swarm in 2014 to snipe 36 objectives and earn the league’s rookie-of-the-year honour.

And his greatest yr point-wise got here after being traded to the Stealth in his first season on the West Coast, when he put up 57 assists and 86 factors.

Whereas the veteran is aware of he received’t attain the 24-goal mark for a sixth time his yr, he’s discovering alternative ways to enrich his new teammates on the ground.

“I believe the damage’s opened my eyes to having to sort of take into consideration caring for your physique an increasing number of every year,” added Schuss. “I’m not going into the health club trying to squat 400 kilos or benchpress two plates on both sides for 20 occasions. I’m trying to be extra pliable. I sort of take into consideration a man like Tom Brady or these NHL gamers like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, and they’re enjoying on the highest degree late into their 30s, proper? That’s one thing that I attempt to hopefully do.

“You recognize … I believe while you get slightly bit older in your sport, you bought to search out methods to remain related keep within the league. I’m 33 now, and I take a look at the a number of the guys on my group being 22 or 23. I’ve received 10 years on them, however I’m having to maintain up with them in sprints and chasing them round and dealing laborious to compete with them. So I believe the older you get, the extra you’ve gotta discover alternative ways to remain related and keep within the league.

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“And I’ve gotta hold telling myself some individuals don’t come again from this damage.”

QUICK STICKS

Face-off ace and transition Justin Inacio (decrease physique), who has missed a number of weeks, has been cleared to return to the Roughnecks lineup for the double-dip … After lacking the final sport — a 10-9 additional time victory to the visiting Albany Assault — defender Ethan Ticehurst (sick) additionally has the inexperienced gentle to come back again for the Riggers … Ahead Thomas Hoggarth (higher physique) is possible for the Calgary membership after sitting out the Dome win two weeks again.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM

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