A group of local lacrosse players got a taste of the pros last week.

At last Friday’s Saskatchewan Rush game, members of the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Lacrosse Association received the chance to hit Co-op Field at SaskTel Centre prior to the game and play around.

The local players were also holding the Canadian flag during the national anthem and pre-game ceremonies.

“It was pretty fun, it was pretty nerve-racking, but pretty cool,” said 13-year-old Ethan Johnson after the experience.

The Moose Jaw players meet at centre-field during the warmups at the Saskatchewan Rush game last Friday at SaskTel Centre. (Photo: Saskatchewan Rush)

The Rush would go on to lose the game, falling 16-15 in overtime to the Buffalo Bandits, for their first defeat of the season, but that didn’t spoil the moment for the local group of kids.

Getting to be up close and personal with the Rush was enough to make the night.

“It was really cool to be out on the field and see all the Rush players,” said 10-year-old Mykenzie Shymko. “It was definitely the experience of a lifetime.”

Shymko is one of the few female players in the local association. She said seeing her older brother play the sport as well as the arrival of the Rush is what made her want to play.

“Last year was my first year, I like sports and it looked really fun,” said Shymko.

Johnson has been playing the sport since he was three years old and he said it was cool getting to be on the field that the Rush play on.

“I really liked getting to feel what the field felt like and what the energy was like from field level,” he said. “The players are bigger than I expected and they’ve got pretty fast shots.”

The Rush no doubt gained some life-long fans after the experience.

The lacrosse season is a few months away here in Moose Jaw, but preparations are already underway. The local association will be hosting a “Try Lacrosse” event coming up on Sunday at Yara Centre, click here for more information.