Edmonton Rush Press Release: Rush Acquire Rabil

-The Edmonton Rush have acquired Paul Rabil, one of the National Lacrosse League's top transition players, along with a first-round pick in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft from the Washington Stealth in exchange for Athan Iannucci and a second-round pick in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft.

Edmonton Rush General Manager/Head Coach Derek was pleased to add a top talent like Rabil to the roster.

"Paul is an exceptional player, one of the league's best at his position, and he is going to add a lot to our lineup," said Keenan.

"He can move the ball and he can score, but Paul is well-regarded for the heart and hustle he brings to the game, and that is something we are eager to have working for us."

Rabil, who has eight points, 27 loose balls, and three forced turnovers in five games this season, is coming off a Week 5 performance that earned him his third career NLL Transition Player of the Week honor. The 26-year-old from Elkton, Maryland, collected six loose balls along with one goal and two assists in the Stealth's 11-10 overtime win over Buffalo.

The six-foot-three, 225-pounder is coming off an impressive 2011 campaign that saw him earn a career-high 30 assists and 44 points. He also led Washington with 153 loose balls and appeared in the NLL All-Star Game.

Rabil, who has missed just one game in three NLL regular seasons, has notched 44 goals and 52 assists for 123 points in NLL regular-season play, plus 17 points and 50 loose balls in eight playoff matchups.

Rabil has saved two of his best single-game performances for outings against the Rush. Rabil set a career-high with a seven-point effort against Edmonton in February of the 2011 season, and he propelled the Stealth to the 2010 NLL Champion's Cup final by scoring his hat trick goal in overtime as Washington slipped past the Rush in the West Division Final.

The Stealth went on to win the 2010 NLL title with Rabil scoring twice in the final. That was just part of the stellar 2010 campaign that Rabil enjoyed. Rabil was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and to a spot on the All-World team in leading Team USA to the gold medal at the World Field Lacrosse Championship. That summer, Rabil also set a world record, firing a shot at 111 mph (179 km per hour) during the Fastest Shot competition at the Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game.

Rabil has had tremendous success playing for Boston in the MLL, collecting his second MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards in 2011 following up on winning both honors in 2009. He led the Cannons to the MLL title this past summer.

In 2008, Rabil was the second overall pick in the NLL Entry Draft, just a few months after being the first overall pick in the MLL Collegiate Draft out of Johns Hopkins University.

Rabil paced John Hopkins to NCAA championships in both 2005 and 2007. In 2007 and 2008, Rabil was a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy as the nation's most outstanding player, and in 2007 he earned the McLaughlin Award as the NCAA's most outstanding midfielder. In three NCAA championship tournaments, Rabil led his school with nine goals and six assists.