NLL Insider

With the National Lacrosse League trade deadline rapidly approaching, hard-nosed defender Ian Rubel has found himself a somewhat surprising beneficiary of the wheeling and dealing. The newest piece of the Minnesota Swarm puzzle, Rubel has a quick conversation about moving up in the standings, what he hopes to bring to the team, and what the Toronto Rock told him about why he wasn’t playing.

I guess we’ll get the most obvious question out of the way first: were you surprised to be traded?
Yes and no. I kind of had a feeling that something was going on but it was surprising. I’ve been with Toronto for seven years and I thought possibly I was going to end my career there but, you know, things happen.

This season with the Rock you played in two games. Would I be correct in the assumption that it was a welcome deal from your perspective?
Yeah for sure. Like I said I’ve been playing in Toronto for seven years and it’s tough because I’ve got good relationships with a lot of the guys in Toronto but I mean…I get to play. I’m thankful to Duane Jacobs and Marty O’Neill for bringing me aboard, that’s for sure.

Were you ever given any indication as to why you weren’t in the Rock line-up?
Ah no, not really actually. I had some conversations with the coaching staff in Toronto but nothing was really concrete as to why I wasn’t playing.

Well that kind of sucks.
Yeah, tell me about it!

You weren’t in the line-up for the Swarm last weekend, how about for the next game on the 29th?
Yeah I had to wait for my T1 — my work Visa to be in the States — we’re just in the process right now. I’m supposed to be in the line-up for the Chicago game in Chicago.

Have you gotten to spend any time with the Swarm yet?
I went to one practice last week with them but there was only about 11 guys there because we’ve got guys coming from all over. The practice was in Six Nations and we have some guys out West and we have some guys in the States so it’s tough for all of us to get together but I met about 11 of the guys.

Having met only 11 of the guys I guess it’s hard to say at this point, but have you noticed a difference in team dynamics or in players’ attitudes between the Rock and the Swarm?
Not really, because yeah, I’ve only met 11 of the guys so it’s tough. I mean until I get to see everybody together it’s tough to really talk about the team dynamics. I know the team’s a little younger than Toronto which I think might bring a lot of energy and stuff like that, but I can’t really say much on that yet.

Have you gotten a sense yet on what sort of role you’ll have on the Swarm defense?
I’m known as a stay-at-home defenseman and I think I can bring some leadership, I mean I’ve been in the playoffs every year I’ve been in the league except for my rookie year when I was with Columbus so I think I can bring some playoff experience to the team.

What’s it like coming from a team that’s duking it out for a playoff spot to a team that’s near the top?
It’s great, I mean I couldn’t ask for a better situation to come into. I just want to do my part and help them get into and win that championship.

What are you expecting from yourself for the rest of the season?
I don’t think I have any expectations, I just want to do my part, whatever the coaching staff wants me to do. I’m just there to help the team win. I think that’s everybody’s goal in the league. Just gonna do what I can to help.

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