The Saskatchewan Rush have lost a forward and defender in the National Lacrosse League expansion draft.

The Rochester Knighthawks selected forward Curtis Knight with the first pick in the fifth round. The 27-year-old Knight had 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points along with 76 loose ball scoops in 18 regular season games last season.

Jeff Cornwall was taken right after by the New York Riptide. Cornwall sat out last season because of a full-time fire-fighting job commitment but the 28-year old is best remembered for scoring the 2016 NLL championship winning goal against Buffalo at SaskTel Centre with 12 seconds remaining in the game.

Last year the Rush parted with transition player Adrian Sorichetti and defender Brett Mydske who were both selected by San Diego in the expansion draft.  Rush head coach and GM Derek Keenan was able to get Mydsky back from the Gulls in a trade that involved several draft choices and may be able to swing a deal for Cornwall.

Keenan says talks have already started with the Riptide in an effort to re-acquire Cornwall and hopes to make a deal in the near future.