By Travis Larner, Knighthawks.com -- Miller Rusbridge may be joining a new team, but he is no stranger to his new teammates. With the signing of a one-year deal, Rusbridge will be attending Rochester Knighthawks’ Training Camp later this month with some familiar faces.

“I’m a big fan of the Knighthawks and the organization they’ve put together over the past two years,” said Rusbridge, a native of Guelph, Ontario, just west of Toronto.

Rochester Head Coach Mike Hasen has had the chance to coach Rusbridge over the past two summers with the Brampton Excelsiors. Rusbridge made his Major Series Lacrosse debut with the Excelsiors in 2011. That season, Brampton captured the Mann Cup.

“He’s got some good speed and he’s got this go-full-speed attitude where he just goes. He listens pretty well, and he works and communicates with guys pretty well,” Hasen said as he described Rusbridge. “I expect him to come into camp and push, and push a lot of these guys around for that spot.”

In addition to playing under Hasen, the 24-year-old defenseman has also played alongside many current Knighthawks. He played the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the Junior “A” Six Nations Arrows. In his first season with the Arrows, Rusbridge and Knighthawks Cody Jamieson, Craig Point and Sid Smith won the Minto Cup.

“I’ll get to play with the fellow Six Nations Arrow teammates Cody and Sid and Craig. I’m sure they’ll make me right at home,” said Rusbridge.

While with Brampton, he has played with Joe Walters, Tyler Burton, Matt Vinc and Jake Henhawk.

“Knowing these guys will make stepping in a little bit easier I think, but at the same time, from what I think of Miller, he’s going to push these guys as well. While they’re friends, when he steps on the floor he has that ability to forget that,” added Hasen.

Rusbridge’s lacrosse resume includes three seasons with the Oakville Titans. The Titans lost in the 2012 Ontario Lacrosse Association Senior “B” Championship to Owen Sound. In 32 games with the Titans, he has scored 30 points, including a career-high seven goals this past summer. Rusbridge also suited up for the Peel Avengers in the inaugural Canadian Lacrosse League season, where he added five goals and 11 assists.

“He played a lot of games in Senior ‘B’ and he was counted on a lot. He was put into positions to grow and develop into a better lacrosse player. Camp is the next step for him,” said Hasen.

The Knighthawks open Training Camp at Total Sports Experience in Gates on Saturday, November 24 and Sunday, November 25. Rusbridge hopes to use those two days to impress Hasen once again.

“I think he knows my game a little bit, but hopefully I can bring something he hasn’t seen before or something he might not know that I’m capable of so I’ll standout a little bit more,” said Rusbridge. “I think shutdown defense one-on-one is what I really think I excel at. I got some speed and I would like to show that Day 1 in camp.”