Rapid City Rush
Encyclopedia
The Rapid City Rush is an ice hockey
team in the Central Hockey League
. It plays in Rapid City, South Dakota
, USA at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
. The Rapid City Rush organization quickly became the premiere franschise in the CHL.
announced an expansion team for Rapid City, who began play in the 2008-09 season. Two months later, the team named Joe Ferras as their head coach and Director of Hockey Operations, and Jason Rent as General Manager. Jason Rent resigned from the organization and Tim Hill was named General Manager in the spring of 2009. In September 2007, the Rush unveiled their name, colors, and logo. The team is owned in majority by Scott Mueller http://www.mandalay-homes.com. Mr. Mueller was previously involved in ownership with the Colorado Eagles, also of the Central Hockey League. Barry Petersen and Don Ward are combined minority owners.
In their second season (2009–2010) the Rapid City Rush defeated the Allen Americans
4 to 3 with 39.3 seconds left in double-overtime in game 6 of the Ray Miron President's Cup Finals at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
in Rapid City, SD to win the Ray Miron President's Cup. The Rush lost game one of the series but rebounded to win game 2 in overtime on a Blaine Jarvis goal.The Rush then traveled to Allen for three straight games where Allen won game 3 but the Rush responded to win games 4 and 5. In game six of the series it returned to Rapid City and looked as if there would be a game 7 when entering the third period with the score 3 to 1 in favor of the Allen Americans. The Rush's Blaine Jarvis scored with 5:06 remaining in the third to bring the Rush within one. Exactly two minutes later, Brendon Cook lit the lamp, knotting the score at 3 and forcing overtime. With 39.3 seconds left in the second overtime a shot by Les Reaney deflected off the Allen goaltender Chris Whitley and the Rush's Scott Wray, rolling into the goal, sealing the win for the Rush and their first President's Cup.
During the 2010-11 season, the Rush were the host to the 2011 Central Hockey League All-Star Game
. The Rush ended up losing to the All Stars 11-6. Also, The Rush made the playoffs for the 2nd straight season during the 2010-11 season. In the 1st round, the Rush faced the Dayton Gems
. The Rush took care of them with the series sweep and went on the face the Fort Wayne Komets
. In game 2, the Rush leading scorer, Ryan Menei
was blindsided on a dirty hit by the Komets Sean O'Connor
. O'Connor was suspended the rest of the series and the Rush went on to win the series in 7 games. Next, the Rush faced their arch rivals, the Colorado Eagles
. The series lasted 7 games and this time, the Eagles came away with the series win.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
. It plays in Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
, USA at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is a exhibition center, in Rapid City, South Dakota. It contains a 10,000 seat, multi-purpose arena. It was built in 1977 and the grand opening event was an Elvis Presley concert on June 21st....
. The Rapid City Rush organization quickly became the premiere franschise in the CHL.
History
On June 2, 2007, the Central Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
announced an expansion team for Rapid City, who began play in the 2008-09 season. Two months later, the team named Joe Ferras as their head coach and Director of Hockey Operations, and Jason Rent as General Manager. Jason Rent resigned from the organization and Tim Hill was named General Manager in the spring of 2009. In September 2007, the Rush unveiled their name, colors, and logo. The team is owned in majority by Scott Mueller http://www.mandalay-homes.com. Mr. Mueller was previously involved in ownership with the Colorado Eagles, also of the Central Hockey League. Barry Petersen and Don Ward are combined minority owners.
In their second season (2009–2010) the Rapid City Rush defeated the Allen Americans
Allen Americans
The Allen Americans is an ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League which began play in the 2009–10 season. They play at the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas.-History:...
4 to 3 with 39.3 seconds left in double-overtime in game 6 of the Ray Miron President's Cup Finals at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is a exhibition center, in Rapid City, South Dakota. It contains a 10,000 seat, multi-purpose arena. It was built in 1977 and the grand opening event was an Elvis Presley concert on June 21st....
in Rapid City, SD to win the Ray Miron President's Cup. The Rush lost game one of the series but rebounded to win game 2 in overtime on a Blaine Jarvis goal.The Rush then traveled to Allen for three straight games where Allen won game 3 but the Rush responded to win games 4 and 5. In game six of the series it returned to Rapid City and looked as if there would be a game 7 when entering the third period with the score 3 to 1 in favor of the Allen Americans. The Rush's Blaine Jarvis scored with 5:06 remaining in the third to bring the Rush within one. Exactly two minutes later, Brendon Cook lit the lamp, knotting the score at 3 and forcing overtime. With 39.3 seconds left in the second overtime a shot by Les Reaney deflected off the Allen goaltender Chris Whitley and the Rush's Scott Wray, rolling into the goal, sealing the win for the Rush and their first President's Cup.
During the 2010-11 season, the Rush were the host to the 2011 Central Hockey League All-Star Game
2011 Central Hockey League All-Star Game
The 2011 Central Hockey League All-Star Game was on January 12, 2011 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, home of the Rapid City Rush, in the 2010–11 CHL season....
. The Rush ended up losing to the All Stars 11-6. Also, The Rush made the playoffs for the 2nd straight season during the 2010-11 season. In the 1st round, the Rush faced the Dayton Gems
Dayton Gems
The Dayton Gems were a minor league ice hockey team based in Dayton, Ohio, and members of the International Hockey League from 1964 to 1977, and 1979–1980.In the fall of 1964 the lobby of their new arena, Hara Arena, had a natural gas explosion...
. The Rush took care of them with the series sweep and went on the face the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
. In game 2, the Rush leading scorer, Ryan Menei
Ryan Menei
Ryan Menei is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Rapid City Rush in the Central Hockey League .-Awards and honours:*CHL All-Star Game Most Valuable Player...
was blindsided on a dirty hit by the Komets Sean O'Connor
Sean O'Connor
Sean O'Connor is an Irish businessman and political activist. He is a co-founder of Rally Ireland, a round of the World rally Championship . In 2009 he joined the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE as Director of Strategy to assist in the staging of the first Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix...
. O'Connor was suspended the rest of the series and the Rush went on to win the series in 7 games. Next, the Rush faced their arch rivals, the Colorado Eagles
Colorado Eagles
The Colorado Eagles are a professional ice hockey team based in Loveland, Colorado. The Eagles play in the Mountain Division of the ECHL's Western Conference, where they serve as the "Double-A" affiliate of the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets and the American Hockey League's St. John's IceCaps...
. The series lasted 7 games and this time, the Eagles came away with the series win.
Regular Season
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 64 | 22 | 33 | 9 | 53 | 183 | 231 | 1376 | 3rd, Northwest Division |
| 2009-10 | 64 | 43 | 14 | 7 | 93 | 253 | 197 | 1334 | Northern Conference Champions |
| 2010-11 | 66 | 40 | 22 | 4 | 84 | 210 | 200 | 1285 | 1st, Turner Conference |
Playoffs
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | PIM | Finish |
| 2009 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
| 2010 | 17 | 12 | 5 | |||||
| 64 | 51 | 259 | President's Cup Champions |