hockey operations
Joe Ferras
Head Coach
jferras@RapidCityRush.com | 605-415-7421
Joe Ferras has a wealth of experience in professional hockey, including 13 years as a player and nine years as a coach including six as a head coach in the Central Hockey League (CHL).
In 2000-2001, Ferras began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the New Mexico Scorpions of the Western Professional Hockey League.
Ferras, a native of Brantford, Ontario Canada, helped to rebuild Amarillo Professional Hockey and make it one of the most successful small-market programs in the Central Hockey League.
After beginning his head coaching career with the Amarillo Rattlers during the 2001-2002 season, Ferras took over the newly named Amarillo Gorillas and in four consecutive years guided them to the playoffs. Only one other coach in CHL history (Terry Ruskowski of the Laredo Bucks) has this accomplishment on his resume.
Ferras has coached in 380 career CHL games and has posted a mark of 183-165-32 and a .526 winning percentage. Ferras coached Amarillo in 38 playoff contests including two trips to the CHL Semi-finals before losing to the Laredo Bucks in each of those series.
In 2003-2004, Ferras was the recipient of the Rick Kozuback Award for perseverance and commitment to the game, sport and business of hockey. In that same year, Ferras was runner-up for the Coach of the Year Award.
Ferras holds many coaching records in Amarillo including four consecutive 30 plus win seasons, most home wins, and most road victories.
Following the success Ferras enjoyed coaching in Amarillo, he signed with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League in the summer of 2006 to be an Assistant Coach with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. While at Bridgeport, Ferras was responsible for working with the forwards and special teams as well as playing a key role in the development of top Islanders’ prospects.
After a season in the AHL, Ferras was asked to start the expansion Rapid City Rush as Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations. In the first season behind the bench in Rapid City, Ferras’ squad accumulated 22 wins and 53 points, good enough for third in the Northwest Division. Ferras also helped send five players to AHL camps as well as a call up when goaltender Miguel Beaudry made his way to the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
Prior to coaching, Joe Ferras enjoyed an excellent playing career that was highlighted by four years at Plattsburgh State University in which he shattered virtually every scoring record including the top scorer in NCAA history that still stands today. Ferras was a two-time all-American and his number was retired by Plattsburgh State University in 2002.
In 1988, Ferras began his professional hockey career by signing a free-agent contract with the Adirondack Red Wings (an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL) of the American Hockey League that went on to win the Calder Cup Championship in 1991. In his 13 years as a professional, Ferras played several years in the top leagues in Europe including Italy and England and also played in the ECHL with Richmond Renegades and Winston-Salem Thunderbirds.
In 1999-2000, as a member of the New Mexico Scorpions of the Western Professional Hockey League, Ferras’ playing career came to an end when he suffered a career-ending eye injury. At the time of the injury, he was leading the Western Professional Hockey League in scoring and was named to the first team all-star as the starting center. As Ferras’ playing days came to a sudden end, it was the beginning of a new era in his career where he was able to take his vast experience, knowledge of the game and strong work ethic and implement these assets into the successful coach he is today.
Mark DeSantis
Assistant Coach
mark@rapidcityrush.com
Mark DeSantis steps behind the bench for his first year as an Assistant Coach after playing professional hockey for 16 years, including six seasons in the Central Hockey League. DeSantis played in 1,001 games and accumulated 600 points throughout his professional career.
The Brampton, Ontario native played four years for the Cornwall/Newmarket Royals franchise before making his pro debut with the San Diego Gulls of the Internal Hockey League (IHL) in 1993-94. In his 16 years, DeSantis made stops in the AHL, WPHL/CHL, ECHL and EIHL. Along the way, he also garnered a number of awards including defenseman of the year in 2000-01 while with the New Mexico Scorpions and selected to the CHL All-Star team five times.
Operations Staff
Osama Kassab, MS, ATC, PES
Head Athletic Trainer
osama@RapidCityRush.com | 605-718-7279
Osama enters his first season with the Rapid City Rush after coming over from the Rocky Mountain Rage. Osama received his education in Athletic Training from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO, and his Masters in Exercise Science/Physiology from Colorado State University. Osama got his start in Hockey during an internship with the University of Denver Pioneers during the 2002/03 season. He has also worked for the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Denver where he was exposed to working with professional athletes from the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies.
Previous to joining the Rush, the Littleton, CO native worked three years with the Rage, being recognized as Athletic Trainer of the Year for the 2008/09 season, Athletic Training/Equipment Staff of the Year 2006/07, as well as serving as the All-Star for the Northern Conference in the 2008 CHL All-Star game.
Osama and his wife Tiffany live in Rapid City, outside of his love of hockey Osama also enjoys golfing, snowboarding and going to concerts.
Romeo Vivit
Equipment Manager / Strength & Conditioning Coach
romeo@RapidCityRush.com | 605-391-3315
Romeo Vivit enters into his “rookie” season as the Equipment Manager/Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Rapid City Rush but isn’t new to the game. After an 18-year hiatus from playing competitive hockey, Coach Ferras made Vivit’s dream come true by giving him an opportunity to attend a professional tryout during the Rush’s Inaugural Season Training Camp. Stricken by reality, he continued with the Rush as a volunteer Equipment Assistant.
This season, he will be taking over for Shawn “Stixy” Smith, who was awarded the “CHL’s Equipment Manager of the Year” for the 2008-2009 Season and is currently the Equipment Manager for the expansion Abbotsford Heat of the AHL. Vivit realizes that he has some “big shoes to fill” but truly believes that it is an honor and privilege to be a part of the Rush Professional Hockey Club and the Rapid City Community in this capacity.
Prior to joining the Rush full-time, Vivit has wanted to give back to a game and God-given talent that has given him so much throughout his life. Needless to say, he not only serves as the Hockey Director for the City of Rapid City but also, volunteers as a Coach, Skills Developer, and Coach Consultant for the Rushmore Thunder Youth Hockey Association.
A native of Park Ridge, Illinois (a suburb just outside of Chicago), Vivit earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from National American University in Rapid City.