News

Rush Sign Four More for 2010-11 Season

September 22, 2010, 12:43 am

(Rapid City, SD) – Today, the Rapid City Rush announced the signing of four more players for the 2010-11 season.  The Rush bring in forwards Chris Chambers, Jeff Olitch and Kyle Laughlin as well as defenseman and former NHL draft pick John Wessbecker.

Chambers, 24, signs on after skating four years of NCAA Division III hockey at Plymouth State University.  The Crofton, Maryland native is coming off of his best statistical season as he led the Panthers in goals (18), assists (27), and points (45) during his senior campaign.  After leading his squad to a 17-9-1 record, Chambers joined the Johnstown Chiefs of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) where he picked up a goal and assists in a pair of games.  The 6’3”, 200-pound forward played in 99 collegiate contests, collecting 58 goals and 117 total points.

The Rush also welcome Jeff Olitch, another Division III product, who played his last four seasons with the Wentworth Institution of Technology.  The 6’0”, 185-pound forward native of Calgary, Alberta played 106 games and accumulated 135 points (72g, 63a) throughout his collegiate career.  Olitch, 25, led the Leopards in goal scoring in three out of four seasons, with his most productive campaign coming in 2008-09 where he amassed 24 tallies.

Kyle Laughlin enters his second professional season after spending the majority of last year in the ECHL.  The Gambrills, Maryland native played a combined 28 games for the Reading Royals and Johnstown Chiefs, collecting three points (1g, 2a).  Prior to turning pro, the 25 year-old played his NCAA Division-1 college hockey with the Providence Friars from 2005-09.  During his time at Providence, Laughlin picked up a total of 19 goals and 25 assists in 125 games played.

Finally, the Rush add defenseman John Wessbecker to the blueline additions for the 2010-11 season.  Wessbecker, 24, was drafted in the 7th round, #225 overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.  Wessbecker played in 123 Division-1 NCAA hockey games for the Massachusetts Minutemen from 2005-09.  In that span, the 6’2”, 195-pound defenseman accounted for 12 points, including two goals, both of them game-winners.  A native of Victoria, Minnesota, Wessbecker turned pro last season, skating with the Trenton Devils for nine contests.

The Rush now have 20 players under contract for the 2010-11 season.  The current roster is as follows:

Forwards Brendon Hodge, Scott Wray, Rich Hansen, Blaine Jarvis, Luke Erickson, Ryan Menei, Erik Felde, Chris Chambers and Jeff Olitch and Kyle Laughlin.

Defenseman Riley Weselowski, Dave Grimson, Libor Ustrnul, Vladimir Hartinger, Andrew Smale, Gio Flamminio, Scott Kalinchuk, Corey Laurysen and John Wessbecker.

Goaltender Danny Battochio.
 
Other Rush News:

Now taking reservations for season tickets for the 2010 – 2011 Rush hockey season.  For more information, contact the Rush office at 605.716.PUCK (7825) or email tickets@rapidcityrush.com

Stay informed on Rush happenings through the official Rapid City Rush team website, www.RapidCityRush.com.

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