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Rapid City's Joe Ferras Named CHL Coach Of The Year

March 18, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


(Tempe, AZ) - The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Rapid City Rush Head Coach Joe Ferras has been selected the recipient of the 2009-10 Central Hockey League Coach of the Year award following balloting among all 15 CHL head coaches. The award is 'presented annually to the Central Hockey League coach adjudged to have contributed most to his team's success.'

In his second season with the Rush, Ferras won a very close race for the top coaching honor receiving five first place votes, two second place votes and three third place votes (coaches could not vote for themselves). First place votes earned five points, second place votes earned three points and third place votes earned one point. Coming in second, just two points behind Ferras, was Allen American Head Coach Dwight Mullins and finishing third was Odessa Jackalopes Head Coach Paul Gillis. Also receiving first place votes were Terry Ruskowski (Laredo) and Kevin McClelland (Colorado).

CHL Coach of the Year Balloting

Total Points

Joe Ferras 5 2 3 34

Dwight Mullins 3 5 2 32

Paul Gillis 4 1 4 27

Ferras has guided the Rush to their first playoff appearance in their second season as a franchise leading them to a 43-13-6 record. In his seventh season as a CHL head coach, the Brantford, Ontario native has led his teams to post-season play in five of those seven seasons and was the 2004 CHL Coach of the Year runner-up while serving as the head coach of the Amarillo Gorillas.

The former two-time NCAA All-American at Plattsburgh State University has coached two CHL teams (Rapid City and Amarillo) and has compiled a 226-178-38 record good for a .554 winning percentage. His 442 games coached in the CHL ranks seventh on the league's all-time list and his 226 wins are 10th.

Ferras enjoyed a 13-year professional playing career after staring at Plattsburgh State University, where he had his uniform number retired in 2002. In 2004, he was given the Rick Kozuback Award, given annually by the CHL to a member of the CHL family who has shown perseverance and commitment to the game of hockey.

The Rush have been near the top or in the lead of the Northern Conference for most of the 2009-10 regular season never losing more than four games in any given month. Rapid City is closing in on winning the Northern Conference leading by three points over the Colorado Eagles with two games to play in the regular season.

The CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman and the CHL Most Outstanding Goaltender (Scott Brower Award) will be announced on Friday, March 19. The CHL Most Valuable Player recipient will be announced on Monday, March 22.

2010 CHL Awards that have already been announced are:

CHL Athletic Trainer of the Year - Stuart Nichols, Tulsa Oilers

CHL Gunner Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year - Tony Deynzer, Colorado Eagles

CHL Man of the Year - Justin Quenneville, Corpus Christi Ice Rays

CHL All-Rookie Team - F: Sean Muncy (RGV), Nick Sirota (MIZ), Ryan Garbutt (CRP), D: Jake Obermeyer (AMA), Sean Erickson (TUL), G: Danny Battochio (RPD)

All-CHL Team - F: Riley Nelson (COL), Kevin Ulanski (COL), Les Reaney (RPD), D: Aaron Schneekloth (COL), Derek Eastman (TUL), G: Joel Martin (ODE)

CHL Rookie of the Year - Danny Battochio, Rapid City Rush

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2010


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