Rush Players to AHL Camps
September 25, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(RAPID CITY, SD) - The Rapid City Rush is pleased to announce that forwards Winston Day Chief and Scott Brannon and defenseman Brett Kostolansky and Brandon Martell to American Hockey League training camps next week.
"It's great to see players get rewarded for having an outstanding season, and all three of our Rush players from last year will get a great opportunity attending the Rockford IceHogs training camp in the AHL," said Head Coach and GM Joe Ferras. "It's also great to see our newest acquisition, Brandon Martell, get recognized for his play last season in the ECHL by receiving an invitation to attend the training camp of the Hartford Wolfpack."
Each Rush player shared the same sentiment, simply stating that they were extremely excited when they received their invitation call. Both Brett Kostolanksy and Scott Brannon said they were "very thankful for the opportunity to see how things work at the AHL level," while Brandon Martell expressed: "It means so much to me to have this opportunity. I wasn't drafted, so I've never participated in a development camp. It will be a new experience that I am ready to take head on."
All four Rush players are reporting to their respective camps this weekend on a professional tryout basis. New-coming defenseman Brandon Martell, second-year pro out of Ohio State University, will join the Hartford Wolfpack in training camp (New York Rangers affiliate), while 2014 Rookie of the Year Finalist Brett Kostolansky and third year forwards Scott Brannon and Winston Day Chief, coming off of their best seasons as professionals, will join the Rockford Icehogs (Chicago Blackhawks affiliate).
With regards to expectations, each player had their own views. Kostolansky and Brannon don't have any expectations, while Martell voices that "it will go by pretty quickly for sure, so I'd like to take in as much as I can...there's only four practices or so before the Wolfpack plays their preseason games." Ultimately, when the skates are taken off at the end of training camp, each player hopes to make their respective roster and play a little while longer in the American Hockey League.
"Having our Rush players attending AHL training camps is a reflection on what they have accomplished last season. Going forward, it's a great opportunity for them to see and learn what it takes on a daily basis to play and compete at the American Hockey League level," added Ferras.
The Hartford Wolfpack, one of the longest-running minor-pro hockey teams in existence, has been the AHL affiliate for the New York Rangers for almost 25 years, dating back to their days as the Binghamton Rangers in 1990. The team relocated to Hartford, CT after the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996-97 NHL Season. Their ECHL affiliate is the Greenville Road Warriors based in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Rockford Icehogs have been the affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks since they were relocated to Rockford in 2007. The IceHogs have seen a distinguished list of alumni over the years, including Stanley Cup Champions Corey Crawford, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Antti Niemi and Brandon Saad. While the team has produced outstanding players, they have failed to make the Calder Cup Playoffs for the last four years.
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