Tetrault Named Assistant Coach
July 27, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
RAPID CITY, SD- The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Arizona Coyotes, announced today that former Rush captain, Daniel Tetrault, has been named the Assistant Coach of the Rapid City Rush for the upcoming 2016-17 ECHL Season.
"I have a lot of history with Daniel, not only playing against him as a player, but also coaching him here in Rapid City. He was an all-star caliber player throughout his career, and a defenseman with tons of experience," said Rush Head Coach Mark DeSantis on his new partner on the bench. "I think having Daniel will be instrumental to our success from his past experiences as a player. He will work well with our young team. There were many candidates that were considered, but Daniel's experience and prior history playing here in Rapid City stood out among the rest. His passion for the game will help fuel his success as a coach down the road, and we're excited to have him aboard for next season."
Tetrault becomes just the second assistant coach named in Rush history, with current Head Coach Mark DeSantis previously serving as the only assistant/associate coach for the Rush. Recently, Tetrault finished his career as a defenseman with the Rapid City Rush in the 2014-15 ECHL Season. The 6'0", 205-pound blue-liner played in 55 games in the Black Hills that year and recorded 6 goals and 19 assists for 25 points, while adding an additional goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 8 playoff games. Additionally, he was named the sixth captain in Rush history and held the designation for 35 games. Following that season, Tetrault retired from professional hockey, however he got the itch to lace up one more time and played senior hockey for the Boissevain Border Kings of the Tiger Hills Hockey League and later the South East Prairie Thunder, with the latter of which he fell one win shy of the Allan Cup, which is awarded to the national senior-amateur men's hockey champion of Canada. For the majority of last season, Tetrault served as the color analyst for Rush home games on radio broadcasts with Mark Binetti.
"It's a great honor to be an Assistant Coach at any level, but to start my coaching career here in Rapid City is unbelievable. I want to thank the Rush ownership, GM Joe Ferras, and Head Coach Mark DeSantis for this opportunity. I truly feel blessed," Tetrault explained of his new beginning. "My dream was always to get into coaching, and I'm going into this opportunity understanding that I have much to learn. As a player, you were taught to prepare for yourself, but as a coach you have 20+ different characters that you have to take care of, and that has to be the most rewarding aspect of this job. Coach DeSantis has been behind the bench for a long time, so he is such a great resource to learn from. I've played a lot of hockey in my life, and I've played for many coaches over the years, so I feel that experience will help my transition into this next chapter. I look forward to a great season with Mark and the team and can't wait to get started in October."
"First off, we are very excited to a have an individual with the character that Daniel has back in the Rush family," said Rush General Manager Joe Ferras. "Daniel brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the organization and this will compliment Coach DeSantis well as they put a great team on the ice. The passion that Tetsy has for the game will be infectious in the dressing room and is vital as he begins his coaching career."
Originally from La Broquerie, Manitoba, Tetrault, now 36, begins the next phase of his career in coaching after a career of 15 seasons in which he played 922 games on the blue line in the AHL, ECHL, CHL, IHL, and WPHL. He was named captain of both the Wichita Thunder and the Rush, and was named the best at his position as the CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman during his stay with the Austin Ice Bats. In the final year of the CHL's existence back in the 2013-14 season, he joined the Allen Americans and helped them secure their second Ray Miron Presidents' Cup in franchise history, marking his only professional championship as a player. Prior to the start of his career of a decade and a half, Tetrault played for the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings in 240 games over five seasons, registering 113 points, and was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1997 NHL Draft (4th Rd-#91).
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