Game Notes: December 29 - Iowa Heartlanders at Rush
December 29, 2023 - ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(RAPID CITY, S.D.) - The Rapid City Rush, proud affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, are set to square off in a Western Conference series vs. the Iowa Heartlanders this weekend. The Rush are 2-0-0 vs. Iowa this season and will look to win the season series with just one more victory.
Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. tonight at The Monument.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN ENDS CALENDAR YEAR
As if looking into a mirror, the Rush and Heartlanders square off having seen better days this season. The Rush having won three-straight just two weeks ago, managed only two wins on their six-game road trip and are tied for fourth in the Mountain Division, while Iowa was second in the Central Division earlier in December. Rapid City defeated Iowa twice in the opening two games of the season in Coralville - but have gone 9-14-2 in Mountain Division play since.
MO-CO, LOCO
Maurizio Colella is now riding a four-game point streak, just one game shy of Logan Nelson's season-long five-game point streak. Colella has scored a goal in the last three games. Colella scored 22 points in 19 games last season with HC Meran/O in Italy and is now just a single point shy of tying his production from last season. It is already Colella's best ECHL year.
THE SCHOOL OF "HARD"IE KNOCKS
If teams have learned anything, it's don't let James Hardie loose on the powerplay. Hardie leads the Rush in powerplay goals with three this season. Hardie has now notched five goals over the course of the last seven games, including a hat trick in the 10-5 thrashing of Allen on December 20. Hardie logged over 80 points in the OHL with the Mississauga Steelheads last year.
HONEY. I'M HOME
The Rush will now head into the rest of the season playing more home games that road games. The Rush have 25 remaining home games this season compared to only 20 on the road. While Rapid City started the season with eight-consecutive home losses, the Rush won three-in-a-row over Wichita at home during their last stint in the Black Hills. Rapid City won 20 home games last season, but managed only 13 road wins. This season's team has won three at home, but taken eight on the road already.
RUSH NAB FORWARD McCARTY FROM READING
On Thursday afternoon, the Rush completed a trade to acquire forward Mason McCarty from the Reading Royals. McCarty played 41 games in Kalamazoo last season, but ended up on the season-ending roster for the Iowa Heartlanders, despite never suiting up for Iowa. McCarty led all scorers in 2017-18 with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels (outpacing teammate Brandon Hagel).
THE POWERPLAY GROWS TEETH
After going a stretch earlier in the season where they were 0-for-20, the Rush have cashed in for six powerplay goals over their last four games, scoring at least one in the last four. The Rush are 8-5-0 this season when scoring a powerplay goal and a perfect 2-0-0 when scoring shorthanded this season.
MARTIN MAKING IT HAPPEN
Charles Martin continues to surge in his rookie season, pacing all Rush defensemen in assists with 15. Martin is fourth on the team in the category and also leads all Rush players in plus-minus rating with a sterling +11.
TAKING IT OUTSIDE (THE DIVISION)
The Rush will play six of their next nine games outside the Mountain Division, with all of the out-of-division contests coming at home. All of those games right now are currently comprised of teams outside the playoff picture in the Central Division (Iowa and Fort Wayne). The Rush are 2-0-0 out of divisional play this season with 15 non-divisional games left to play in the season.
P'ARDI ON
Alex Aleardi is now just five points shy of his 200th ECHL point and will celebrate his 500th traditional-regular-season game on January 5 in Tulsa. Aleardi leads the team in assists and points. The co-captain will also hit 200 ECHL games tonight and is nine games shy of his 300th regular-season pro game in North America.
FINISHING STRONG
The Rush have an even goal differential in the first and second period this year, but are minus-15 in third period goals. The Rush have had six leads from the halfway point of the game onward disappear into losses (gaining only two standings points on those six). However, Rapid City leads the league in game-opening goals (16).
FRIDAY FUNK
The Rapid City Rush are only 2-7-0 on Fridays this season. The Rush defeated Iowa in their first Friday game on the season on October 20, and then prevailed over Wichita on December 8. Both of those wins came in overtime, leaving the Rush without a regulation win during a Friday game this season.
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ECHL Stories from December 29, 2023
- Third Period Sinks Thunder on Friday Night - Wichita Thunder
- Stapley Shines in Utah's 3-2 Victory - Utah Grizzlies
- Jeri-Leon's Pair Leads Rush to Victory - Rapid City Rush
- Americans Hand Idaho 6-2 Loss - Allen Americans
- Oilers Drop First of Three in Utah - Tulsa Oilers
- John Muse Shuts Out The Royals 5-0 - Worcester Railers HC
- Lellig's First Pro Goal Comes in 4-2 Defeat - Iowa Heartlanders
- Royals Five-Game Win Streak Snapped, Drop Series Opener to Railers, 5-0 - Reading Royals
- Admirals Kick Off Road Trip With Victory Against Komets - Norfolk Admirals
- Demetrios Koumontzis Nets First Pro Goal in Loss at Allen - Idaho Steelheads
- Lions Salvage a Point - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Growlers Outdo Lions 3-2 in OT - Newfoundland Growlers
- K-Wings Push Walleye to Brink, Fall in OT - Kalamazoo Wings
- Lewandowski Tallies Three Points, Game-Winner in Overtime Win Over Wings - Toledo Walleye
- Stinil Loaned to San Diego; Laroque Heads up to Barracuda - Wichita Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - December 29 - ECHL
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- Swamp Rabbits Acquire Defenseman Jacob Modry from Newfoundland - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Sold out Crowd at Cable Dahmer Arena on Sunday for Mavericks Annual New Year's - Kansas City Mavericks
- Icemen Receive Chris Jandric & Olivier Nadeau from AHL - Jacksonville Icemen
- Thunder Returns to Action Tonight vs. Kansas City - Wichita Thunder
- Komets Equipment Manager Skylar Garver Named for Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Fort Wayne Komets
- Athletic Trainer, Equipment Manager Named for Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - ECHL
- Steelheads Head Athletic Trainer Thomas Gillespie Named Athletic Trainer for 2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Idaho Steelheads
- Game Notes: December 29 - Iowa Heartlanders at Rush - Rapid City Rush
- Nikita Pavlychev Loaned to Swamp Rabbits from Ontario Reign - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Railers Sign Defenseman Mike Higgins to ECHL Contract - Worcester Railers HC
- Icemen Receive Chris Jandric & Olivier Nadeau from AHL - Jacksonville Icemen
- Game Day Preview: Americans Host Idaho, 7:10 PM CST - Allen Americans
- Millman Reassigned to Reading by Philadelphia, Karashik Loaned to Reading by Lehigh Valley - Reading Royals
- Ghost Pirates Weekly: December 29 - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Grizzlies Gameday: Last Weekend Series of 2023 - Utah Grizzlies
- Swamp Rabbits Host Final Game of 2023 with New Year's Eve Glow Night with Postgame Fireworks - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Preview: Swamp Rabbits at Florida Everblades (7:30pm) - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
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