Rush Game Notes: March 14, 2026 vs. Wichita Thunder
Published on March 14, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
Rapid City Rush exchange fist bumps
(Rapid City Rush)
(RAPID CITY, S.D.)- The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, close out the season series against the Wichita Thunder on Rush Fights Cancer Night, presented by Vitalant and Thrivent Financial. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. MDT on Saturday at The Monument Ice Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wichita Thunder scored with under four minutes remaining to defeat the Rapid City Rush, 3-2, at The Monument Ice Arena on Friday. Gavin Best's first professional goal gave the Thunder their first lead of the series and the victory. The Rush took a pair of one-goal leads with a tally in each of the first two periods. Brett Davis deflected home a power play goal six minutes into the first period, his 14th of the season. Maurizio Colella deflected a Jaden Shields shot in the second period, giving Rapid City a 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes. Wichita put forth another strong third period, scoring in the first two minutes and another in the last four minutes to come from behind and earn the win.
NOTHING BUT ONE-GOAL LEADS
Through two games, this series could not be any tighter. Neither team has led by more than one goal at any point. The Rush have had six separate one-goal leads, while Wichita has scored five game-tying goals and held just one lead. Overall, six of the seven head-to-head meetings this season have been decided by one goal
THE NEW GUY'S PRETTY GOOD
Jaden Shields collected his first two points in a Rush sweater last night as he assisted on both of Rapid City's goals. Rapid City acquired Shields from the Idaho Steelheads on Monday, and he has drawn important assignments already. Last night, the second-year defenseman played on the top pairing and top power play unit.
A SUBSTANTIAL TRADE
The Rush were involved in a two-pronged trade yesterday with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Wheeling organizations. The Calgary Wranglers traded Blake Bennett to the Penguins. In a separate transaction, the Nailers dealt forward Cole Tymkin, defenseman Eric Parker, and a player to be named later to the Rush. Bennett departs Rapid City as the all-time leader in goals in the franchise's ECHL history.
POWER PLAY CLICKED AGAIN
Brett Davis opened the scoring with a power play goal last night, giving Rapid City a power play strike in five of the last seven and seven of the last ten games. Over the ten-game stretch, the man advantage is 8-for-21 (38.1%). Additionally, the penalty kill came up large with a 4-for-5 performance despite facing over a dozen combined shots.
HONORING KAY BUHL
The Rush have a special guest in town for tonight's ceremonial puck drop. Kay Buhl, proud mother of forward Cameron Buhl, was diagnosed with stage four intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in 2020, a rare form of cancer found in the bile ducts. Despite a grim prognosis, Kay fought through three years of treatments which included chemotherapy and immunotherapy. She was declared cancer-free in October 2023.
THE END OF THE HOMESTAND
Tonight is the final game of the Rush's two-week, six-game homestand. The team looks to finish strong on its annual Rush Fights Cancer Night. After a stretch of 11 home games in a span of 14, Rapid City plays nine of its final 14 games on the road.
The Rapid City Rush face the Wichita Thunder on March 12th, 13th, and 14th at The Monument Ice Arena! Saturday, March 14th is Rush Fights Cancer, presented by Vitalant and Thrivent Financial. Head to www.rapidcityrush.com or call 605-716-7825 to secure your seats today.
Images from this story
 Rapid City Rush exchange fist bumps |
ECHL Stories from March 14, 2026
- Kansas City Completes Season Series with 8-1 Win against Tahoe - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Americans Fall Short on Wizard Night - Allen Americans
- Duggie Lagrone Scores Overtime Game Winner to Seal Oilers' Victory in Back-and-Forth Battle with Grizzlies - Tulsa Oilers
- Late Goal Lifts Rapid City Past Wichita - Wichita Thunder
- Chyzowski's Game-Winning Deflection Secures Series Victory - Rapid City Rush
- Grizzlies Fall in Overtime on Military Night at Maverik Center - Utah Grizzlies
- Porter Secures Overtime Comeback Win - Bloomington Bison
- Preview: Royals vs. Railers, March 15th - Game 57/72 - Reading Royals
- Admirals Settle for Point in 3-2 Overtime Loss to Mariners - Norfolk Admirals
- Steelheads Round up Americans in 2-1 Win - Idaho Steelheads
- Swamp Rabbits Offense Explodes in Win over Orlando - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Fuel Beat Kalamazoo 3-2 in Come from Behind Victory - Indy Fuel
- Third Period in Paradise for Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
- Worcester Opens Weekend with 5-2 Win over Royals - Worcester Railers HC
- Blades Three-Goal Third Clinches Playoff Spot with 4-2 Win - Florida Everblades
- An Offensive Explosion and a Shutout in the Lions' Victory - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Lions Shutout Gargoyles in 6-0 Win - Greensboro Gargoyles
- Thunder Lose 4-2 to Nailers - Adirondack Thunder
- K-Wings Fall to Fuel in Green Ice Sellout Saturday - Kalamazoo Wings
- South Carolina Drops Shootout Decision to Toledo, 4-3 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Walleye Come Back Late in Third Period to Take 4-3 Shootout Win over South Carolina - Toledo Walleye
- Hudson Delivers Overtime Heroics on Wild Blueberries Night - Maine Mariners
- Cyclones Take Back-To-Back against the Heartlanders, Win 4-2 on Saturday Afternoon - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Late Comeback Falls a Couple Short with Cincy Empty Netter, 4-2 - Iowa Heartlanders
- ECHL Transactions - March 14 - ECHL
- Brett Bulmer Signs with Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
- Forward Kaleb Pearson Recalled to Texas Stars - Idaho Steelheads
- Josh Zary Turns Pro with Swamp Rabbits, Jake Murray Returns - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Trois-Rivieres Wins Game 1 in Greensboro 6-3 - Greensboro Gargoyles
- Blades Can Clinch Playoff Spot in Jacksonville - Florida Everblades
- Rush Game Notes: March 14, 2026 vs. Wichita Thunder - Rapid City Rush
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Milo Roelens to the Orlando Solar Bears - Orlando Solar Bears
- Game Day Preview: Wizard Night in DFW - Allen Americans
- Hershey Recalls Forward Kaden Bohlsen - South Carolina Stingrays
- Americans Take Down Idaho in a Shootout - Allen Americans
- The Luck of the Irish Sides with the Mavericks in 6-5 St Patty's Showdown against Tahoe - Tahoe Knight Monsters
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
