CHL Rapid City Rush

Rush hockey camp underway

July 20, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release


(Rapid City, SD) - The Rapid City Rush youth hockey camp is officially under way at the Rapid City's Roosevelt Park Ice Arena. Over 60 participants walked through the doors to start the inaugural five-day camp that featured instruction from the Rush coaching staff and players.

"It was very exciting first day of hockey camp to see the smiles on all the young faces getting ready and getting not only the chance to meet their heroes, but to learn from the them," said Head Coach Joe Ferras. "When you're putting on a hockey school, it always takes you back to your own days when we all attended hockey schools, the first day jitters, making new friends and getting the chance to be around the pro hockey players you looked up to. It's great for everybody."

Several of the Rapid City Rush players, both new and old faces are participating in the first-ever Rush hockey camp. Campers have a full 8am - 5pm day that includes over two hours of on-ice practice covering powerskating, stickhandling, passing and shooting.

"The response from the kids and families in the community for our inaugural hockey school was fantastic," said Ferras. "To have over 60 kids take part in a hockey camp in mid July is a tremendous feat and we very much appreciate all of the support from the community of Rapid City. I know looking at the faces of the kids after the completion of day one there will be some tired youngsters tonight."

Participants enjoy the benefits of on-ice instruction from Rush players as well as off-ice training from Roosevelt Park Ice Arena hockey director, Romeo Vivit. Vivit has been the hockey director for eight years and is responsible for youth and adult player development, adult hockey leagues and is also a skills coach and coaching consultant for the Rushmore Thunder Youth Hockey Association. He is also very familiar with the Rush organization as he skated in last year's training camp as well played in a Rush exhibition game against the Rocky Mountain Rage. He then continued on by assisting former Rush equipment manager Shawn Smith throughout the season.

"Having been a part of a number of camps, I would have to say that this is a first class operation run by a first class organization," said Vivit. "It has been running very smooth and very professional. Even though it's baseball season and there are various summer programs going on, the kids have the desire to skate here in mid July and learn from the pros. It's very nice to see the community supporting the Rapid City Rush organization and hockey in general. At the same time, I think it's great that the Rush are willing to share their knowledge of the game with both young hockey players and their families. I think that community involvement is key in the success of an organization as well as the community itself."

The Rush would like to thank the staff at the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena as well as Brian Daddah of Pauly's Pizzeria & Sub Company. Pauly's is the official sponsor of the inaugural camp and has shown its continued support of the Rapid City community.

Check out the Rapid City Rush Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from July 20, 2009


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