Rush to Honor Ben Franklin Award Winners at First Responders Night
Published on January 7, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(RAPID CITY, S.D.) - The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, announced Wednesday that the team will honor members of the Rapid City Fire Department who received the Ben Franklin Award for Valor.
Firefighters Kyle Steen, Nick Jasnoch, and Morgan Helton- along with Fire Chief Jason Culberson- were honored in August 2025 by the International Association of Fire Chiefs at the Fire-Rescue International Conference in Orlando.
On April 9, 2024, R.C.F.D. responded to a fatal scene of a high-speed vehicle wreck into an apartment building on Philadelphia Street, close to The Monument. The firefighters recognized a potentially explosive gas leak inside the building and evacuated 50 residents to safety, while also successfully extricating the surviving passenger from the car without protective gear or breathing apparatuses.
The Rush will honor Steen, Jasnoch, and Helton during a ceremony on the ice at the start of the first intermission on Saturday, January 10th. That game is the team's annual First Responders Night, presented by Firehouse Brewing. All first responders can receive discounted $17 tickets to the game. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.
The Rapid City Rush are back in town for three can't-miss nights of hockey on January 9th, 10th, and 11th against the Indy Fuel. Catch Nugget's Birthday, First Responders Night, and Sensory Friendly Night at The Monument Ice Arena. Call the Rush office at 605-716-7825 or visit www.rapidcityrush.com to learn more and secure your seats today.
ECHL Stories from January 7, 2026
- Shorthanded Oilers Fall 5-2 in Kansas City - Tulsa Oilers
- K-Wings Bested in Mid-Week Tilt against Bison - Kalamazoo Wings
- Thunder Extend Win Streak to Six with 4-1 Win over Railers - Adirondack Thunder
- Defenseman D.J. King Signs PTO with Iowa Wild - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - January 7 - ECHL
- Mariners Acquire Venuto from Kalamazoo - Maine Mariners
- Gladiators Sign Forward Derek Gentile - Atlanta Gladiators
- Knight Monsters Forward Sloan Stanick Named to 2026 ECHL All-Star Team - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Gargoyles Forward Ethan Leyh Named to ECHL All-Star Team - Greensboro Gargoyles
- Charles Martin Selected for the ECHL All-Star Game - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Massimo Rizzo Selected to 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic - Reading Royals
- Solar Bears Spencer Kersten Selected to Participate in 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic - Orlando Solar Bears
- Aidan Fulp Named as an All-Star for 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Jacksonville Icemen
- Samuel Jonsson Named Goaltender for 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Fort Wayne Komets
- Ben Zloty Selected for 2026 ECHL AllStar Classic in Allen, TX - Norfolk Admirals
- Marcus Crawford Named to 2026 ECHL All-Star Team - Kansas City Mavericks
- Defenseman Jake Johnson Named to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Kyle Jackson Named to All-Star Team - Bloomington Bison
- Forward Kyler Kupka Named to ECHL All-Star Team - South Carolina Stingrays
- Brendan Hoffmann Named to ECHL All-Star Classic - Idaho Steelheads
- Easton Armstrong Selected to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Tulsa Oilers
- Brannon McManus Named to ECHL All-Star Classic - Adirondack Thunder
- Henrik Tikkanen Named to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic Roster - Worcester Railers HC
- Arsenii Sergeev Named ECHL All-Star - Rapid City Rush
- K-Wings Zach Okabe Named 2026 ECHL All-Star - Kalamazoo Wings
- Anthony Romano Selected for 2026 All-Star Classic - Florida Everblades
- Kalmikov Named ECHL All-Star for Second Straight Year - Maine Mariners
- Cesana Named to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Semptimphelter & O'Brien Named to 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic Roster - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL All-Stars Announced for 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - ECHL
- Grizzlies Forward Danny Dzhaniyev Named to All-Star Team - Utah Grizzlies
- Brent Johnson Named to 2026 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - Wheeling Nailers
- McCourt Named to 2026 ECHL Western Conference All-Star Team - Toledo Walleye
- Knight Monsters Sign Defenseman Craig McCabe - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Ethan Leyh Loaned to Chicago - Greensboro Gargoyles
- Harrison Meneghin Reassigned to the Orlando Solar Bears by the Tampa Bay Lightning - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Rush to Honor Ben Franklin Award Winners at First Responders Night - Rapid City Rush
- Game Day Preview: Americans Host Thunder, 7:10 PM - Allen Americans
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.
