RAPID CITY, SD – The Rapid City Rush will enter the upcoming season with a bigger roster, several familiar faces and a renewed determination to return to the ECHL playoffs.
Cory Berberian, the Rush’s director of broadcasting and media relations, joined Brandon Jones for an interview Sept. 3 to preview training camp, offseason additions and a demanding opening schedule.
The Rush’s first on-ice training camp session is scheduled for Oct. 4. Rapid City opens the regular season Oct. 16 on the road against the Kansas City Mavericks.
Head coach and general manager Dave Smith returns for his second season with the organization. He will be joined by new assistant coach John Mitchell, a former American Hockey League player and University of Wisconsin standout.
Mitchell was named the North American Hockey League’s coach of the year in 2025 after leading his team to a division championship. Berberian said Mitchell has spent his first several weeks in Rapid City studying video and learning about Smith’s vision for the organization.
“He is 100% bought in and fully immersed,” Berberian said. “We’re building something special. I truly believe that.”
The Rush have also added equipment manager Trevor McClary and operations and video coach Cole Hedquist.
On the ice, Rapid City will welcome back captain Ryan Wagner and former Rush standouts Logan Nelson and Alec Butcher. Nelson ranks among the franchise’s leading scorers, while Butcher recorded a career-best 50-point season during his previous stint with Rapid City.
Berberian said the three veterans bring experience, leadership and familiarity with the community.
“They’ve had some of their best seasons ever in this city,” Berberian said. “They’re all coming back to try to lead this team back to the postseason.”
Other returning players include Rasmus Ekström, Seth Fiddler, Will Porter, Eric Parker, Hunter Donohoe and Jake Ratzlaff. Ratzlaff, a former University of Wisconsin football player, finished last season with a team-best plus-13 rating after transitioning from college hockey to the professional level.
Rapid City’s newcomers include Russian defenseman Timofei Kolyachonok and forward Deegan McMillan. Berberian described Kolyachonok as a 6-foot-4 defenseman who can skate and move the puck. McMillan brings a combination of scoring and physical play after recording approximately 120 penalty minutes while averaging about a point per game in junior hockey.
The additions reflect Smith’s effort to build a larger and more physical team without sacrificing speed or skill.
“You don’t want a bunch of traffic cones that are 7 feet tall but can’t skate,” Berberian said. “It’s going to be a much bigger team than last year.”
The changes come after the Rush showed promise early last season before fading during the closing stretch. Injuries, call-ups and roster turnover contributed to the decline.
Smith publicly predicted a playoff appearance before his first season, but Berberian said the coach has accepted responsibility for falling short. With a full offseason to assemble his preferred roster, expectations are again high.
“This is prove-it time in year two,” Berberian said. “Can you take this team to the playoffs for the first time since 2022? Dave knows we have to win. I want to call a winning team. He wants to coach a winning team, and the city deserves it for being behind us for 19 years.”
The Rush will be tested immediately. Their first five games are against Kansas City, which finished as the Western Conference champion and posted the conference’s best regular-season record last year.
The opening stretch begins with two games in Kansas City before the teams travel to Rapid City for the Rush’s first home series Oct. 23-25. The home-opening weekend will feature a USA 250 theme and a specialty jersey Saturday night.
Another storyline could involve former Rush goaltender Connor Murphy, who signed an AHL contract with the Coachella Valley Firebirds during the offseason. Berberian said Murphy could potentially be assigned to Kansas City and face his former team during the five-game stretch.
“If you win three of the five, you’ll take that for sure,” Berberian said. “It’s going to be prove-it time right away.”
Fans will also notice upgrades inside The Monument, including new video boards, lighting, sound and audiovisual equipment.
Season tickets, group packages and flexible mini-plans beginning at seven games are available. Single-game tickets are on sale for all 36 home games at rapidcityrush.com.
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