Rapid City, SD – With the offseason underway for the Rapid City Rush, optimism is already building around the organization as preparations begin for the 2026-27 ECHL season.

On a recent episode of The brandoM Podcast, Rush broadcaster Cory Berberian joined host Brandon Jones to reflect on the past season, discuss the team’s future under head coach Dave Smith and preview a challenging upcoming schedule.

Berberian acknowledged the frustrations of a season that ended before the playoffs but pointed to several positives, including the team’s first sellout crowd in several years during Military Appreciation Night and a number of career-best performances from players throughout the roster.

“We had a lot of guys have career years,” Berberian said during the podcast, noting players such as Quinn Olsen, Ryan Kasowski, Bobby Russell and Brett Davis as standouts during the season.

Much of the discussion centered around Smith entering his second season as head coach after taking over midway through last offseason. Berberian said Smith’s first year was complicated by timing, as he inherited the position after much of the player-signing period had already begun.

Now, with a full offseason to evaluate talent and build relationships throughout the league, Berberian believes the Rush are positioned to take a step forward.

“He now understands what it takes to build a winning team at this level,” Berberian said.

The Rush will begin signing players for next season starting June 23, while the organization’s annual “Select-A-Seat” event is scheduled for June, allowing fans to renew or purchase season ticket packages.

Berberian also highlighted the unique challenges of roster construction in the ECHL, where one-year contracts and player movement between affiliate organizations can quickly reshape a team’s identity.

“This team every two weeks this past year was different,” he said while discussing the constant roster turnover caused by promotions, injuries and trades.

Despite missing the postseason for a fourth consecutive year, Berberian said the organization believes the foundation is improving and credited Smith for adapting quickly throughout his rookie season as a professional head coach.

The upcoming schedule, however, will offer little room for a slow start.

The Rush open the season with five straight games against defending Mountain Division champion Kansas City Mavericks before facing several additional playoff teams from last season, including Idaho Steelheads, Tahoe Knight Monsters and Allen Americans.

Rapid City will also travel to new locations this season, including a visit to the expansion franchise in New Mexico near Albuquerque and a road trip to Toledo. The schedule features three school-day games on the road, including a morning matchup in Toledo scheduled for 10:35 a.m. Eastern time.

“All but five games between the start of the year and Dec. 27 are against playoff teams from last season,” Berberian said.

Still, both Jones and Berberian expressed confidence that the organization is moving in the right direction, especially with Smith now fully settled into the role.

“If you get through the first half and you’re still floating with all that schedule, it’ll be a lot easier in the second half,” Berberian said.

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