RUSH PLAYERS REPRESENT CANDIDATES FOR EACH OF CHL'S AWARDS

(GLENDALE, AZ) – The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today the five finalists for the CHL Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Goaltender (Scott Brower Award), Most Outstanding Defenseman and Rookie of the Year awards. After a nomination period by CHL teams, the league front office determined the five finalists for each award. Balloting will take place among CHL Head Coaches, team Communications Departments and select media members in CHL markets to determine the winners.

The Rapid City Rush have a representative in every award category this year! Here are your Boys from the Black Hills in the running for their respective awards:

MVP: Jesse Schultz

Stats: 18 G, 56 A, 74 Pts, +44 Rating

Jesse Schultz, now the Captain of the Rush, has put forth one of the best displays in the CHL this season. Now in his fourth season in the Black Hills, Schultz has shattered his career highs for assists and points in a single season. With regards to the Rush, Schultz is 2 assists away from tying the single-season record for assists in a season, set by 2010 CHL Playoff MVP Les Reaney (58-2009/10). With eight games remaining in the regular season, Schultz sits in fifth in league scoring, third in assists, and his +44 is the best in the league by +6, over his teammate in second, Konrad Reeder.

The remainder of 2013-14 CHL Most Valuable Player candidates includes Tulsa’s Ben Gordon, two-time and current reigning MVP Sebastien Thinel (Missouri) and a pair of Denver forwards in Garett Bembridge and Troy Schwab.

MVP Finalists

Garett Bembridge, Denver

Ben Gordon, Tulsa

Jesse Schultz, Rapid City

Troy Schwab, Denver

Sebastien Thinel, Missouri

Most Outstanding Goaltender: Tim Boron

Stats: (27-11-1), 2.42 GAA, .918 SV %

Rush goaltender Tim Boron has had the season of his life this year. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has surpassed his career high for wins in a season, notched 100+ career victories in the CHL, and is closing in on his 200th CHL game played. With regards to the Rush, Boron is second all-time in wins with 80, 6 behind his former goaltending partner Danny Battachio, and holds the best single-season performances for SV % (.925) and GAA (2.42). This season, Boron has been one of the top three goaltenders in the CHL. He has been named Goaltender of the Month Twice (October, November), been named Goaltender of the Week three times, ad was recently named the Third Star of the Month of February. His win total of 27 and SV % of .918 are second, and his 2.42 GAA tops every goaltender in the league.

The remaining finalists for the Most Outstanding Goaltender Award (Scott Brower Award) include Arizona’s Andrew Engelage, Missouri’s Shane Owen, Denver’s Kent Patterson and Quad City’s Ty Rimmer.

MOG Finalists

Tim Boron, Rapid City

Andrew Engelage, Arizona

Shane Owen, Missouri

Kent Patterson, Denver

Ty Rimmer, Quad City

Most Outstanding Defenseman: Riley Weselowski

Stats: 4 G, 16 A, 20 Pts, +13

Former Most Oustanding Defensman of the 2011/12 season Riley Weselowski is back on the ballot once again. The Pilot Mound, Manitoba native has been on a hot streak recently, helping his team with crucial third period game-tying goals, and timely passing of the puck. Weslowski's 266 games played in a Rush uniform ranks second all-time behind Scott Wray's 312, and 100 assists and 122 points rank number one amongst defenseman in Rapid City Rush history.

The remaining players selected to compete for Most Outstanding Defenseman are Allen’s Tyler Ludwig, Wichita’s Andrew Martens, Quad City’s Nicholas Rioux, and Missouri’s Matt Stephenson.

MOD Finalists

Tyler Ludwig, Allen

Andrew Martens, Wichita

Nicholas Rioux, Quad City

Matt Stephenson, Missouri

Riley Weselowski, Rapid City

Rookie of the Year: Brett Kostolansky

Stats: 2 G, 14 A, 16 Pts, +15 Rating

Out of the University of New Hampshire in the NCAA ranks, Brett Kostolanksy has seen every piece of action this year. Since coming to the Rush, Brett has yet to miss a game, and has contributed in every facet of the Rush gameplan, whether it be on his top defensive pairing with Sean Erickson, or on the power play and penalty kill units. Kostolanksy's 14 assists ranks 11th among rookies, just one outside the top-ten, and his +15 rating ranks at the top of all first year pros.

Rookie of the Year honors will be determined amongst Denver’s Vincent Arseneau, Quad City’s Thomas Frazee, Allen’s Alex Lavoie and Tulsa’s Adam Pleskach.

ROY Finalists

Vincent Arseneau, Denver

Thomas Frazee, Quad City

Brett Kostolansky, Rapid City

Alex Lavoie, Allen

Adam Pleskach, Tulsa

Additional awards to be determined include Coach of the Year, Equipment Manager of the Year and Athletic Trainer of the Year, as determined by their CHL peers, along with six member All-CHL and All-Rookie teams (voted on by CHL Head Coaches). The CHL’s regular season point leader will receive the Joe Burton Scoring Champion award and based on supporting materials submitted from CHL member teams the CHL front office will announce the five finalists and winner for the CHL Man of the Year Award (for outstanding leadership and contributions to the community).

Help us cheer on your favorite Rush players as they contend for their league awards! Congratulations Jesse, Riley, Brett, and Tim, and best of luck!!!

**Information from Bob Hoffman of the CHL was used in this release