RUSH SWEEP WEEKLY PLAYER AWARDS

(GLENDALE, AZ) – The Central Hockey League announced today that the Rapid City Rush have swept the Oakley Player and Goaltender of the Week Awards for the period ending March 9, 2014. For the first time this season, forward Jesse Schultz has been named the week’s top skater, and goaltender Tim Boron has been named the week’s top goalie, the third time this season he was won the weekly honor.

In recognition of their achievements, Schultz and Boron will each receive a special gift from Oakley. To learn more about all of Oakley’s products, visit www.oakley.com.

"Its feels great to win the Player of the Week Award for the first time", say Schultz, now the acting captain of the Rush. "Every night, I try to help my team win, that's my main focus. At the end of the day, this is a collective award. My teammates and linemates help me achieve so much on the ice every night. Along with winning the award, it's great to know that the team has solidified it's spot in the postseason", Schultz added. "When it comes down to it, winning a championship is the main goal, and now that we have secured out club a chance to fight for that, we can prepare ourselves to achieve that goal." When asked about his thought's on his net-minder Winning%20Goalie of the Week, Schultz responded: "Tim has clearly been our MVP. Every night he is in the lineup, he gives our club the best chance to win. His hard work has been rewarded all season, so for me personally, it's great to see him keep that trend."

Schultz finished the week with three goals and four assists and was a +8 in the Rush’s four games (all wins). The Strasbourg, Saskatchewan native scored goals in three straight games over the weekend helping his team beat Tulsa twice and Wichita once. On Tuesday, the Rush defeated Wichita in a shootout with Schultz assisting on the game-tying goal that forced the extra time. On the season, Schultz is fifth in the CHL in scoring with 74 points (18-56=74) and his +44 plus/minus rating is tops in the league, a +6 higher than any other skater.

Boron won all three of his starts in the week beating Wichita in a shootout and Tulsa in back-to-back nights. On Saturday, the Winnipeg native stopped all 22 shots he faced earning his first shutout of the season and 11th in his CHL career (regular season and playoffs combined). Boron finished with 71 saves allowing just four goals in the three games combined (.947 save percentage). On the season, Boron leads the CHL with a 2.37 goals against average and .920 save percentage and his 27 wins are second (27-11-1).

"It is always a great honor to get a league award", said Boron, now a three-time Goalie of the Week in the CHL this season. "The award shows the great hockey we have been playing as a team. I could not acheive all that I have this season without the help of my fellow teammates." With regards to Schultz being named Player of the Week: "Jesse has been amazing for us all season, and it's great to see him finally get acknowledged by the CHL for his hard work. The award, along with his success, shows how important he is to our team's success."

"We have achieved one goal so far: winning the playoffs," said Schultz of his team's recent playoff berth. "Like I said before, after all is said and done, we want to win a championship for the best fans in the CHL back home in Rapid City. Now we can set our sights on new goals before the playoffs begin." Boron built on Schultz' sentiments, and followed up: "It's great to clinch a playoff spot with three weeks left in the season. Now we can focus on clinching home-ice advantage, which can prove to be a very important factor of playoff hockey."

Oakley CHL Player of the Week

Jesse Schultz, Rapid City Rush

Position: F

(Weekly Totals)

Games Played: 4

Goals: 3

Assists: 4

Points: 7

Plus/Minus: +8

Oakley CHL Player of the Week (Previous Winners)

Week 1- Tristin Llewellyn, Rapid City Rush

Week 2- Alex Lavoie, Allen Americans

Week 3- Konrad Reeder, Rapid City Rush

Week 4- Adam Pleskach, Tulsa Oilers

Week 5- Michel Beausoleil, Tulsa Oilers

Week 6- Ben Gordon, Tulsa Oilers

Week 7- Jeff Lee, Quad City Mallards

Week 8- Garett Bembridge, Denver Cutthroats

Week 9- Dan Weiss, St. Charles Chill

Week 10- Dave Pszenyczny, Missouri Mavericks

Week 11- Matt Robinson, Wichita Thunder

Week 12- Scott Howes, Brampton Beast

Week 13- Ben Gordon, Tulsa Oilers

Week 14- Jon Booras, Wichita Thunder

Week 15- Spencer Asuchak, Allen Americans

Week 16- Kevin Baker, Arizona Sundogs

Week 17- Troy Schwab, Denver Cutthroats

Week 18- Ben Gordon, Tulsa Oilers

Week 19- Ben Gordon, Tulsa Oilers

Week 20- Jonathan Lessard, Allen Americans

Week 21- Jesse Schultz, Rapid City Rush

Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week

Tim Boron, Rapid City Rush

(Weekly Totals)

Games Played: 3

Record: 3-0-0

GAA: 1.30

Saves: 71

Shutouts: 1

Save %: .947

Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week (Previous Winners)

Week 1- Kieran Millan, Denver Cutthroats

Week 2- Tim Boron, Rapid City Rush

Week 3- Shane Owen, Missouri Mavericks

Week 4- Shane Owen, Missouri Mavericks

Week 5- Andrew Engelage, Arizona Sundogs

Week 6- Kent Patterson, Denver Cutthroats

Week 7- Taylor Nelson, Wichita Thunder

Week 8- Shane Madolora, Tulsa Oilers

Week 9- Grant Rollheiser, Brampton Beast

Week 10- Shane Owen, Missouri Mavericks

Week 11- Shane Owen, Missouri Mavericks

Week 12- Thomas Heemskerk, Quad City Mallards

Week 13- Andrew Engelage, Arizona Sundogs

Week 14- Keaton Hartigan, Rapid City Rush

Week 15- Ty Rimmer, Quad City Mallards

Week 16- Andrew Engelage, Arizona Sundogs

Week 17- Kent Patterson, Denver Cutthroats

Week 18- Kent Patterson, Denver Cutthroats

Week 19- Tim Boron, Rapid City Rush

Week 20- John Griggs, Denver Cutthroats

Week 21- Tim Boron, Rapid City Rush

**Information from Bob Hoffman of the Central Hockey League was used in this release