RUSH ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF STROH AND SIDES

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush is announcing the acquisition of two forwards by virtue of league trades. Returning to the Rush organization is second-year pro Kyle Stroh from the Florida Everblades for future considerations, while fifth-year forward Joey Sides joins the Rush in a trade for future considerations with the Kalamazoo Wings. Rounding out the day’s transactions was the trade of Rush forward Jared Brown to the Missouri Mavericks for future considerations.

“We’re very excited to welcome back Kyle Stroh and also welcome Joey Sides to the Rush organization,” said Head coach and GM Joe Ferras. “With the caliber of play that we will see in the ECHL this year, to add two proven offensive players to your lineup at this time of the season is very important for our club. To receive quality players within the salary cap, decisions have to be made: in order to get great players you have to give them up as well. Brownie has been a very good player for our club for the last few seasons, and we’d like to thank him for his hard work and wish him nothing but the best going forward.”

Kyle Stroh returns to the Rush after a solid rookie season in the Black Hills. As a rookie, the 6’1”, 192-pound forward notched 13 goals and 8 assists for 21 points, and finished within the top-10 in goal scoring in the CHL amongst all first-year professionals. In the playoffs, Stroh truly shined as a key offensive contributor, tied with Scott Brannon as the Rush’s leading postseason scorer, tallying a lone goal with 5 assists for 6 points. A native of Vibank, Saskatchewan, Stroh, now 25, enters his second season of professional hockey, and his second in the Black Hills. Prior to playing professionally, Stroh played college hockey with NCAA Division III powerhouse St. Norbert College with current Rush defenseman Reid Campbell and current Rush forward Johan Ryd, and won two back-to-back NCAA Division III National Championships.

“Kyle had a tremendous postseason with us last season, and with his size and strength we will be looking for him to build off of that in his first year in the ECHL,” added Ferras. “With the size and speed and skill set that Kyle has as well as a year of pro experience under his belt, adding Kyle to our lineup was a no-brainer.”

Joey Sides comes to the Rush organization by virtue of a trade for future considerations with the Kalamazoo Wings. The 5’11”, 185-pound forward enters his third season in the ECHL after having played for the Colorado Eagles for two seasons before sitting out last year. In his last season in Loveland, Sides suited up 44 times with the Eagles, scoring 21 goals with 19 assists for 40 points, just shy of a point-per-game pace. His stellar individual efforts earned him his first ever call-up to the AHL level with the Winnipeg Jets affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps. He played in 6 games with St. John’s, registering 2 assists.

“Joey is a player that we have tried to get to Rapid City for the last few years,” added Ferras on Sides. “He has excelled at the CHL level, as well as the ECHL level, being a proven point-per-game player throughout his pro career. Joey plays the game in all three zones and plays with an edge, and is a player that can be counted on in all situations.”

Originally from Sun Valley, Idaho, Sides, 28, enters his fifth season of professional hockey, which has seen him previously play 225 games in the Netherlands professional league, the ECHL, and the CHL with the Arizona Sundogs. Prior to playing professionally, Sides played collegiate hockey for the Wentworth Institute of Technology in the NCAA Division III for four seasons, serving as Captain in his last three with his alma mater.

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