JESSE SCHULTZ NAMED ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

(PRINCETON, N.J.) – The ECHL announced this afternoon that Rapid City Rush forward Jesse Schultz has been named the Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week for Jan. 26-Feb. 1. This marks the first time this season that a Rush player has been recognized by the ECHL.

“It’s great to see Jesse get rewarded by the league. He’s been outstanding for us all season long and with our team playing some of its best hockey of late it’s great to see Jesse and our veteran players taking a lead role,” said Rush Head Coach and GM Joe Ferras. ‘It’s only fitting for Jesse to be recognized on the week when he became the all-time leading scorer in Rush history. This is a testament to what he’s accomplished in his tenure in a Rush uniform.”

Schultz had three goals and added two assists for five points in two games last week in a split weekend with the ECHL’s top team, the Allen Americans. The 32-year-old picked up a pair of assists in a 6-2 loss at Allen on Thursday then recorded a hat trick in a 6-3 win against the Americans on Friday. With his first assist in Friday’s loss, Schultz became the all-time leading scorer in Rapid City Rush history, passing the record held by long-time Captain Scott Wray, who scored 236 points in a Rush uniform. In his five year career in the Black Hills, Schultz has amassed 241 points (82g-159a) in 205 games played.

“It feels great to be recognized by the league, especially at a time when we’re starting to play better as a team,” said Jesse Schultz, the new all-time leading scorer in Rush history. “Breaking the Rush scoring record this weekend and following it up with a character win was unbelievable. I’m very blessed to be part of a great organization in the Rush, and to be playing in front of the best fans in minor-pro hockey. There is still plenty of hockey left to be played this season, and I hope to do what I can to help our team in our pursuit of a playoff spot.”

A native of Strasbourg, Saskatchewan, Schultz leads the Rush this season with 17 goals and 43 points in 41 games.

Schultz has 91 points (44g-47a) in 93 career ECHL games with Columbia and Rapid City and he has added 252 points (112g-140a) in 375 career games in the American Hockey League with Manitoba, Chicago and Houston. He appeared in two NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks during the 2006-07 season. Additionally, he played in his 700th game as a professional and also notched his 600th professional point.

On behalf of Jesse Schultz, a case of pucks will be donated to a Rapid City youth hockey organization by Sher-Wood Hockey, the exclusive puck supplier of the ECHL. Since beginning its sponsorship of the award in 2000-01, Sher-Wood Hockey has donated more than 31,000 pucks to youth hockey organizations in ECHL cities.

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