RUSH TO CELEBRATE KONRAD REEDER'S CAREER THIS FRIDAY

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush announced last week that the team will celebrate the career of recently retired forward Konrad Reeder before their game against the Brampton Beast this Friday, February 13th.

“Konrad was a tremendous player for the Rapid City Rush in his three years here with our organization,” said Head Coach and GM of the Rush, Joe Ferras. “Konnie led by example with his work ethic and commitment to the game. Although not the biggest player on the ice, no one had a heart the size of Konnie’s. As a coach and friend, it has been a pleasure to work with him and see him as a leader on and off the ice, and we’re very happy that he has made Rapid City his home. We wish Konnie, Katie, and their family nothing but the best that the future has to offer.”

Prior to puck drop, the Rush will play a special video commemorating Konrad’s three-season stay in the Black Hills, where he entertained fans with his skill, offensive dominance, and trademark “head-slide” celebration as the first star of home games. Reeder will also participate in the ceremonial puck drop to start the game.

“This is a very nice gesture by the Rush. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to come back and say goodbye,” said Reeder of his pre-game celebration. “I am very thankful for the opportunity to play here, for Joe believing in me, for the fans, and for the owners. My experience here has been first class.”

A native of Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Reeder played eight seasons of professional hockey: a journey that took him through German and French professional hockey leagues, as well as the CHL. After four seasons with his alma mater, St. Cloud State University in the NCAA in the early 2000’s, Reeder’s career began with the defunct New Mexico Scorpions of the old CHL. As a rookie, Reeder put up 38 points in 43 games, and virtually tripled that number the next season in Albuquerque, showcasing his true offensive potential with 108 points (41g-67a) in 63 games.

Later, Reeder would play for the now ECHL rivals of the Rush, the Colorado Eagles, and earn his only CHL All-Star Game appearance representing the “Rocky Mountain State” rivals of the Rush. It was two seasons following that he would join the Rush for the first time, and would finish the remainder of his North American professional hockey career in the Black Hills.

When Reeder joined the Rush, the club was gearing up for the defense of their recent 2009-10 CHL crown. “Konnie”, as he was called in the locker room, made an immediate impact on the ice, helping secure a regular season Turner Conference Championship with 42 points in 33 games, as well as a #1 seed in the Turner Conference playoff bracket. Reeder was a point-per-game player in the Rush’s playoff run, scoring 5 goals along with 10 assists for 15 points in 15 games, unfortunately falling to the eventual CHL Runner-Up, the Eagles whom Reeder once played for.

“It was very fun playing here,” added Reeder on his time in the Black Hills. “Every home game was very exciting. There was such great energy in the building night-in and night-out. I want to thank the fans for how they not only received me, but my family as well. The last three years here were my favorite playing professional hockey.”

Reeder played an additional 120 games for the Rush after that season, and by the time he retired at the conclusion of last season ranked within the top-five in six all-time regular season statistical categories: goals (2nd-87), assists (4th-107), points (T-3rd-194), plus/minus (2nd-+71), and became one of three players to record two hat-tricks in franchise history. In summation, Reeder amassed 226 goals and 287 assists for 513 points in 438 games in a Rush uniform.

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