ERIC BECHTOL NAMED RUSH EQUIPMENT MANAGER

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and AHL’s Springfield Falcons, announced today that Eric Bechtol has succeeded Romeo Vivit as the new Equipment Manager of the Rush.

Bechtol joins the Rush after spending a season in the DEL with the Nuremburg Ice Tigers in Germany. The veteran Equipment Manager has made stops all over the landscape of professional hockey, beginning with the Fort Worth Fire of the old CHL, while also spanning 9 seasons of service as an Assistant Equipment Manager with the St. Louis Blues of the NHL. Additionally, the native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is no stranger to the ECHL, having served with his hometown Kalamazoo Wings. This season, Bechtol will surpass 1,500 career games of service in hockey as an Equipment Manager.

“After my season in Germany, I was looking for a way to come back to the States. Coach Ferras gave me a call, and considering what I knew about this team with regards to successful operation, I was intrigued and decided to join the Rush. I am very much looking forward to being a part of the Rush family,” said Bechtol of his path that brought him to the Black Hills. Prior to joining the Rush for Training Camp, Eric assisted the Rush’s parent club, the Arizona Coyotes, with equipment needs for two weeks in their main camp. On his experience in Arizona, Bechtol continued: “After doing this for as long as I have, it’s refreshing to work with a host club and see what I can do differently to improve not only myself, but also what we do in taking care of the young men representing our organization. I am appreciative of the opportunity to have worked with a first class organization, and connect with old friends of mine in the business.”

“Having an excellent equipment manager is a vital component to the success of your hockey club. The travel, long hours, hard work, and amount of preparation that an equipment manager deals with on a daily basis are mind-boggling,” said Rush Head Coach and GM, Joe Ferras. “Having the opportunity to land such a well-respected and dedicated individual like Eric was a homerun for the Rush organization. With Eric’s experience at all levels of professional hockey, both in North America and overseas, there is very little that he hasn’t seen and very little that he can’t do. With the addition of ‘E’ to the Rush staff, we know that the needs of our players are in great hands.”

The Rush began their first day of Training Camp this morning to kick off the start of the 2015-16 ECHL season. Make sure to watch the team practice at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center all week long! Follow the practice schedule on the Rush website.

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Join Rush Nation for only $10 per game! Call the Rush office at 716-7825 for details, and stay informed on all Rush happenings this summer through the official Rapid City Rush team website, www.RapidCityRush.com, and the Rapid City Rush mobile app, available on iTunes and Google Play.

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