BRETT PERLINI JOINS THE FRAY FOR 2016-17 SEASON

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, announced today that forward Brett Perlini has signed with the Rapid City Rush for the 2016-17 ECHL Season. Perlini is the second forward signed, and first new player to come to the Black Hills this offseason.

“We are extremely excited to have Brett in our lineup for the upcoming season. He’s a forward that can play all three positions, but most importantly at center, which was something we lacked last season,” said Rush Head Coach, Mark DeSantis. “The game is about puck possession, and now we have someone that can take important faceoffs in all three zones, which will be critical to our power play and penalty kill. We are expecting Brett to come in and be one of our top centers and leaders this season.”

Perlini comes to the Rush to complete a previous future considerations trade with the Fort Wayne Komets in exchange for forward Daniel Barczuk. The 6’2”, 201-pound forward completed his fourth season of professional hockey, and his second as a member with the Komets. In 52 contests last season in Indiana, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native registered a career-high 34 points with 15 goals and 19 assists, the latter of which was also a career high. Additionally, Perlini scored 3 goals with 6 assists for 9 points in 13 playoff games with Komets, as they fell to the eventual back-to-back Kelly Cup Champion Allen Americans in the Western Conference Finals.

“All of the players that I’ve talked to that have played for the Rush can’t say enough about the organization and the city. I want to play and compete at the highest level, and Coach DeSantis and the other incoming players have ensured me that Rapid City is a top-notch organization that will allow me to continue to improve and develop my game,” Perlini stated on coming to the Rush. “Heading into my fifth season pro, I think I can help this team both on and off the ice. My past two years especially have been successful, as I’ve played in deep playoff runs and scored some big goals to help the team win. If I had to describe myself as a player, I would say that I’m a skilled forward who loves to shoot the puck and play hard at both ends of the ice. I feel that I can bring a winning mentality and help continue the winning culture in Rapid City next year.”

In his career through four seasons, Perlini has 2 games in the AHL with the Lake Erie Monsters, and 212 games of ECHL experience to his credit where he’s registered 51 goals and 57 assists for 108 points with the Bakersfield Condors, the former Greenville Road Warriors, Toledo Walleye, Indy Fuel, and Fort Wayne Komets. Prior to the beginning of his pro career, the 25 year-old forward recorded 76 points in 123 NCAA games with the Michigan State Spartans over the course of four seasons, and was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2010 NHL Draft (7th Rd-#192). He is the older brother of Arizona Coyotes prospect Brendan Perlini, who was drafted 12th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft.

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