RUSH RECEIVE SEVEN FROM TUCSON

(TUCSON, AZ) – The Tucson Roadrunners, AHL affiliate of the Rapid City Rush, announced this weekend that the team is sending seven players to the Rush: forwards Brett Perlini, Ryan Walters, Lindsay Sparks, Hunter Fejes, and Mark Cooper, and defensemen Michael Young and Michael Boivin. Boivin’s ECHL rights were acquired by the Rush in a trade for future considerations with the Manchester Monarchs. In addition to the Rush’s acquistions, the Rush released Reid Halabi from his Standard Player Contract, and released Evan Dixon, Vytal Cote, Cody Castro, Corey Hale, Andrew Schmit, and Andrew Hare from their Professional Tryout agreements.

“With any player, they want to play at the highest level possible. With that being said, we are very excited to have these players going forward but also understand that part of our jobs is to develop these players and get them on to the next level in addition to producing a winning team in Rapid City,” said Rush Head Coach Mark DeSantis.

Hunter Fejes, 22, comes to the Rush for his first professional season after skating in Tucson’s training camp last week. The 6’1”, 190-pound forward finished his collegiate hockey career with the NCAA’s Colorado College, where appeared in 138 games over four seasons, notching 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points. Following his college career, Fejes skated with the former Springfield Falcons in the AHL for 10 contests. A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Fejes was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2012 NHL Draft (6th Rd-#178).

Mark Cooper, 24, heads to the Black Hills for his first professional season as well after skating with Tucson last week. The 6’2”, 190-pound forward recently completed his collegiate hockey career with Bowling Green University, where he suited up in 157 games across four seasons, registering 45 goals and 46 assists for 91 points, as well as a +20 rating. In his senior season, Cooper was named to both the WCHA’s All-Academic and Third All-Star Teams. After his collegiate career ended, the Toronto, Ontario native skated in 2 games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

Rounding out the three newcomers to the Rush is defenseman Michael Boivin, whose ECHL rights were acquired by the Rush by virtue of a trade for future considerations. The 25 year-old native of Delta, British Columbia begins his fourth season of professional hockey, and his second in North America. Last season, the 6’0”, 185-pound defenseman skated with the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs and put together the best season of his young career, earing career highs in virtually every category with 10 goals, 23 assists, and 33 points in 62 games, while also appearing in one Kelly Cup Playoff game. The first two seasons of his career were played in the EBEL in Australia with EC Salzburg and Szekesfehervar, with the latter of which he captured an EBEL championship. Prior to turning professionally, Boivin played four years of college hockey with the NCAA’s Colorado College, and recorded 66 points (26 G, 40 Ast) in 122 games.

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