RILEY WESELOWSKI RETURNS FOR EIGHTH SEASON

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, announced today that veteran defenseman Riley Weselowski has returned to the Rush for an eighth season in the Black Hills.

Weselowski comes back to the Rush after returning last season following a stint with the Cincinnati Cyclones. In his return to the Black Hills last season, the 6’0”, 192-pound blue-liner played in all 72 regular season games and notched 2 goals and 17 assists for 19 points, the latter of which was third amongst defensemen on the team, and lead the Rush with a +6 rating.

“I’m very excited for this season and to come back to the Rush organization,” Weselowski remarked on his upcoming eighth year in the Black Hills. “This organization has meant so much to me in my career, and I hope to help Coach Tetrault change the culture heading into this season into what it was when I first came to Rapid City almost nine years ago. Our fans are the most passionate and loyal in the ECHL, and they deserve a playoff caliber team that contends for a championship year after year. With the addition of Nello Ferrara to the coaching staff, the affiliation with the Minnesota Wild, and the celebration of our tenth anniversary season, this is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons yet for our team.”

“We’re really happy to have Riley back for next season. He provides us with a veteran presence and great leadership on the back-end for our team,” said Rush Head Coach Daniel Tetrault on his veteran blue-liner. “He’s in terrific physical shape, was our ‘iron man’ last season playing in every single game, and was our plus-minus leader with a positive rating on a last place team. He’s responsible defensively and knows his role on our team, helping out the younger players in our dressing room. Riley is a great ambassador in our community for our team, especially for minor hockey with his camp, among many other functions in Rapid City. He’s at a point in his career where he deserves another shot at a championship, and we look forward to seeing him lead our team to that title.”

A native of Pilot Mound, Manitoba, Weselowski, 32, returns to the Rush for the tenth season of his professional career in which all but two have been played with an “R” on his chest. Weselowski holds 11 Rush franchise records, including Games Played (390), +/- rating (+81), and is the all-time leading scorer in team history among defensemen in all three major categories with 27 goals, 126 assists, and 153 points to his credit. The veteran of 519 games in the pro ranks first came to the Rush in the 2009-10 CHL Season when was part of the 2010 Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Championship team that defeated the Allen Americans, and was later named CHL Man of the Year and CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman in the 2011-12 campaign. Prior to his decade-long career, Weselowski skated with the NCAA’s Bemidji State Beavers and notched 8 goals, 31 assists, and 39 points in 124 games across four seasons.

REMINDERS:

• The 2017-18 ECHL Schedule is OUT! Head to www.echl.com to see where the Rush play during their 10th anniversary season!

• For more information on Season Ticket Memberships for our 10th anniversary, call 716-7825.

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