(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, congratulates former Rush defenseman, Dakota Mermis, on making his NHL debut last night with the former affiliate of the Rush, the Arizona Coyotes. Mermis now becomes the third player in franchise history to reach, and play in, the National Hockey League.
Mermis made his NHL debut last night with the Coyotes, falling to the visiting Buffalo Sabres by a 5-4 score. He registered 10:07 time on ice, blocked 2 shots, went -1, and registered a shot on goal.
Mermis, a native of Alton, Illinois, played in 5 games with the Rush back in the 2015-16 ECHL season, registering his first professional goal and 2 assists for 3 total points in a Rush uniform, along with a +1 rating.
Mermis is now in his third season as a professional, which has seen him play with the Rush, the former Springfield Falcons, and Tucson Roadrunners. Prior to playing professional, the 6’0”, 190-pound blueliner played in the OHL with the London Knights and Oshawa Generals, the latter of which he won both the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup Championship in 2015. He also spent time in the NCAA with the University of Denver for one season, and in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, Lincoln Stars, and United States National Team Development Program.
The Rush and the Beast will rematch tonight, Friday, November 3rd in the second of a three-game set. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 p.m. MST at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
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