(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, announced today that the team acquired rookie forward Daniel Leavens from the Allen Americans in exchange for forward Alex Guptill. Leavens is currently en route and will not make his Rush debut until next Wednesday, December 20th against Idaho on home ice.
Leavens makes his third stop of the season with the Rush after starting with the Wheeling Nailers and Allen Americans. The 6’1”, 201-pound forward played his first three games of the season with Wheeling before appearing in 16 games with the Americans, notching 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points.
Leavens got his first taste of pro hockey last year with Wheeling following the conclusion of his college career. With the Nailers, Leavens ripped off 8 points (5g-3ast) in 7 games, along with a +2 rating.
Prior to turning professional, the 24 year-old native of Thornhill, Ontario played four seasons of college hockey with Robert Morris University in the NCAA. In his tenure with the Colonials, Leavens earned 108 points (40g-68ast) in 136 games, was a two-time AHA Regular Season Champion, and was named to last year’s All-AHA Third All-Star Team.
Guptill, the 77th overall pick to the Dallas Stars in 2010, played in 17 games, registering 7 goals, 10 assists, and 17 points this season. He heads back to Allen, whom he spent 10 of his 60 games with last season, earning a goal and an assist.
The Rush road trip concludes with a pair of games in Utah against the Grizzlies on Friday and Saturday, December 15th and 16th. Puck drop for both games at the Maverik Center is slated for 7:05 p.m. MST.
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