RUSH GEAR UP FOR DANNY BATTOCHIO RETIREMENT NIGHT

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, invite you to join the Rush organization in celebrating the career of current Rush Radio Analyst, Goaltending Coach, and former goaltender Danny Battochio in the retirement of his #30 this Friday, March 30th, against the Quad City Mallards. Fans looking to celebrate Danny’s career with our organization are encouraged to redeem their remaining vouchers for the contest, or to consider the McDonald’s Family Pack, worth 4 vouchers and other amenities starting at $59.

On March 30, 2018, no other player in the history of Rapid City Rush hockey will wear the #30 that Battochio wore throughout his 8-year professional career, all but one year of which was spent in the Black Hills. Dubbed “The Batman” by teammates and Rush fans alike, Battochio was instrumental in the success of the Rush from the early years of the team’s inception. As a rookie in the 2009-10 CHL Season, Battochio surged onto the scene as a reliable option to lead a goaltending tandem. He posted a record of 28-5-6 with a 2.60 GAA and .917 SV% with the wins, GAA, and SV% serving still to this day as franchise records for a rookie goaltender in Rush history. He received 2010 CHL Rookie of the Year honors, and backstopped the Rush to the 2010 Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Championship with a postseason record of 12-4-0 in 16 games along with a 2.73 GAA and .910 SV%. His shining moment in that postseason came in Game 6 of the 2010 CHL Finals, when he helped the Rush clinch the title by stopping 46 of 49 shots in a 4-3 double-overtime win against the Allen Americans on home ice.

A native of Lively, Ontario, Battochio spent 7 of his 8 professional seasons in Rapid City, amassing an overall record of 131-81-21 with a 2.61 GAA, .912 SV%, and 12 shutouts. Throughout his whole career at the major-junior, Canadian college, and professional levels with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, St. Francis Xavier University, Beibarys Atyrau in Kazakhstan, and the Rush, “The Batman” NEVER had a losing season.

At the time of his retirement, the 5’10”, 180-pound net-minder laid claim to 27 different goaltending records, including:

• Most Wins All-Time in Rush History: 131

o First and only goaltender in team history to amass 100 wins

• Most Postseason Wins All-Time in Rush History: 21

• Most Games Played All-Time in Rush History: 252

• Most Postseason Games Played All-Time in Rush History: 39

• Most Wins in a Single Season: 30 (2010-11)

• Most Wins in a Single Season (Rookie): 28 (2009-10)

• Most Wins in a Single Postseason: 12 (2010)

• Longest Winning Streak: 9 Games (2010-11)

• Most Shutouts in a Single Season: 4 (2014-15)

• Most Shutouts All-Time in Rush History: 12

• Most Games Played in a Single Season: 54 (2010-11)

• Most Minutes Played in a Single Season: 2,989 (2010-11)

• Most Minutes Played in a Single Postseason: 946 (2010)

• Most Games Played in a Single Postseason: 16 (2010)

• Most Game 7 Playoff Wins in Team History (2-0-0)

The Rush play their final home games of the season this weekend against the Quad City Mallards. Friday’s game, normally schedule for 7:05 p.m. MST, will feature a special pregame presentation honoring Battochio and his career with a banner-raising, and words from Battochio himself.

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