RAPID CITY RUSH 2023-24 SCHEDULE NOTES

(RAPID CITY, S.D.) – The ECHL has announced the league’s schedule for the 2023-24 season. Below are notes and key takeaways regarding the 2023-24 schedule for the Rapid City Rush:

• The Rush begin their 16th season of hockey on the road for a pair of matchups against the Iowa Heartlanders. This is not only the first time the Rush visit Iowa in team history, but is also the first time both teams square off head-to-head since Iowa's inaugural campaign in 2021-22 when the Heartlanders visited Rapid City for a three-game set.
• The Rush starts the defense of home ice at The Monument Ice Arena for a second straight year, and third all-time, against the Mountain Division rival Kansas City Mavericks on Friday, October 27th, and Saturday, October 28th. Entering their 16th home-opener, the Rush rides a four-game home-opening win streak dating back to 2019, and are 11-4-0 all-time in the previous 15.
• After alternating home and road series throughout November and the beginning of December, the team embarks on one of two season-long six-game road trips from December 13th to December 23rd. The Rush square clash with the Idaho Steelheads and Allen Americans during the first half-dozen game away stretch prior to the holiday break.
• The team returns home from the holidays to close out the 2023 calendar against the Iowa Heartlanders for their final three head-to-head meetings of the season. The "three-in-three" series concludes on New Year's Eve, marking the team's 14th all-time NYE game, and 10th at home, in 16 seasons. 
• After kicking off 2024 on the road against Tulsa, the Rush come back to the friendly confines of The Monument Ice Arena for their first home games of the New Year against the Fort Wayne Komets (three games January 10th-13th) and Idaho Steelheads (two games January 19th and 20th).
• The annual "Stock Show Road Trip" bridges the end of January and the start of February, and marks the second six-game road trip of the year. This season, it showcases the division rival Utah Grizzlies (three games January 24th-27th), and the first meetings in team history against the Maine Mariners (three games February 2nd-4th). The Mariners are led by second-year Head Coach/GM Terrence Wallin, who played 47 games for the Rush during the 2016-17 ECHL season.
• The Rush diversify the schedule even more with six consecutive matchups against South Division opponents, beginning at the end of February. For the first time since the 2021-22 campaign, the Rush visit the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for a trio of games in upstate South Carolina from February 22nd to February 25th. Following the brief east coast road swing, the team comes back to South Dakota to greet the ECHL's newest team, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, for the first meetings in team history. The historic matchups against the second-year franchise take place over three games between February 28th and March 2nd.
• The longest homestand of the year, six games in length, closes out the month of March. The division rival Utah Grizzlies come to Rapid City for a "three-in-three" March 22nd-24th, with the Allen Americans visiting for another three games from March 27th to March 30th.
• 55 of the 72 games the Rush will play will be against the Mountain Division. The only games Rapid City will play outside of its division come against the Fort Wayne Komets, Iowa Heartlanders, Maine Mariners, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, and the Savannah Ghost Pirates. 
• The Rush will play a total of eleven different opponents, one of the higher number of total opponents for any ECHL team.
• Rapid City will face the Idaho Steelheads 14 times, the most of any opponent.
• Of the 36 home games in the 2023-24 ECHL season, 26 will be played on Friday and Saturday nights, with an even split of 13 games for each day. The remaining ten home games fall on Wednesdays (5), Thursdays (3), and Sundays (2). Unless otherwise specified, all Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday games will begin with 7:05 p.m. MDT puck drops, while Sunday games will start at 4:05 p.m. MDT. ALL DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Below is a breakdown of the 2023-24 Rush opponents, including how many head-to-head meetings are scheduled:

• Idaho Steelheads: 14 games (eight home, six away)
• Wichita Thunder: 10 games (six home, four away)
• Kansas City Mavericks: 9 games (four home, five away)
• Utah Grizzlies: 9 games (three home, six away)
• Tulsa Oilers: 7 games (three home, four away)
• Allen Americans: 6 games (three home, three away)
• Iowa Heartlanders: 5 games (three home, two away)
• Fort Wayne Komets: 3 games (three home)
• Maine Mariners: 3 games (three away)
• Greenville Swamp Rabbits: 3 games (three away)
• Savannah Ghost Pirates: 3 games (three home)

The full schedule can be found by clicking here.

Rush 2023-24 mini packs and season tickets are on sale now! Don’t miss out on any of the action next season. Get yours by calling us at (605) 716-7825 or online at rapidcityrush.com! The 2023-24 Rush Promo Schedule will be released at a later date.