ADAM CARLSON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM HOCKEY

Net-minder hangs up skates after seven seasons, 200 games, 85 career wins in ECHL and AHL

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, would like to congratulate veteran goaltender Adam Carlson, a four-year member of the Rush organization, on his retirement from professional hockey. The announcement comes following the conclusion of his seventh season in the professional ranks, spent primarily in the ECHL with the Rush, Jacksonville Icemen, Kansas City Mavericks, Indy Fuel, and South Carolina Stingrays, with additional stints in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears, Milwaukee Admirals, and Manitoba Moose.

Upon retiring from playing, Carlson will now focus on his role as a goaltending coach with Devinir Goaltenders and the Minnesota Youth Hockey Club AAA program, in addition to a variety of other goaltending coaching roles in his home state of Minnesota.

“This bittersweet. I’m grateful for an unforgettable career, but it’s a huge relief to be able to focus all of my energy on something new,” Carlson explained of his decision to retire. “It was time for a career change. I’ve enjoyed playing the game more than the next guy, but I have been given some wonderful coaching opportunities that I just couldn’t pass up. The grind minor league hockey players go through in the off-season can be grueling. For that, I’m happy to have some free time to spend with my soon-to-be wife, Allison, my family, and my friends.”

“On behalf of the Rapid City Rush, Spire Hockey, and our ownership group, I’d like to congratulate Adam on a career well served to the game of hockey and our community of Rapid City,” said Todd Mackin, President of Spire Holdings. “Since his arrival in 2018, Adam has brought an unrivaled compete level, community compassion, and leadership to our organization. When #31 was in net, we *always* had a chance to win. When he was in the Rapid City community, the fans, partners, and supporters of the Rush were greeted with a genuine human being that recognized growing the game and connecting with others was a responsibility not to be taken lightly. I consider Adam a dear friend and could not be prouder of what he accomplished with our team and what he’ll continue to accomplish in his future endeavors.”

In what turned out to be his final year between the pipes in the 2022-23 ECHL season, the 6’3”, 190-pound net-minder went 15-15-2 in 35 games with the Rush, posting a 3.35 GAA and .897 SV%. For his stellar play and leadership on the ice, and efforts off it in the Rapid City community, Carlson was named the seventh recipient of the Blaine Jarvis “Heart and Soul Award”, our organization’s highest individual player honor.

This followed a campaign in 2021-22 which he sat out the entire year with an injury, but that didn’t stop him from being an active part of the team. Despite the adversity, Carlson took on a different role with the Rush, serving as a Player/Assistant Coach focused on goalie coaching, in addition to pre-scouting opposing goaltenders for the team’s upcoming games.

“It was a pleasure to work with Adam these last two seasons, and I’m extremely excited for what his future holds. Congratulations on an outstanding professional career,” said Rush Head Coach/GM Scott Burt. “Two years ago, Adam was excited to start this new chapter with me on the team, but he ran into a setback with a lower body injury that sidelined him for the season. However, that didn’t stop him from being a determined and active member of our team. He didn’t let his injury define him: he was a teammate through and through, helping me with goalie pre-scouts, coaching our net-minders, and eventually took his contributions to our bench. Ultimately, his passion is in playing, and I was happy he got the chance to compete this last season and end his career on the ice with his teammates. I wish we could’ve won more in front of him, but his contributions on and off the ice will follow him everywhere he goes. I wish him and his family nothing but the best as he enters the next phase of his career.”

Carlson joined the Rush as a free agent in 2018 following the conclusion of his entry level NHL contract with the Washington Capitals. In the Black Hills, Carlson’s career resurged, with him tabbed as his team’s primary starter in net in each of his final four seasons, three with the Rush and one with the Jacksonville Icemen while under an AHL contract with Manitoba. Lifetime with the Rush, Carlson posted a 49-45-11 record in 112 games with 6 shutouts, a 3.06 GAA, and a .910 SV%. In his first year with the team in the 2018-19 ECHL season, Carlson set multiple career-highs, among them 45 games played, 2,601 minutes played, 21 wins, and 4 shutouts, the latter of which tied Danny Battochio’s single-season franchise record.

“It’s been a privilege to work with Adam in this organization over the last few years,” Rush President Jared Reid stated. “While everyone will rightfully remember Adam for his tenacity in the goaltending crease, I’ll always look back fondly on how selfless he was with our fans and our community. Adam has always had an understanding that, while the goal is to win on the ice, it’s the people involved in our game that are the highest priority. He took it upon himself to grow our game and be an outstanding community partner in Rapid City, as evidenced by his warranted recognition as the Blaine Jarvis ‘Heart and Soul’ Award winner last season. We’re certainly going to miss his personality, competitive spirit, and loyalty, but we couldn’t be more excited for where life is going to take him. Congratulations, Adam! This is a well-deserved retirement, and here’s to your next step!”

Hailing from Edina, Minnesota, Carlson began his professional career after one season in the NCAA with Mercyhurst University and two years in the NAHL with the Coulee Region Chill. In the entirety of his seven-year professional career across the AHL and ECHL, Carlson finishes with an 85-79-20 record in 200 games with 9 shutouts, a 3.01 GAA, and a .905 SV%.

“Rapid City, you swept me off my feet. All I can say is WOW,” Carlson concluded. “I had no idea the amount of love and support the entire organization and fan base had to offer. Thank you so much for all the memories! To my teammates, Allison, my parents, and all my coaches, I can’t thank you enough for your support. You were truly my strength, and none of this would’ve been possible without you. I can’t wait for what’s in store for years to come in the next chapter of my career.”

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