RUSH ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: SCOTT WRAY

Happy almost-summer, Rush Nation. As we move through the warmer months and count down the days until October 17^th, we wanted to highlight the numerous Rush alums who have made their marks in their careers since their time in Rapid City, both on and off the ice.

Scott Wray cemented himself as a legend in his five successful years with the Rush, the final five of his 15-year playing career. ‘Wrayzer’ scored the most important goal in the organization’s history, the double-overtime winner in game six against the Allen Americans to capture the 2010 Central Hockey League championship. His number 17 was retired in 2015.

Wray immediately jumped into the coaching scene in his home province of Ontario after retiring as a player in 2014. He served as Head Coach of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Powassan VooDoos for three seasons, then brought his talents to the Major Junior level with the North Bay Battalion. After seven years as an assistant coach in the OHL, Wray was hired as Head Coach of the Owen Sound Attack in 2024. Wray’s first season in Owen Sound saw a playoff appearance, plus the opportunity to coach his son, Masen.

What are your most memorable moments and takeaways from your five years in Rapid City?

“I think the most memorable was actually coming to Rapid City from Colorado, where I played for the Rocky Mountain Rage. Meeting with Joe (Ferras, Head Coach and General Manager) and then getting to see the area and how beautiful the Black Hills were. It was kind of eye-opening to see how beautiful that area is and how awesome the people were in the area. I still keep in contact with a lot of people there. We formed lifelong relationships in Rapid City. I think I cherish that more than even our championship game winning goal. It could have been anybody who scored that, but it is one of those things that when you get to my age now, you really look back and that's what you cherish.”

Who are some of the people and teammates you met here who you keep in touch with?

“Well, my wife works alongside Miguel Beaudry every day. Watching the person he has become after hockey is pretty remarkable. He is a hardworking guy and if you asked anybody in that dressing room, he is such a great teammate. I talk to him almost every day. I still keep in touch with Riley Weselowski, Colt King. I’m going to see Tim Boron in Vegas. He didn't win it with us, but he came in later as a starter for us and he's now the head Bauer rep for the NHL goalies, so he's become a pretty important person in the hockey world. Every once in a while, you get a text from somebody that you played with from Rapid and you just pick up where you left off.”

How did playing for Joe Ferras prepare you for a career in coaching?

“Well, I played for Joe for five years in Rapid City, and I played for him another five in Amarillo. I learned a lot from Joe. He is a high energy guy, but even when I talked to him on the phone the other day, I told him I still use drills that he did for us. He was a very offensive minded coach. Some of the drills that he would use, we would have a lot of fun with it in practice. So I know from past experiences how to keep the guys' energy levels up and keep them entertained by the drills that we were doing. And the kids nowadays, it's a different era, so you want to keep them mentally stimulated as much as you can.”

What is it like coaching in the OHL?

“It is awesome. It's such a professional league. It's such a good young developmental league, and when you're playing teams that have such high-end talents, you kind of remind yourself of how good our league is. I was fortunate this year to coach Carter George, the world junior goalie, and we had the rookie of the year Pierce Mbuyi. Just seeing these kids develop into the people they're becoming is pretty remarkable. Once you get to be a head coach in our league, it's really special. It is something you don't take for granted.”

What has it been like coaching your son, Masen, in Owen Sound?

“It has been really good. When I was coaching against him, I would catch myself watching him a bit. Now that he is on our team, it's just teaching the little nuances of the game. He billets at a different house. He is not with his mom and dad. He has become a real mature teenager and I think it's really helped him and helped his career coming to us. And my other assistants, they work with him daily on the video and the coaching. That way I'm not just being dad, I'm the coach, so it's a little different that way. But during the summer, it's great to catch up with him and hang out with him, father and son. But when we are in the dressing room, it is coach and player.”

2025-26 Rapid City Rush season tickets and mini plans are on sale now! You can score the best deals on tickets and take advantage of exclusive perks, including season ticket holder-only events and discounts at the team store. Call the Rush office at 605-716-7825 or visit www.rapidcityrush.com to learn more and secure your seats today.