RUSH ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: JOE WIESZCZEK

As we continue to highlight Rush alums who have made their marks in their careers since their time in Rapid City, both on and off the ice, episode two of our Alumni Spotlight brings us behind the scenes.

The equipment manager position is as unforgiving as they come in professional hockey. ‘EQ’s spend early mornings and long nights at the arena ensuring the player experience is as seamless as possible. Between sharpening skates, setting up the locker room, ordering equipment, performing jersey repairs, organizing travel, and so much more, the equipment manager role is vital to a team’s success.

The position of Head Equipment Manager has been remarkably successful within the Rush organization, with a strong track record of development. Joe Wieszczek took on that role in Rapid City from 2021 through 2023. After just two seasons, ‘Weezy’ received his call-up to the National Hockey League, signing on with the Florida Panthers ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Wieszczek is one of three Rush alumni to reach the NHL. Patrick Dolan has been an Assistant Equipment Manager in Tampa Bay since 2021. Anthony Camelio joined Seattle’s staff in 2024.

Both of Wieszczek’s seasons in Florida have ended with a Stanley Cup celebration on the ice at Amerant Bank Arena.

How did you get into equipment managing?

“My uncle was the reason I got into it. He was the equipment guy at Princeton University, and I was in college at RIT in Rochester, New York, and just kind of doing my major (industrial design), but didn't really know what I wanted to do. I came home for Christmas break. (Princeton) had games going on and he asked me if I wanted to help. I had nothing else going on, so I said yes. I went out there with him and fell in love with it instantly. Then, just kind of through connection, I started working with my college team, and working with the Rochester Americans in the AHL. After I graduated, I was like, ‘Screw it. That was pretty fun. I like it.’ So, I basically fell face first into it and it snowballed.”

What was your overall experience like in Rapid City?

“Rapid was a whirlwind. I came there after working one year pro as an assistant in Stockton. I was looking to get my feet wet and find a team that would embrace me as a young kid, just trying to better my skills. Luckily, a job in Rapid came up. I had some good talks with Jared (Reid) and Todd (Mackin) and they liked what I had going on. I guess they were happy to strap themselves to a young, unproven kid—which I honestly can’t thank them enough for—and I just kind of fell right into it. I loved Rapid City. I'm from such a small town in New Jersey and farm country, so the small-town atmosphere was just perfect for me.”

“When I was there, I was saying if I were to settle down here, I would buy a nice piece of land and have fun like everybody else does out there. It's just such calm living, such nice people, and I had a blast. You see all the same people everywhere you go and make good friends. It was a special place. When I left, I was kind of teary-eyed. It sucks to leave a place where you have so much fun and such a nice, great staff and it's a special place. It holds a near and dear place in my heart.”

Are there any memories that stand out from your time here?

“We had fun. We had an awesome staff and two great teams. We just had a lot of fun together, great family atmosphere. To this day, some of my best friends in hockey are guys that I've worked with in Rapid. Best memories, I don't know. We'd always be playing golf at Red Rock. That course did a number on my confidence, but I absolutely loved it. Everybody out there, it was awesome. Any time we were out on the town or out playing the course, anywhere we went, we were having fun. I enjoyed the whole two years just together with the community and with the team that we had.”

How did the Rush prepare you to make the jump to the Florida Panthers?

“Like I said, I was entrusted by Jared and Todd to just do my thing. I felt like without having years and years of experience, I had to learn on the go. The ability and the trust that they had in me essentially gave me every opportunity to succeed and fail, and learn from it all. When you're working in the ECHL, you're the only one doing your job, so you have to do all of it. From ordering apparel, designing apparel—I did my own graphic design with help from our staff upstairs. It was a team effort and it taught me a lot of skills with working with different people in an organization and developing relationships.”

“It's a big-time commitment. You're running a whole professional team. Trying to make sure your players are comfortable, happy, and ready to play is a daunting task when you have the expectation and the drive from your ownership to really make a high-quality franchise. It goes a long way to battle in the Coast and learn as much as you can.”

What is your role with the Panthers?

“I'm our fourth equipment guy. We have four full-time guys on staff, plus a great staff of part-time help as well. As the fourth equipment guy, my primary role is doing airport pickups. I'm the truck guy. So I go and pick up all the equipment at the airport, bring it to our practice facility, get the visiting team all set up over there. After they have practices and morning skates, I transfer all their stuff over to the game rink. After the game, I take it out to the airport, pick up another team and do it all over again. Even when the teams are in town, I'm also working with the Panthers staff and players as well, doing repairs, alterations, just still involved in the general day to day. It's kind of two jobs in one you could say, but you just have to manage your time and keep your head in it. I get to work with two NHL teams at a time, essentially. It’s a lot of fun.”

For those of us who have never lifted the Stanley Cup, what was that moment like?

“The first time, everything felt like a haze. I couldn't believe that I was watching Aleksander Barkov lift it, and then it just keeps getting closer to you. When it finally comes your turn to lift it, your body just kind of goes numb. Number one, you're just thinking, please don't drop it. Nobody wants to be the first one to damage it, but it's just surreal. To be so lucky to join the team as they're in championship caliber and chasing cups, and then all of a sudden you win two. It's the biggest childhood dream you could ever imagine. Honestly, I can't believe that the decisions that I made years ago to go work two college games in my free time has led to me lifting the cup twice. I will never forget all the people I've met along the way. I get texts all the time and people congratulating me and I'm just, I still feel like the same guy I was when I was in Rapid. I’ll never forget any of them and all the friends that I've met everywhere. It's just crazy to be a two-time Stanley Cup champion.”

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.