RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Rush, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, announced Tuesday the organization has opted not to renew the contract of Head Coach and General Manager Scott Burt. Burt’s four-season tenure with the team concludes, during which he faced and overcame significant personal challenges, including a battle with cancer this past season.
Burt took the helm as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations on July 7, 2021. In his first season, he guided the Rush to a 36-25-6-5 record and an ECHL-era franchise-best 83 points, securing the team’s first Kelly Cup Playoff appearance since 2014-15. They advanced to the second round before falling to the Utah Grizzlies. He was promoted to Head Coach and General Manager in June 2022.
This past season, Burt took a ten-week medical leave of absence starting in early December after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. He underwent emergency brain surgery in Rapid City on December 6, followed by 30 radiation treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Throughout his treatment, the Rapid City and hockey communities showed overwhelming support, including a fundraiser that generated over $3,000 for his family and outreach from numerous NHL coaches. Burt returned to the team in mid-February, initially as a spectator, and expressed excitement to slowly integrate back into his role.
Prior to joining the Rush, Burt served as an assistant coach for the Idaho Steelheads and the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, where he contributed to playoff runs and the development of future NHL players. His coaching career began with the Alaska Aces, where he helped them to two playoff appearances and a Brabham Cup Regular Season Championship.
Burt’s coaching career followed a successful 13-season playing career in the WCHL, ECHL, and AHL. A three-time Kelly Cup Champion, he won titles with the Idaho Steelheads in 2004 and 2007, and with the Alaska Aces in his final professional season in 2011.
“We would like to thank Coach Burt for his dedication to the Rush organization,” said Rush President Jared Reid. “We appreciate all his hard work over the last four seasons and wish him the best in his future endeavors.” Reid had previously praised Burt’s “positive attitude, constant confidence, and limitless energy” during his cancer treatment, stating the “entire Rush and Spire Hockey family is thrilled for Burtie, Audrey, and Sophie.”
The search for the franchise’s fifth head coach is now underway.
