RAPID CITY, SD — After a brief two-day league wide player strike in late December, the Rapid City Rush are back on the ice and entering a pivotal stretch of the 2025-26 ECHL season with playoff positioning on the line.
The strike, which ran from Dec. 26 to Dec. 28, resulted in postponed games across the league but concluded with a newly ratified collective bargaining agreement. The agreement includes an immediate 20 percent increase in player pay, retroactive compensation and scheduled salary cap increases over the next five years.
“It was uncomfortable, but it was necessary,” Rush officials said. “If it’s good for the players, it’s good for the organization.”
Under the new CBA, teams will also have increased flexibility for safety equipment and customized gear, addressing concerns raised during negotiations. Rush officials emphasized that player safety and equipment quality were never an issue within the organization.
“We’ve never had a shortage of new equipment,” the team said. “Our guys are taken care of.”
Following the strike, the ECHL extended the regular season by one week to accommodate rescheduled games. The Rush will host Tahoe on April 17 and 18 to close the regular season.
On the ice, Rapid City sits at 16-16-3, tied for fifth place in the Mountain Division and just a few wins back of fourth-place Allen. Despite facing what team officials describe as the toughest strength of schedule in the division, the Rush have remained consistently around the .500 mark.
Special teams have shown marked improvement in recent weeks. Since the strike, Rapid City has converted at a 21 percent rate on the power play and has killed nearly 90 percent of opponent power plays.
“That’s been the difference in one-goal games,” officials said. “And we’ve played a lot of them.”
Goaltending has also exceeded expectations amid injuries and call-ups. Connor Murphy was reassigned back to Rapid City this week, while Enrico De Matteo impressed in his debut with a 55-save performance.
The Rush serve as the ECHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames, placing them one level below the AHL and two steps from the NHL. Several former Rush players have reached the league, including Stanley Cup champion Aiden Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights.
This weekend, Rapid City opens a three-game home series against Utah, followed by road games at Allen and Wichita — a nine-game stretch that could determine the Rush’s playoff fate.
Friday and Saturday puck drop at 7:05 p.m., with a 4:05 p.m. start Sunday. Saturday is Rodeo Night, featuring specialty jerseys and a postgame auction, while Sunday hosts Faith and Family Night with a pregame testimonial.
“Hockey runs through April here,” officials said. “And hopefully longer.”
Tickets are available at rapidcityrush.com.
