Rapid City, SD – The last time I attended a training camp for hockey was over three decades ago. It was held at Avon Old
farms in Avon Connecticut and it was for my Hartford Whalers. This was back in the time when NHL
training camps were brutal. When men were literally crawling off the ice to vomit.
So to be honest as a first season Rapid City Rush fan knowing little about the ECHL requirements for
camp I came into this experience with an open mind.
When Coach Smith stated during his July 2025 press conference that he would use a combination of new
and old school techniques this season he wasn’t fooling. In my observations the coaches have been
attentive to each player even though we have a roster of 27 individuals to date. This will be trimmed to
twenty when final rosters are due on October 15th.
I have also observed training and conditioning that brought me straight back to Connecticut and Whalers training camp. We are only two days in and there’s a lot of camp ,for the proud affiliates of the NHL Calgary Flames and AHL Calgary Wranglers, left this following week. Rapid City Rush training camp sponsored by Shipwrecks Bar and Grill is open to the public this upcoming week. Doors open at 10:15. Dress warmly.
There will be an intersquad scrimmage held at The Monument ice arena on Saturday October 11th.
Doors will open at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
