The Rapid City Rush (22-26-1-0) are on the road this weekend in Tulsa to play the Tulsa Oilers (17-22-7-1). The Rush are currently not in a playoff spot, but they are only five points out of a spot. Winning the games this week could help the Rush start their push for a playoff spot. Not only is it a big weekend for trying to start a playoff push, but there are also a few milestones that players could hit.
Milestone Between the Pipes
With Daniil Chechelev still with the Calgary Wranglers in the AHL and remaining in the AHL for the foreseeable future, Adam Carlson has become the number one goalie for the Rush. That said, Carlson will most likely play in at least two of the three games this weekend. Carlson sits at 98 games played between the pipes in a Rush jersey. If he plays in at least two games this weekend, he will hit 100 games in a Rush uniform.
Adam Carlson started his professional career in 2015-16 but did not play any games with the Hershey Bears in the AHL or South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL. He then got to play in the 2016-17 season, where he played 23 games with the Stingrays. He had an average of 2.97 goals against him and a save percentage of .895 with one shutout. His record was 9-11-2. He then started the 2017-18 season with the Bears in the AHL, where he played six games. He had an average of 2.85 goals against, with a save percentage of .903 with zero shutouts. His record was 2-3-0. He then was sent back to the Stingrays in the ECHL, where he played six games with an average of 2.80 goals against and a .893 save percentage with zero shutouts. He had a record of 1-1-1. From there, he went to the Indy Fuel, where he only played one game and had an average of 7.50 goals against, a save percentage of .800 and zero shutouts. He had a record of 0-1-0. He then finished the 2017-18 season with the Kansas City Mavericks, where he played nine games. He had an average of 2.07 goals against and a save percentage of .922 with one shutout. He had a record of 5-1-3.
Carlson then signed with the Rapid City Rush for the 2018-19 season, where he played 45 games. He had an average of 2.91 goals against and a save percentage of .916 with four shutouts. He had a record of 21-17-6. He also spent some time in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals but did not appear in any games. He then started in the AHL for the 2019-20 season, where he played in two games. He had an average of 3.52 goals against and a save percentage of .863 with no shutouts. He had a record of 0-2-0. He spent most of the shortened season in the ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen, where he played 41 games. He had an average of 3.07 goals against and a save percentage of .898 with one shutout. He had a record of 19-15-4.
Carlson then returned to Rapid City for the 2020-21 season, playing 32 games. He had an average of 2.98 goals against and a save percentage of .914, with two shutouts. He had a record of 13-13-3. Unfortunately, he did not play in the 2021-22 season due to an injury. But returned to the Rush this season and has played in 21 games. He has a goals against average of 3.51 and a save percentage of .888. He has a record of 6-12-0 and has yet to have a shutout.
Through his time with the Rush, he has a record of 40-42-9 with a goals against average of 3.05 and a save percentage of .910. He has had 274 goals scored against him but has had 2787 saves with six shutouts. Through his 98 games with the Rush, he has accumulated 5395 minutes in net.
Throughout his entire ECHL career, he has played in 178 games. He has an average of 3.00 goals against and a save percentage of .905 with nine shutouts. His overall record is 74-71-19. He has had 492 goals scored against him but has 4712 saves and has played for 9847 minutes.
Goals against average that do not seem to add up are due to him not playing the whole game.
Records that do not match the amount of games played are due to the game-winning goal not being scored when he was in net.
Double Milestone for Gravelle
Brett Gravelle has spent the vast majority of his career with the Rush. He joined the Rush at the end of October in the 2021-22 season after being called up from the Quad City Storm to the Iowa Heartlanders. The Heartlanders then put him on waivers, and he was eventually picked up off waivers by the Rush. This weekend, Brett Gravelle will most likely play in his 100th ECHL game and his 100th game with the Rush. Currently, Gravelle has played 99 games in the ECHL. As previously mentioned, Gravelle started his ECHL career last season with the Iowa Heartlanders, though he only played one game with the Heartlanders. He has played his other 98 games with the Rush.
Gravelle is currently in his second year in the ECHL. Through his two seasons in the ECHL, Gravelle has 37 goals and 38 assists for 75 points, averaging 0.76 points per game. He has 16 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +13. Through his time with the Rush, Gravelle has 35 goals and 37 assists for 72 points and averages 0.73 points per game. All 16 of his penalty minutes have come while on the Rush, and he has a plus/minus of +12 with the Rush. Gravelle also played a big role in the Rush’s playoff time last season. He played in all 11 of the Rush’s playoff games last season and ended with three goals and ten assists for 13 points, giving him an average of 1.18 points per game. In the playoffs, he had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.
Brooks Joins the Century Club
Calder Brooks signed with the Rush at the beginning of the 2021-22 season. He rejoined the Rush this season but on a different contract. An AHL contract. This weekend, Brooks will be playing in his 100th ECHL game. Brooks has played in 99 ECHL games, 85 of which have been with the Rush. Brooks started his professional career in the 2014-15 season, where he played three games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL(now Bridgeport Islanders). In his three games, he had zero points, two penalty minutes, and a plus/minus of 0. He then played four seasons at Saint Mary’s University and started his ECHL career with the Wichita Thunder in the 2018-19 season, where he played three games. He had three goals, one assist for four points, an average of 1.18 points per game, and a plus/minus of +4. He did not tally any penalty minutes with the Thunder.
Brooks then played overseas in Germany and France for the 2019-20 season. But he returned to the ECHL in the 2020-21 season, where he played with the Jacksonville Icemen. While with the Icemen, he played in 11 games where he had zero goals and two assists for two points, with an average of 0.18 points per game. He had zero penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -4. He then joined the Rush in the 2021-22 season.
Brooks is currently in his second season with the Rush. So far, he has played in 85 games where he has 38 goals and 33 assists for 71 points and an average of 0.84 points per game. He has also gained 69 penalty minutes and has a plus/minus of +8. Brooks played in all 11 playoff games with the Rush last season, putting up five goals and eight assists for 13 points and an average of 1.18 points per game. He had ten penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +2. Brooks also spent some time back in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights, where he played three games. He did not get any points or penalty minutes but had a plus/minus of -1. This season, Brooks has played in 42 Rush games with 19 goals and 15 assists for a total of 34 points with an average of 0.81 points per game. He currently has 24 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2.
Overall, Brooks has played four seasons in the ECHL, scoring 41 times while earning 36 assists for a total of 77 points, giving him an average of 0.78 points per game. He has 69 penalty minutes through his ECHL career and a plus/minus of +8.
Possible Milestone for Coatta
Max Coatta is another player that could hit a milestone this week, and it is not for games played. Max Coatta is currently sitting at 96 points in his ECHL career. This weekend, he could hit 100 career ECHL points. Coatta is in his fourth season in the ECHL. Through the four seasons, he has played in 156 games where he has 40 goals and 56 assists for 96 points, averaging 0.62 points per game. He has 67 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -16.
Max Coatta started his professional career in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers. He played in two games where he had two assists for a total of two points, averaging a point per game. He had no penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1. He then spent the 2019-20 season with the Idaho Steelheads, playing 42 games. He had seven goals and six assists for 13 points, averaging 0.31 points per game with 12 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -5. He then spent the 2020-21 season overseas but returned and joined the Rush for the 2021-22 season.
Coatta is currently in his second season with the Rush, where he has played 112 games. He has 33 goals and 48 assists for 81 points and an average of 0.72 points per game. He has 55 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -12. Last season, he also spent some time in the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners, where he played in six games. He had one assist for one point and an average of .17 points per game. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2. This season, Coatta has played in 49 games where he has ten goals and 19 assists for 29 points and an average of .59 points per game. He has 18 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. Coatta also played in all 11 of the playoff games with the Rush last season, where he had three goals, five assists for eight points, and an average of .73 points per game. He has two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.
Possible Triple Century Club for Nelson
Logan Nelson has had a pretty crazy ECHL career, to say the least. Throughout his eight seasons in the ECHL, he has played on eight different teams. This weekend, he could hit 300 career ECHL points, as he currently sits at 296 ECHL points. Nelson has played 431 ECHL games and has 116 goals and 180 assists for 296 points and an average of 0.69 points per game. He has 401 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -75. He has also played in the playoffs in three seasons. He has played 17 ECHL playoff games, with eight goals, seven assists for 15 points, and an average of 0.88 points per game. He also has 16 penalty minutes in the playoffs and a plus/minus of 0.
Nelson started his ECHL career in the 2014-15 season with the Quad City Mallards in the ECHL. He played 43 games in Quad City and registered 16 goals with 12 assists for 28 points and an average of 0.67 points per game. He had 29 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +10. He then started the 2015-16 season with the Mallards and played in seven games. He had four goals, one assist for five points, and an average of 0.71 points per game. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. Nelson spent the rest of the season with the Wichita Thunder, where he played 47 games, had nine goals, seven assists for 16 points, and an average of 0.34 points per game. He had 46 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -25. Nelson rejoined the Thunder for the 2016-17 season but only played 18 games with them. He ended up with two goals and six assists for eight points, with an average of 0.44 points per game. He had 36 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -6. He spent the rest of his season with the Rapid City Rush, where he played 31 games with 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points and averaged 0.81 points per game. He had 29 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -5.
Nelson then played for four different teams in the 2017-18 season. He started the season with the Norfolk Admirals, where he played nine games, had zero goals, two assists for two points, and an average of 0.22 points per game. He had eight penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -3. He then went to the Orlando Solar Bears, where he played in seven games. He had zero goals, three assists for three points, and an average of 0.43 points per game. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -5. From there, he went to the Fort Wayne Komets, where he played 29 games. He had three goals and eights assists for 11 points and an average of 0.38 points per game. He had 20 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +7. Nelson’s final destination of 2017-18 was the Indy Fuel, where he played 21 games. He had seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points and an average of 0.90 points per game. He had eight penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2.
Nelson then returned to the Indy Fuel for the 2018-19 season, where he played 64 games and had 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points and an average of 0.64 points per game. He had 64 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -17. Nelson joined the Atlanta Gladiators for the shortened 2019-20 season, where he played in 55 games. He had 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points and an average of 0.75 points per game. He had 44 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -15. Nelson spent the 2020-21 season in the SPHL with the Birmingham Bulls but returned to the ECHL with the Rush for the 2021-22 season.
Nelson played in 56 games with the Rush, where he had 22 goals and 38 assists for 60 points and an average of 1.07 points per game. He had 75 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +3. Nelson did get to spend some time in the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners, where he played in five games. He did not register any points but had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2.
This season, Nelson has played in 44 games with 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points and an average of 0.84 points per game. He has 37 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -16. Over Nelsons time with the Rush, he has played 131 games with 47 goals and 75 assists for 122 points and an average of 0.93 points per game. He has 141 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -18.
Nelson has also played in the playoffs three times. His first playoff appearance was his rookie season in the 2014-15 season, where he played in five games and had zero goals and one assist for one point and an average of 0.20 points per game. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. His second appearance was in the 2017-18 season with the Indy Fuel, where he played in one game and did not register any points or penalty minutes. He had a plus/minus of 0. His most recent playoff appearance was last season with the Rapid City Rush, where he played in all 11 games. He had eight goals, six assists for 14 points, and an average of 1.27 points per game. He had 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0.
Playoff Chances
Moving into a playoff spot may be a little more complicated with Allen playing Utah this week. Although, there are a few scenarios that could move the Rush into a playoff spot.
-If the Rush win all three games*, Allen wins one game in regulation, and Utah wins one game in regulation**
*It would most benefit the Rush if they win in regulation
**If this does happen, there would be a three way tie for either fourth, fifth, and sixth or third, fourth, and fifth, depending on if Kansas City wins their two games against the Florida Everblades
There are also a few scenarios where they would not be in the last playoff spot
-The Rush lose all three games
-Allen wins both games against Utah
-Utah wins both games against Allen
-Kansas City wins one or more of their games or wins one and loses one in overtime***
***If Kansas City loses one game and loses the other in overtime, there could potentially be a four way tie for third through sixth place.
If the Rush are not in a playoff spot by the end of the weekend, that does not mean they will not make the playoffs. There is still time for them to keep pushing to get a spot.
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