ECHL: Mitchell Smith Returns to Rapid City Rush Blue Line

The Rapid City Rush have announced that they have re-signed 5’11” defenseman Mitchell Smith for the 2025-26 season.

Junior Career

Mitchell Smith, a Saginaw, Michigan native, started his junior career in the 2019-20 season in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit. Smith spent four seasons in Saginaw but only played in three after the 2020-21 season was canceled due to COVID. In 190 OHL games, Smith registered 37 goals and 81 assists for 118 points, with 120 penalty minutes and a -38. He had four goals and six assists, with eight penalty minutes and a -1, in 11 playoff games. Smith was named to the OHL Second All-Rookie Team in the 2019-20 season and served as an alternate captain for the Spirit in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

Professional Career

After completing his junior career, Smith signed in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears but then spent the 2023-24 season playing baseball. He then signed with the Bloomington Bison where he had one goal with two penalty minutes and a -8 in 16 games played. Smith was then traded to Rapid City, where he finished his 2024-25 season. In 27 games with the Rush, he had one goal and five assists with six penalty minutes and a +1.

Mitchell Smith really started to find his game late in the season with the Rush and has been able to adjust well to playing professional hockey. While Smith still has room to develop, his ability to control the puck and be in the right spot at the right time has already stood out. As Smith’s ability to read the ice continues to translate to his game in the ECHL, he should find more success on both offense and defense, making him a lethal defenseman for the Rush.