The Rapid City Rush have announced their qualifying offers for the 2025-26 season. Teams are allowed to give out a maximum of eight qualifying offers, with no more than four of the offers being given to players with veteran status. Rapid City’s qualifying offers include two forwards and one defenseman.
Forwards (2)
Jack Jeffers – Jeffers spent his third season in the ECHL playing for the Rapid City Rush. He played in 50 games where he had three goals and eight assists for 11 points with 20 penalty minutes and a -20. Jeffers has spent time in the ECHL with the Savannah Ghost Pirates, Cincinnati Cyclones, and Adirondack Thunder. In 89 ECHL games played, Jeffers has six goals and 14 assists for 20 points with 26 penalty minutes and a -31.
Jackson Leppard – The Rapid City Rush acquired Jackson Leppard along with defenseman Chase Pauls in a trade with the Bloomington Bison in early January. Leppard had one assist with 21 penalty minutes and a -12 in 34 games while with the Rush. In his time in the ECHL, Leppard has played with the Allen Americans, South Carolina Stingrays, and Bloomington Bison. In 251 ECHL games, Leppards has 42 goals and 54 assists for 96 points with 344 penalty minutes and a -22.
Defenseman (1)
Brady Pouteau – The 2024-25 season was Pouteau’s first professional season in North America. In 45 games with Rapid City, Pouteau had three goals and 12 assists for 15 points with 22 penalty minutes and a +10. Pouteau left the Rush in February to finish his season overseas with the Coventry Blaze, but has yet to sign for the 2025-26 season. Pouteau spent the 2023-24 season overseas playing for the Fife Flyers. In 49 games with the Flyers, Pouteau has two goals and eight assists for ten points.
Player Signing
The Rush also announced their first signing for the 2025-26 season in returning forward and Captain Ryan Wagner. After spending the majority of his career in the AHL, Wagner signed with the Rush for the 2024-25 season. In 294 games with the Chicago Wolves and Colorado Eagles, he had 34 goals and 48 assists for 82 points.
Wagner finished the season with 29 goals and 50 assists for 79 points in 72 games. He led the Rush in goals, assists, and points. Wagner was tied for third in the league in points. He had four shorthanded goals during the season, tied for second in the league with Brett Davis and South Carolina Stingrays forward Micah Miller. Wagner led the league in power-play assists with 24 and power-play points with 30. He also finished fifth in the league in shots with 240.
Wagner captained the team in his first season with the Rush, where he was an incredible captain. He provided a lot of energy on the bench and was not afraid to sacrifice his body to block a shot of lay a hit and help pump up the team. Wagner was also very active in the community, attending many of the team’s appearances and interacting with fans.
Deni Goure Signs With Chicago Wolves
While players have started to sign with teams in the ECHL, other players have started signing in the AHL. Forward Deni Goure signed yesterday with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL for the 2025-26 season.
Last season, Goure signed with the Calgary Wranglers but spent the majority of his season in the ECHL with the Rush. Goure played in only one game with the Wranglers and played in 69 games with the Rush. With the Rush, Goure had 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points with 26 penalty minutes and a -26.
ITR 45: Everything Is Happening – Inside The Rink
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