The Rapid City Rush have announced that they have re-signed 6’0″ forward Maurizio Colella for the 2024-25 season.
Junior and Collegiate Career
Maurizio Colella started his junior career in the OJHL, playing with the Wellington Dukes, where he had four goals and five assists with 32 penalty minutes in 33 games. Colella then went on to the OH,L where he spent the rest of his junior career. While in the OHL, Colella played for the Belleville Bulls, Hamilton Bulldogs, North Bay Battalion, and Flint Firebirds. In 278 games played, he had 52 goals and 78 assists for 130 points with 111 penalty minutes and a -45. He had five goals and seven assists for 12 points with 13 penalty minutes and a -7 in 19 playoff games. Colella was an alternate captain for the Flint Firebirds in his final season, the 2017-18 season.
After signing with the ECHL and playing in three games with the Worcester Railers, the Tottenham, Ontario native went to play USports at Acadia University. Colella spent four seasons at Acadia but only played in three after the 2020-21 season was cancelled due to COVID. In 67 games with Acadia, Colella registered 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points with 34 penalty minutes.
Professional Career
Colella returned to the ECHL after completing his collegiate career, playing in ten games between the South Carolina Stingrays and Newfoundland Growlers. Colella then signed overseas in Italy for the 2022-23 season, playing with Meran/Merano in AlpsHL and Italy. In his 22 games overseas, Colella registered ten goals and 14 assists for 24 points with 12 penalty minutes and a +2.
After one season overseas, Colella returned to North America, where he signed in the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush. Colella has spent two seasons with the Rush, having played in 142 games where he had 22 goals and 46 assists for 69 points with 86 penalty minutes and a -30. Serving as an alternate captain in the 2024-25 season, Colella played in 70 games where he had ten goals and 26 assists for 36 points with 50 penalty minutes and a -19.
Maurizio Colella has only grown and continued to find offensive success during his time with the Rush, setting a new personal best in points last season. Colella has continued to provide offense for the Rush when they needed it and has found ways to score or set up his teammates to score. Colella is able to play really well in the corners and is able to poke the puck out to help the Rush gain possession of the puck and get more chances on offense.
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