ECHL: Rapid City Rush Defenseman Signs with the Cardiff Devils for the 2024-25 Season

Rapid City Rush defenseman Jarrod Gourley has signed to play with the Cardiff Devils in Cardiff, Great Britain, of the EIHL for the 2024-25 season.

Collegiate Career

Jarrod Gourley started his collegiate career playing Division I hockey at Arizona State University (ASU). Gourley spent three seasons at ASU playing in 90 games, where he had seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points. He had 85 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. Gourley then transferred to the University of Connecticut for the 2021-22 season, his final season of collegiate hockey. There, Gourley played in 35 games where he had three goals and four assists for seven points. He had 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +5. After completing his fourth year at the collegiate level, Gourley signed to play pro for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

Professional Career

Jarrod Gourley’s first professional contract was signed with the Adirondack Thunder in the ECHL. Gourley played in ten games with the Thunder where he had one goal and one assist for two points. Gourley also got to spend some time in the AHL with the Utica Comets, playing in eight games where he had one goal.

For his first full season of playing professional hockey for the 2022-23 season, Gourley spent the majority of the season with the Adirondack Thunder but also spent some time with the Utica Comets. In 38 games played with the Thunder, Gourley had four goals and nine assists for 13 points. He had 57 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +9. Gourley also played in two playoff games with the Thunder, where he did not register a point and had 21 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. In the 2022-23 season, Gourley played in eight games with the Comets, where he had one goal and one assist for two points. He had 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +3.

Gourley signed with the Calgary Wranglers in the AHL for the 2023-24 season. He played in four games with the Wranglers where he did not register a point. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.

Rapid City Rush Career

With the Wranglers being affiliated with the Rapid City Rush, Gourley was sent down to the Rush during the season and spent the majority of his playing time with the Rush. In the 2023-24 season, Gourley played in 30 games with the Rapid City Rush, where he had five goals and eight assists for 13 points. He had 40 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -4.

Impact on the 2024-25 Rapid City Rush (Opinion)

Losing Jarrod Gourley could be a huge loss for the Rush as not only was he a huge help on defense, but he also helped the Rush a lot offensively. Gourley helped the Rush set up a lot of plays, and even though he was not always on the score sheet, he usually played a role in helping the team score. Gourley also played a very physical game that helped the Rush a lot with other Mountain Division teams. He was able to use all 6’2″ of him to hit other players and to help the Rush gain and keep control of the puck throughout games. With the Rush now losing both Brandon Yeamans and Gourley, the Rush are going to need to find more physical players to help them compete in a Mountain Division that plays a very physical style of game.