ECHL: Rapid City Rush Sign Two Defensemen

The Rapid City Rush have announced that they have signed 6’5″ defenseman Brenden Rons and 6’3″ defenseman Brady Pouteau for the 2024-25 season.

Brenden Rons’ Career

Brenden Rons, a native of Farmington Hills, Michigan, started his junior career in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers. He played in 23 games and had two assists, four penalty minutes, and a plus/minus of -6. Rons then went to the NAHL, where he played for the Topeka RoadRunners/Pilots. In 137 NAHL games, Rons had three goals and 34 assists for 37 points. He had 173 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -29. Rons captained the Pilots in the 2018-19 season.

After completing his junior career, Rons started his collegiate career playing Division I hockey at Ferris State University, where he spent four of his five collegiate seasons. In his four seasons at Ferris State, Rons played in 83 games, where he had five goals and three assists for eight points. He had 40 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -36. Rons then transferred to Lindenwood University, where he spent his final year of collegiate hockey. In 27 games, Rons had three assists with 18 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -7.

Rons should be a great addition to the Rush on the blue line. He is really good at picking the puck off of other players, as well as sacrificing his body to prevent other teams from getting scoring chances. Rons has a lot of speed and is very alert on the ice allowing him to be up in the Rush or to send teammates off on an odd man breaks or breakaways. Rons defends incredibly well in front of the net and is not afraid to crash the net or get traffic in front of the opposing teams net to help his team score.

The 2024-25 season will be Rons’ first season with the Rush and first season playing at the professional level.

Brady Pouteau’s Career

Brady Pouteau, a native of Oak Bluff, Manitoba, started his junior career in the 2014-15 season in the WHL. In his four seasons in the WHL, Pouteau played with the Regina Pats and Lethbridge Hurricanes. Playing in 201 games, Pouteau finished his junior season with nine goals and 39 assists for 48 points. He had 85 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -13. In 30 postseason games. Pouteau had nine assists with 12 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +6.

After completing his junior career, Pouteau played in USports, where he spent two seasons at the University of Manitoba and two seasons at the University of Regina. Between the two teams, Pouteau played in 66 games where he had 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points with 50 penalty minutes. In six postseason games, Poteau had two goals and two assists for four points with eight penalty minutes. Pouteau then spent the 2023-24 season overseas with the Fife Flyers in the EIHL. In 49 games, Pouteau had two goals and eight assists for ten points. He had 35 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.

Pouteau is also a great pickup for the Rush. Not only does he add size, but he has a lot of speed and is able to pick the puck off of other players incredibly well, allowing him to get odd-man rushes and breakaways for him and his team. Pouteau is also very good offensively and has an incredibly fast and accurate shot that can find the back of the net. He plays a more physical game, is able to hit guys, and is not afraid to drop his gloves.

The 2024-25 season will be Pouteau’s first season with the Rush and first season playing at the professional level in North America.