Rush Roundup: Joni Jurmo joins the team, Mavs escape Rapid City rally
The Rapid City Rush is still seeking its first win of the season.
In their first eight contests, they have come close, but still no cigar. To get into the win column, the Rush is making some moves to climb up the ECHL Mountain Division standings.
On Tuesday, the Rush brought in Finnish defenseman Joni Jurmo on an assignment from its AHL partner in the Calgary Wranglers.
On Wednesday, Jurmo scored in the Rush's 3-2 setback against the Kansas City Mavericks, which was held at The Monument Ice Arena. The Rush moved to 0-6-1-1 with the loss.
Rapid City returns to action at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at home, once again working to take a win from the second-place Mavericks.
During the first intermission on Saturday, the Rush will honor the late Lt. Col. Matthew Anderson. Anderson was a Rapid City Stevens standout, and played football for South Dakota State University, before joining the Air Force.
This past August, Anderson passed away after being struck by a drunk driver while pumping gas near Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado, where he was assigned.
The following are the latest happenings for the Rush. Cory Berberian, director of broadcasting and media relations for the Rush, contributed to the Rush Roundup.
Jurmo joins Rush from Calgary Wranglers
According to a Tuesday announcement, defenseman Joni Jurmo has been assigned to the Rapid City from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers.
Jurmo, 22, signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames in March and had been assigned to the Calgary Wranglers, though he has not suited up for a game this season.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound defenseman has played his entire career in his home country of Finland. Jurmo had competed in Liiga, the highest league in Finland, since the 2020-21 season when he was just 18 years old. He also represented Finland at the 2022 World Junior Championship, where his team reached overtime of the Gold Medal Game.
A 2020 third-round draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks, Jurmo was traded to Calgary in January of 2024 in a deal that sent Elias Lindholm back to Vancouver.
The native of Espoo, Finland, is the Rush's first European-born player to join the roster this season. Including Jurmo, Rapid City is hosting eight players with Calgary Flames or Wranglers contracts.
Kansas City evades late Rush rally, 3-2
Returning home following a weekend in Wichita, the Rapid City Rush took over the tail end of their contest against the Kansas City Mavericks, before fell short in a 3-2 decision on Wednesday at The Monument Ice Arena.
Trailing 2-0, center Chaz Smedsrud lit the lamp at the 11:35 mark of the first period.
Smedrud's first score came off a setup at the blue line from defenseman Zack Hoffman to forward Deni Goure. Goure fired a centering pass to Smedsrud, who was moving down the middle of the ice, and Smedsrud fired a shot through the blocker side of Kansas City goaltender Victor Ostman.
The goal was Smedrud's first goal of the year. Smedrud came over to the Rush from the Allen Americans.
Kansas City countered with 2:55 left in the stanza, leaving the Rush in a 3-1 deficit heading into the second period.
With three minutes left, Jurmo — who made his North American debut with the Rush — smacked a shot into the back of the net during a power play. Jurmo, who was assigned to the team from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers, was added to the roster this past Tuesday.
With three minutes left in the contest, the Rush appeared to equalize, but a high sticking penalty negated the goal.
Both teams finished with 31 shots on goal. Goaltender Christian Propp made 28 saves on 31 shots, and was a perfect 21-for-21 after the first intermission.
The loss was the Rush's fourth one-goal loss of the fledgling season.
Rush to remember Lt. Col. Matthew Anderson
According to a recent news release, the Rapid City Rush will recognize Lt. Col. Matthew Anderson during the first intermission at this season's Veterans Appreciation game on Saturday at The Monument Ice Arena.
On Aug. 5, Anderson was killed after being struck by a drunk driver while pumping gas after a family outing in Castle Rock, Colorado near Buckley Space Force Base, where he was assigned.
Anderson, nicknamed "Macho," graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School in 2004. Matt received a scholarship to play football at South Dakota State University, donning the number 41.
Following the completion of his Aeronautics Education degree, he made the decision to leave SDSU early to join the Air Force.
Following graduation from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT), Matt was assigned to the F-15C. Despite great hands and excellent progression, Matt then chose the path to the U-28A and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
While accumulating thousands of combat hours and successful missions, his acclaimed flying acumen and proven combat leadership skills propelled him to be hand-selected to lead the U-28A Weapons Instructor Course. There, he thrived in his most cherished role, integrating warfighter communities and mentoring young pilots and combat systems officers to achieve their highest potential.
He was selected as Air Force Materiel Command's U-28A Command Chief Pilot (CCP), assigned to the 661st Aeronautical Systems Squadron in Denver. There, he led efforts to design, test and validate cutting edge and combat critical equipment, tactics, and procedures for a broad range of Special Operations Aircraft.
After promotion to lieutenant colonel, he became the squadron Director of Operations. Matt's battlefield accomplishments and pilot skills knew few rivals, but his military aviation legacy will remain one of a superbly skilled and selfless leader who worked tirelessly to ensure he left those around him more prepared to handle his nation's call to arms.
While Matt put his all into his military calling, he cherished his time with his family. Matt left behind his loving wife of almost 13 years, Allie Houser and four devoted children River, Jolene, Aksel and Welzie Kyle.
He grew up in a blended family that he was very close with, Todd (Mimie) Hall, Jill Anderson, Jamie Anderson (Shanna), Tara (Tyler) King, and Josh Boos; his parents, Wayne and Sandy Anderson of Rapid City; and many nieces and nephews that he considered siblings including Marisa, Connor and Megan King; Taylor Boos; Dylan, Laurin, and Evan Hall; Jared and Leah Anderson; Amanda, Lauren and Sydney Anderson.
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