RAPID CITY – S.D. – Facing a must win situation Tuesday night, the Allen Americans did everything they could to extend the series to seven games, but in the end the Rapid City Rush came out on top with a game six double-overtime victory to win their first ever Ray Miron President’s Cup. Rapid City, in just their second season as a franchise, won the series four games to two, winning each of their last three games to claim the cup. It marks the third straight season a team has won their first championship. 
It wasn’t an easy task for the Rush however as they had to throw 64 shots at Allen goaltender Chris Whitley, who was nothing short of a titan between the pipes for the Americans.
The opening frame was an exciting, high tempo end to end affair with great chances both ways but the momentum went in favor of the Americans as they lit the lamp three times before the first buzzer sounded. Just 2:15 into the first period Nino Musitelli opened the scoring for the Americans off a pass by Colton Yellow Horn, who assisted on all three Americans goals in the game.
A late period power play for the Americans proved beneficial when Yellow Horn fed a pass from the point to Bruce Graham, who then fired a one timer past Rush goaltender Danny Battochio at 16:11 to put the Americans on top 2-0. Christian Gaudet rounded out the scoring for the Americans with just 28 seconds remaining, when he rocketed down the right wing boards and put a shot through Battochio’s five-hole.
The second period tempo equaled the first and the Rush began crashing the net hard, even taking Whitley and his net out and into the back boards at one point, but Whitley remained unfazed.
With the possibility of a game seven staring them down, the Rush pressured the Americans defense continually throughout the final frame of regulation. It took nearly 55 minutes for the Rush to get back in the game but they did so quickly in a full out assault in the Americans zone.
With just 5:06 remaining in regulation, the Rush narrowed the margin to one on a goal by Jon Pelle and found the equalizer two minutes later when Brendan Cook roofed a short side shot over Whitley at 16:54. The Rush continued their relentless pressure but could not get the go ahead goal as regulation expired and the game headed to what would be two overtime periods.
The tempo in overtime exceeded the action in regulation, both teams rushed headlong in a fury to get the game winner. For the Rush it would mean the Championship title and the President’s Cup; for the Americans it meant living to fight another day. Shots came in flurries, first by the Americans and then by the Rush before settling into end to end chances both ways.
Once again Chris Whitley put on a fantastic show, keeping the Americans in the game as the Rush brought an avalanche of shots and pressure to bear on his net throughout both overtime periods. It took nearly 40 minutes of extra time and 28 shots before the Rush could finally get one past Whitley. Scott Wray batted in the game winner off a pass by Les Reaney with just 32.1 ticks remaining on the clock, sending fans at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena into a frenzy and giving the Rush their first President’s Cup championship. Reaney was named the CHL Playoff Most Valuable Player. Reaney finished with nine goals and 17 assists, leading the Rush in scoring. He also scored a league-high four game winning goals in the playoffs. Other notable performances for the Rush in the series include forward Brendan Cook who finished with nine goals and 10 assists, Scott Wray who tallied eight goals and 13 assists and rookie goaltender Danny Battochio who won all 12 of the Rush’s playoff victories, setting a new CHL record for wins in a single post-season. Allen’s Justin Bowers finished with a league-high 30 points in the playoffs, coming just two points shy of tying the CHL record (32 points, Greg Pankewicz). So ends the Central Hockey League’s 18th season; no doubt, one of the best in its history. For the Rapid City Rush and their fans, the hard-earned championship will be celebrated with much gusto. For the Allen Americans, the trip home today will be solemn, but the first-year franchise has much to be proud of after a spectacular inaugural season. Six months from now, they will join the rest of the teams in the Central Hockey League in the quest for the 2011 Ray Miron President’s Cup. Contact the author at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com
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