INDEPENDENCE, Mo.—Despite a two-goal night from Blake Bennett in his season debut, the Rapid City Rush fell to the Kansas City Mavericks, 5-2, at Cable Dahmer Arena on Friday.
Bennett, who scored a Rush ECHL-record 35 goals in his rookie season last year, returned from playing in Germany and had an immediate impact. Bennett scored a power play goal late in the second period, then an unassisted goal in the third for his eighth career multi-goal game.
Kansas City had built a 4-0 lead before Bennett’s scoring, though, and the Mavericks skated away with a three-goal victory on their home ice.
The game also featured two fights. Connor Mylymok knocked down Daniel Amesbury less than two minutes into the contest. Later in the first, Tyler Burnie defended a teammate by fighting Jimmy Mazza, his first scrap at the professional level.
Christian Propp made 30 saves on 34 shots, while Victor Ostman turned away 24 Rush shots in the victory.
Next game: Saturday, January 18 at Kansas City. 5:05 p.m. MST puck drop from Cable Dahmer Arena.