Photo Credit-Charlotte Rush

Head Coach Troy Schwab of the Charlotte Rush was happy as could be for the Rush. When your group goes 8-0, you have every reason to be. Hear from him on the weekend, standouts, and much more.

“As an organization we had a very good weekend. Being able to go 8-0 against some very good competition was a great accomplishment and a good step forward in our development and our process on the way to a long run towards a National Championship.

The Elite team got very good goal tending on their way to 4 wins this past weekend. Four different goalies got the win at the elite level this past weekend and we only gave up 2 goals the whole weekend. Our goalies played very well.

First game was against the Tampa Bay Juniors in a very tight checking game. We scored two goals in the second half and played very good defensively to get the win. The way the schedule lined up game 2 and game 3 were against the Jr. Blades. Game 2 the Elite team played very well. Game 3 didn’t start till 10pm and the game had very little emotion and energy to it. I gave our guys credit as they stuck with it and ended up getting the win.  The final game for Elite against a very good Florida Eels team was our best game of the weekend. The Premier team brought the energy in the stands and our Elite team fed off of it. We played very well for the first 2 periods and then took over and put it out of reach in the third. 

Dylan Gorman is a player who has only got a few starts this season. He works hard every day, is a great teammate and a great kid. The players rallied around him and got him the shutout against the Jr. Blades. Kilian Flock came down from Premier to play a couple games and gave us a boost offensively. Jack LaMothe continues to play big boy hockey and is getting rewarded for it. Wilder Outman plays hard every day. Never takes a rep off. He is joining a list of former Rush players who are considered the best in the USPHL at the Elite Level.  

Premier did, what we expect Premier to do. Win Hockey Games! 

Our first game was against the Tampa Bay Juniors and that was the best game we have played all year. It was a fun game to be a part. The elite team brought the energy and our premier team dominated from start to finish. We had contributions from everyone in our lineup. Getting off to a good start at the showcase helps set you up to have a good weekend. Atlanta played us tough in game 2. It was good challenge for us to continue to stay on the job even when things aren’t going your way. The win set us up for a matchup with the Florida Eels in Game 3. This was a playoff game from start to finish. This was a game that will give us the experience and confidence going down the stretch that we can win close games. That we can win tough, gritty games. We are a better team today after playing that game against the Eels. Game 4 against the Jr. Blades was a good way to head into Christmas Break. Humphrey, Flock, and Banks lead the way offensively to a convincing 9-0 win. 

Livio Azevedo has been very good for us since day 1. He plays a very hard nose, physical stye game. He doesn’t shy away from contact and that opens up space for him to make plays and he’s getting rewarding early in the season. Parker Banks is playing with a ton of confidence right now, and it show in his play all weekend long. Conor Humphrey and Kilian Flock drew into the Premier lineup on Monday and made an immediate impact. 

Devin Stephens and Nick Anderson are going to prove that they are the best goalie tandem in the league here shortly. Devin has come in, got comfortable, made the saves he is supposed to make, and then make the saves that was need him to make. 

I mentioned it coming out of our Columbia weekend, but the way the Premier and Elite team supported each other from the Stands this season has been a great signs for the Family bond that we look to have within our organization. We believe that family atmosphere and culture will lead us to more wins and seeing it this weekend made me excited about the next 3 months.  

Premier and Elite were both tested in different ways this weekend. Tight games, emotional games, even blow out games all played a part in our development and process to make us better. Some players got opportunities they don’t usually get this weekend and they elevated to the occasion. Excited for a break for all players and staff to get a reset, but excited to get back to work on our way to a Championship season.”

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