Photo/Graphic-Iowa Wild

When you think of the Charlotte Rush you think of consistency in their work. Everyone in the organization believes in setting the standard everyday.

That phrase, “set the standard”, and its variants often can be over used in this sport.

Not with the Charlotte Rush.

Sylvester starts work for the AHL Iowa Wild as a Video Coach a mere two years after working with the Charlotte Rush. He went from helping junior hockey players get better to progress to where he was, the USHL, to helping pro hockey players develop for the NHL.

How?

Read our excerpt from Ryan Cruthers on his time with the Rush along with our commentary on it. Mind you, this was not long after Ray started with the Stampede.

“Ray is a kid that I met at Robert Morris. The first thing that stuck out to me was his passion for hockey. He loved the hockey piece. That helps when your video guy understands the game. It’s not just a guy that can hit buttons. He was always asking questions. We spent a lot of time together talking about what his development plan looks like. He’s a better human being. The team loves him. we don’t win a national championship at the Elite and Premier level without Ray Sylvester.”

Cruthers also noted that Ray has the room and the respect of the Stampede players, a loaded roster with NHL draft picks , and future NHL draft picks.

Hear from Sylvester on what this moment means to him and what the Rush mean to him.

“My time in Charlotte was very beneficial to me as a hockey person and probably more importantly a human being. Wearing so many different hats with the Rush allowed me to learn how a hockey team and business work. I can’t thank Ryan and Julie cruthers enough for the time I spent with them. They are the best owners in the USPHL by a long shot. Anything you need they are there to support you! I will always look back on my time with the Rush as a place I absolutely needed to move on in my career. The Charlotte Rush provided me with personal development, hockey development, and the most amazing relationships that will last me a lifetime. I love the Charlotte Rush!”

Ray’s favorite moment with the Rush wasn’t a moment, but a culmination of getting to the top of the USPHL landscape with both teams. The double-dip year does not happen, as Cruthers said, without Sylvester.

Now the Wild, one of the premier organizations in the AHL, get to see what Cruthers first did at Robert Morris in Sylvester.

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