News
Rush Goaltenders Find Opportunities Overseas
July 1, 2013, 4:56 pm
(Rapid City, SD) – Rapid City Rush announced today that goaltenders
Danny Battochio and Tim Boron have signed overseas for the 2013-14
season. The goaltenders have combined for over 160 wins and 300
appearances for the Rush organization. The Rush plan to announce their
first acquisition of the upcoming season tomorrow.After spending the first four years of his career in the Black Hills, Battochio has inked a deal with Atyrau Beyberis in Kazakhstan for next season. The goaltender missed the end of the 2011-12 season and the beginning of last season due to a knee injury.
“I can't begin to express how grateful I am to have been a part of the Rapid City Rush organization for the past 4 years,” said Battochio. “I have so many cherished memories of my time in Rapid City that I could have never experienced elsewhere. It would have never been possible and I am so thankful to all my friends, family, and fans that have supported me throughout the highs and lows of my career here. I've been truly blessed given the opportunity to play for the best organization, in front of the best fans, in the best city.”
Battochio is best known for backstopping the Rush to the 2010 Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup. At the end of his rookie campaign, he ranked 2nd in wins (28), 3rd in goals against average (2.57) and 4th in save percentage (.918). For his regular season efforts, Battochio was named Rookie of the Year, marking the first-ever major end of the year award for the Rush, and also earned a spot on the All-Rookie team.
A native of Lively, Ontario, Battochio set a Rush record by winning nine-straight games spanning from late January through mid-February 2011, and was also named CHL Goaltender of the Week on two separate occasions. By seasons’ end, he led the league in wins (30), games played (54) and minutes played (2989), ranked 3rd in saves (1359), and finished 5th in goals against average (2.61) and shutouts (3).
Battochio’s time with Rapid City also included the first and only goal by a goaltender in Rush history and just 4th ever in CHL history (12/31 vs. TUL).
After three seasons in Rapid City, Tim Boron has signed with Les Rapaces de Gap in France for the upcoming season. Last season, the 7-year veteran led all CHL goaltenders in save percentage for the second-consecutive season (.923). He also finished 4th overall in goals against (2.42), 5th in wins (20), and 5th in saves (1012). In eight appearances in March, Boron went 5-1-1, posting a very impressive 1.72 goals against average and .941 save percentage to earn Warrior CHL Goalie of the Month.
“As we prepare for our new adventure overseas, I would like to thank everyone for all the support I have had in Rapid City,” stated Boron. “Throughout my 3 years playing for the Rush I made a lot of great friends and will be leaving with plenty of great memories. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I had the opportunity to play for a great organization and also had the pleasure of playing in front of amazing fans. Thanks for making my time here a great experience.”
In the 2011-12 season, the Winnipeg, Manitoba product posted impressive numbers, leading all CHL goaltenders with a .925 save percentage while also finishing tied for first with three shutouts. The veteran goalie also ranked 4th in goals against (2.44) and 5th in wins (24).
The 6-foot, 177-pound Boron joined the Rush at the midway point of the 2010-11 season where he won his first eight decisions and finished with a very impressive 9-2-0 record during the regular season. The netminder’s play carried over into the playoffs where he led all goaltenders with a 2.01 goals-against average and .941 save percentage in 12 games played. In game #4 of the Turner Conference Finals, a game that finished as the fifth longest playoff game in CHL history, Boron broke a league record that stood for over fifteen years, making 68 saves against the Colorado Eagles
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