RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Rush, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, announced that rookie defensemen Geoff Fortman and Vinny Muto have been signed for the 2017-18 season.
Fortman comes back to the Rush after beginning his professional career with the club last season. He splashed right onto the scene for the Rush fresh out of college, registering eight points (4g-4a) in just nine games. Fortman made an immediate impact, registering at least one assist in his first three games with the Rush, and finishing with points in his last three games, including a trio of goals in his last two. Prior to joining the Rush, the native of Crystal Lake, Ill. played 137 games in four years of college hockey with Canisius College. Additionally, he skated with the NAHL’s Amarillo Bulls and won the 2013 Roberston Cup NAHL Championship.
Muto also comes back to the Rush after starting his professional career with the team towards the end of the 2016-17 campaign. He played a dozen games in a Rush uniform after his college career, notching his first two professional assists in the process. Before coming to Rapid City, the Niagara Falls, N.Y. native played 136 games over the span of four seasons with Niagara University, registering 50 points (12g-38a) with the Purple Eagles. In addition to his collegiate hockey background, Muto also played one season in the USHL that was split between the Lincoln Stars and Sioux Falls Stampede.
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