Rush sign Valentini, Thompson

Action photos of Ryan Valentini and Tristan Thompson

RAPID CITY, S.D. –The Rapid City Rush, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes, announced that forward Ryan Valentini and defenseman Tristan Thompson have been signed for the 2021-22 season.

Valentini comes to Rapid City for what will be his first ECHL season. The 24-year-old native of Mississauga, Ontario played professionally in Italy during the 2020-21 season for the Vipiteno Sterzing Broncos in the AlpsHL where he put up 32 points (10g-22a) in 32 games

Valentini played his junior hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights and Sudbury Wolves. In 2016-17, he notched 50 points (18g-32a) over 66 games with Sudbury. Valentini then played two years collegiately at the University of Guelph before turning pro.

Thompson enters his first season as a pro following a four-year college hockey career at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. In 136 career NCAA games, he registered 51 points (18g-33a).