Rush add Mattson, Pietroniro

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Rush, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames, announced that forwards Leif Mattson and Chad Pietroniro have been signed to contracts for the 2022-23 season.

Mattson arrives in Rapid City for his ECHL rookie season and second as a professional. He spent the 2021-22 season in France with Tours in the France2 league, where he had 38 points (19g-19a) in 25 games.

Prior to turning pro, the 23-year-old Mattson spent four seasons playing in the Western Hockey League for the Kelowna Rockets and the Spokane Chiefs.

Pietroniro is entering his first professional season in the North American ranks but comes to Rapid City with five pro seasons under his belt in Italy and France. He spent the 2021-22 season with Mulhouse in France’s Ligue Magnus, where he recorded 15 points (5g-10a) in 15 games.

The son of a former professional hockey player and long-time pro coach, Pietroniro has four brothers, all of whom are currently playing pro hockey. His father, Marco, spent six seasons as the head coach of the Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League from 2006-12.