Butcher rejoins Rush

RAPID CITY, S.D. - The Rapid City Rush, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames, announced veteran forward Alec Butcher has returned to Rapid City for the 2026-27 season.

Butcher, 32, is back for his second stint with the Rush. In the 2021-22 season, Butcher’s only prior year with the Rush, the Anchorage, Alaska native recorded 53 points (23g-30a) in 69 games, career bests in all three scoring categories.

Since last suiting up with Rapid City, Butcher has split the last four years between the Tulsa Oilers and Reading Royals.

Butcher is entering his eighth professional season, all in the ECHL. Between Wheeling, Rapid City, Tulsa and Reading, Butcher has tallied 259 career points (122g-137a) in 417 games. He has also reached the playoffs in five consecutive seasons and skated in 34 postseason games, including all 11 contests during Rapid City’s 2022 Kelly Cup Playoff run.