RAPID CITY - They say everything is bigger in Texas.
One exception to that Lone Star legend could be the Amarillo Civic Center hockey arena, where the Rapid City Rush will skate against the home-team Amarillo Gorillas in Central Hockey League action at 6:05 p.m. MST on Friday night.
The Gorillas' home ice is substantially smaller - 187 feet long by 78 feet wide - compared to the usual 200-foot by 85-foot hockey rink standard.
"It's an arena that was modified for hockey," Rapid City head coach Joe Ferras said. "That's a lot less ice with guys that are so big and fast now. It's a fun place to play. The fans are right on top of you. It should be great night of hockey."
If Ferras sounds like he's familiar with the joint, he should be. He was the bench boss for the Amarillo franchise starting in the 2001-2002 season, when the team was known as the Amarillo Rattlers.
Ferras guided the renamed Gorillas to 30-plus wins and playoff appearances in four consecutive seasons.
After leaving Amarillo for a couple of seasons with the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Ferras returns to his old stomping grounds with the expansion Rush, currently in second place in the CHL's Northwest Division with a 2-1-4 record.
Amarillo holds down the fourth spot in the Southwest Division, trailing Odessa, New Mexico and Arizona, but the Gorillas have won two of their last three games after opening with five consecutive losses.
"They're a very good hockey team. They've won two of their last three games against Texas and Arizona, We've got to be ready for a battle. There are no nights off in the Central Hockey League," Ferras said.
The Gorillas are led by center Stuart MacRae, who leads the team with eight points, right-winger Sam Ftorek and forwards Luke Lynes and Joe Guenther.
Ftorek is son of former NHL coach Robbie Ftorek. Guenther returns after splitting last year between three East Coast Hockey League teams.
Rapid City counters with current CHL player of the month and league scoring leader Rich Hansen (18 points), Chris Lipsett, third with 15 points and Les Reaney with 14 points.
Reaney, Lipsett and Hansen all tallied goals and two assists in Rapid City's second win of the season, a 4-2 decision over Wichita on Nov. 2.
Like Ferras, Hansen and player-assistants Lipsett and Mark DeSantis also worked the ice for Amarillo before coming to Rapid City.
The Rush then make a return to Colorado to face the Eagles on Saturday. The two teams kicked off the season at the Budweiser Events Center last month. The Eagles won both games in an overtime shootout.
They gave me my professional start in coaching. They're great people. Some of my best friends are in Amarillo," Ferras said.
"It's going to be exciting to be on the other bench on Friday," he said.
"I wish them all the best," he said. "Except on Friday night."
On Saturday at 7:05 p.m., Rapid City returns to the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo., to face the division-leading Colorado Eagles for the third of 12 clashes between the two teams this season.
Rapid City opened its expansion season on Oct. 17-18 with two shootout losses to the Eagles, who won 27 of 32 games on home ice last year.
Colorado went on to reel off eight straight wins before losing to the Mississippi RiverKings last weekend.
Colorado is led by Riley Nelson's 17 points (5-12), Ryan Tobler 13 points (7-6), Kevin Ulanski 12 points (5-7), Erik Adams,11 points (3-8), Scott Polaski 11 points (2-9) and Greg Pankewicz, nine points (7-2).
Net-minders Andrew Penner and Morgan Cey are also solid for the Eagles.
"They have so many offensive weapons. It's so hard to shut them down," Ferras said.
Avoiding penalties will be key, he said
"You have to keep your feet moving and both hands on the stick and watch out for the little hooks and tugs," Ferras said. "We have to stay out of the box and we have to stay real tight defensively in our own zone."
Rapid City is on the down side of a CHL record-tying 14-game road swing to open the season.
Rapid City hosts Colorado on home ice on Nov. 29 at 2:05 p.m.
