January 6, 2010

Pelle Garners CHL Monthly Honor

Jon Pelle had a hot month of December for the Rapid City Rush.

The Central Hockey League on Wednesday named Pelle the Sher-Wood/TPS CHL Player of the Month for December.

Pelle, 23, missed several weeks early in the season with an injury, but bounced back with an outstanding December finishing with 19 points.

The West Islip, New York native and Harvard graduate finished the month with 10 of his 19 points coming on the power play and of his 10 goals, three were game winners. Pelle tallied points in all but one of the teams 12 games during the month that saw the Rush go on a six-game win streak to contribute to their 10-2-0 record on the month.

“It’s good to get noticed and it’s been fun. It’s been good coming back from the injury, and we’ve been winning a lot of games,” Pelle said.

The 5-foot-9, 177-pound forward currently stands in second place on his team in plus/minus with a plus-10 rating and his 23 points are sixth on his squad.

“We’ve got a great group of forwards up front. Playing with guys like Richie (Hansen) and (Scott) Wray and (Brendon) Hodge and (Les) Reaney every night, It’s pretty easy to get on the score sheet. They get you the puck and good things keep happening,” Pelle said.