Parker Bowman recently scored his first goal with the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL.
The 24-year-old was born in Bracebridge and signed with the South Dakota-based team in Feb. 2024. He netted the goal in his eighth game with the team on March 16 against the Kansas City Mavericks.
Bowman was one-on-one with Kansas City netminder Jack LaFontaine and with no Mavericks defenders around him, took his time and slotted the puck over the the goalie’s right shoulder.
“I couldn’t have drawn that up any better,” said Bowman. “I did get the puck from a great pass from my teammate. I looked up expecting their defenders there and once there weren’t. It was just me and the goalie and my eyes lit up.”
Along with the American Hockey League (AHL), the ECHL is one of the two minor hockey leagues recognized by the National Hockey League (NHL). The Rush and the Calgary Wranglers in the AHL are affiliated with the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
Before joining the Rush, Bowman played four seasons with the Nipissing University Lakers. He says not long after the season ended in Feb. 2024, Rapid City reached out to the team with a contract offer. “I signed it as fast as I could,” he adds.
Bowman says that putting on the Rapid City jersey and seeing the Calgary Flames logo on his shoulder is special. “It’s something that you don’t really know how to react to,” he continues.
Throughout his hockey career, Bowman says it was rare that his parents missed a game. However, the drive from Bracebridge to North Bay is a little easier than the 19-hour drive across the border to South Dakota.
Bowman’s mom, Debra, says she wasn’t able to attend the first seven games Bowman played with the Rush but made a point to be in the stands for game eight and was sitting only a few rows back when Bowman scored his first ECHL goal.
“It was a proud mom moment,” she says in between sharing pictures she took during the game.
“[My family] has supported me through my whole hockey career,” says Bowman. “I’m glad I was able to do that in front of them.”
While Bowman is now playing hockey professionally, he’s still making sure he finishes his schooling. He says he’s set to earn his Bachelor of Commerce from Nipissing this spring.
“I still love the game,” he says. “It’s been a big part of my life since I was little. I’m going to do this as long as I can.”