Winston Day Chief
Thunder and Lightning: First Nation players pace Rush
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Managing Editor RAPID CITY — Thunder will rattle your house and lightning will blaze past you without a sound. The same goes for First Nation players Justin Sawyer and Winston Day Chief of the Rapid City Rush. For the Rapid City Rush of the Central Hockey League, winning has become a tradition. The team boastfully displays banners marking their success in the rafters of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, and like any successful franchise has developed a loyal fan base that follows the team closely. In a state whose population is spaced across long distances many travel far and wide to back up the hometown team. On any given night, the team plays in front of more than 5,000 fans sporting team apparel and jerseys where many ring one of the team's unique nuisances: the cowbell. What is often overlooked inside of the arena is a unique sense of unity that transcends the socio-economic, racial, and geographic divisions that often keep South Dakotans at an arms distance from one another. According to one Native fan in attendance at a recent game, “The Rush hockey games may be the only place in the state where 5,000 people can be seen cheering for Native athletes – all at the same time.” The Rush have been paced this year by the steady play of scorers like Conrad Reeder and the consistent defense of Ryan Palmer, but it is hard to not notice the fan reaction to the play of First Nation players Justin Sawyer and Winston Day Chief. Day Chief, a forward from Standoff, Alberta has resonated with the fans in Rapid City through his hardworking style of play and tendency to score off the rebound, while Justin Sawyer has latched himself on to fans by assuming the role of enforcer on the team. The 6’6” giant from Oshawa, Ontario, Sawyer has shown a willingness to literally bang it out with whoever chooses to challenge him or his teammates on the ice. Although the two’s on ice personalities are as different as can be, they are both quick to praise each other’s contributions to the team. “We actually sit next to each other in the locker room and because of that I have even gotten him to say a few words,” said Sawyer. “Winston is a good player and he works hard out there and even though he is quiet, he earns the respect of his opponents through his style of play.” Day Chief said about Sawyer, “It is great playing with him he is actually a really good player and he doesn’t get the credit he deserves for that. Everybody sees the fighting and the hits but he is great at clearing the zone and doesn’t turn the puck over.” As the assumed enforcer on the team Sawyer has the duty of delivering to the fans a part of hockey that is quite common at all levels of the game but even more prevalent in the CHL: the good old fashioned fist fight. However according to Sawyer there is more to it than just dropping the gloves. “I learned to play the game in the Canadian tough nosed style and I also played lacrosse and in both sports fighting is a big part of them…You have to pick your spots to energize your team and change the momentum. At home you can really fire up your teammates and the crowd with a fight but you can’t take bad penalties. On the road you have to be even more careful because if a guy gets the best of you it can fire their team up.” In the world of hockey Native players have developed a reputation as fighters. Sawyer and former Rush player Colt King demonstrated that toughness in their last game against each other when they engaged in an epic fight that went beyond the norm for bouts on skates. Day Chief on the other hand doesn’t necessarily embrace that stereotype of the fighting Native hockey player. Instead he is quite unassuming on the ice but that doesn’t mean he backs down from contact and has played his most physical games for the Rush this season. “It is because I’m healthy this year and my shoulder isn’t bothering me,” said Day Chief. Last season in the team’s home opener, Day Chief took a hard fall in to the boards that separated his shoulder and bothered him throughout the season. “Coach wanted me to work on getting more physical this year and so I have focused on it.” The Rush is off to the best start in the history of the league and will open a two game series this Friday at the ice arena. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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