RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELO) -- The Rapid City Rush professional hockey team has been entertaining fans since 2008. After a change in ownership in 2019, the Rush has been working to bring back that magic the team had in its early years. From 200 to over 11,000: Brandon’s population boom Before the seats can be filled, players start skating, or goals are scored, the Rapid City Rush make sure all behind-the-scenes operations are ready to go. "We'll get to the red lines, blue lines, all that stuff that you see today. Our big day's Thursday where we install logos and for the rest of the week it's just going to be putting floods down. Floods are at a 100 gallons at a time. Once we get to that 1,200-gallon mark, we know we're real close to where we need to be. Then we'll do a little ice maintenance and then the boys will be skating," Operations Manager Nathan Kleinschmit said. The Rapid City Rush work as a development location for the NHL's Calgary Flames. Head Coach and General Manager Scott Burt has been with the team for four years now, and has been preparing for this year ever since last season finished. "For us, it was about recruiting right away, it didn't stop. So we believe we have assembled a bunch of good young men that have chips on their shoulders and want to prove people wrong and are excited to come here to Rapid City," GM/Head Coach Scott Burt said. Garrett Klotz has made a name for himself as a veteran leader the past few years on the Rush. As players start to arrive a few weeks before the first game, the goal is to build chemistry right away. "Right, I think a lot of it has to do with team comradery, you know, like kind of the locker room stuff. If all the guys are meshing off the ice and getting along and hanging out, if we're just bonding and being a big band of brothers, I think that's huge because we can carry that out onto the ice here too you know," Rush Winger Garrett Klotz said. Another thing the Rush look to do throughout the year is to get out and engage with the community as much as they can. "The community's a big deal. You know, especially with a minor league team like this, we're nothing without our community. So the more we can do in the community and the more the community can do for us the better. So it's always fun and I like getting out into the community and kind of chit-chatting with the fans and the young kids," Klotz said. Klotz recently started a youth hockey camp to help develop future skaters. "When people come to pay to watch this group of young gentlemen play hockey we want them to be proud, we want a good showing and we want our guys to go out there and respect the play on the ice, that reflects people coming to watch these guys," Burt said. For operations, getting the ice laid out is step one, but during the season it's something they constantly maintain. "You know it's a big deal. We try to put out a good product for the teams and it makes it more enjoyable for the teams and the fans to watch. It's not just standing at the zam gate watching the game. You know, going back into the compressor room, checking the pressures, looking at all my glyco temps, which we try to keep around 16 to 17 degrees during the game," Kleinschmit said. "You know, they're getting ready for the ice right now, I think it'll be done any second. Our players are starting to arrive, so they're starting to get into town, they're excited to get going. We're excited to get going, you know, so hockey season is coming quick," Burt Said Very soon the first puck will drop, as the Rapid City Rush looks to get back on top. The Rapid City Rush home opener, also known as "Hocktober," is set for October 25th at The Monument Ice Arena.