LOVELAND, Colo. - It was an unceremonious opening, as the Rapid City's first professional hockey team quietly took the ice in Colorado Friday night. They skated out in the darkness, no introductions - those were saved for the home Colorado Eagles.

But nonetheless, it still gave Rush majority owner Scott Mueller chills.

"Just to see it finally happen is really exciting," Mueller said.

Opening night for South Dakota's first professional hockey team was somewhat muted. The Eagles were introduced to the capacity home crowd of 5,200 through shooting pillars of flame and dry-ice fog. The Rush players took to their end of the ice out of the spotlight and without a mention.

"It was a little disappointing that they didn't introduce them, but it was exciting to see them out on the ice," said Jeni Leberknight of Rapid City, who accompanied nine Rushmore Hockey League players to the game. The Rapid City fans who made the trip to Colorado got their money's worth in the opener, as the Rush took the Eagles to an overtime shootout before falling, 7-6.

One of those Rushmore players was Jack Oberg, who celebrated his 10th birthday at the game.

"He had no idea he was coming here until we pulled him out of school today," said his mother, Jennifer Oberg. "It was a surprise."

"They're very excited to see their first hockey game and we'll be at lots of Rush home games," Leberknight said.

So will many others.

Mueller said Friday night the team has sold out its suites and has sold 1,600 season tickets.

"People were afraid of it at first," said Mueller, "but now they've completely grasped it. The corporate response from the business community has been phenomenal."

Rapid City will have another shot at Colorado tonight in Loveland, one of 11 more meetings between the Northwest Division rivals. Colorado is also the opponent for Rapid City's home opener Nov. 29 at the new Rushmore Plaza Civic Center ice arena.

"It'll be a huge rivalry," Mueller said

For another 13 road games, Rapid City will have to get used to a tepid welcome until that first home game while finishing touches are added to the new arena.

The long road stint will actually help the team, said forward Garrett Prosofsky, who signed with Rapid City after being picked up in the CHL expansion draft in June. Prosofsky said he was looking forward to skating for a new team in a area relatively new to hockey.

"When we get on the road we'll be tight and get along with each other, When we're at home, everybody has their own ways to go with their wives and families," he said.

"It'll be nice to put on the Rapid City jersey, but it'll be great to play at home," said defenseman John Neal of Oakland Ontario , who came to Rapid City as a free agent from the Austin Ice Bats.

Neal is no stranger to helping start a new franchise, having skated for the CHL's Youngstown (Ohio) Steelheads in their inaugural season.

"Things are great in Rapid City. The only difference is they're still finishing the arena," Neal said. "The guys are really excited to play here."

Leberknight was also impressed with the Eagles venue, but …

"Ours will be nicer," she said.