RAPID CITY - More than 500 names were submitted, and the Rapid City Professional hockey team has selected the top four team names in the Name-the-Team Contest.

"We were surprised by the response for name suggestions. It's great to see so many people in the community excited about hockey and to have names that relate to the heritage and history of South Dakota and the Black Hills," owner-partner Donny Ward said.

Fans can choose from the four selected team names; Rush, Road Hogs, Bison or Choppers.

The Rush recognizes the significance of the Black Hills Gold Rush. Gold deposits were discovered along French Creek in 1874 and Deadwood Gulch in 1875-76 causing thousands of gold-seekers to flock to the new town of Deadwood.

The Road Hogs and Choppers names reflect the significance of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Motorcyclists gather the first week of August to celebrate, ride and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts making Sturgis and the Black Hills nationally known throughout the world.

The Bison name is connected to the history of the area. The buffalo is a symbol of pride. It means strength for South Dakota.

Votes can be cast online at www.rapidcityprohockey.com through Sept. 12. The names are not displayed in any particular order.

The winning name will be chosen by the owners group and will be announced Sept. 13. Once the name is selected, Rapid City professional hockey will start designing a team logo. The team logo will be the main identifying emblem for this new franchise and may take as long as four to six weeks to complete.

For ticket information, call Rapid City Professional Hockey at 716-PUCK (7825).