It's becoming apparent after three days of drills and scrimmages in preparation for the 2009-2010 Central Hockey League season. Putting the puck in the net should be far less of a concern for the Rapid City Rush.

"Last year, there were 21 games we lost by one goal," Rush coach Joe Ferras said. "There were games when we had a lot of chances to score against teams and we couldn't finish. Now we've got guys that are proven goal scorers, guys that can go into heavy traffic, and score and that's important."

The Rush boast a blend of returning leaders from last year's 22-33-9 expansion team that failed to make the playoffs, and newcomers expected to add a variety of skills and the depth to find the net on a regular basis.

"We've got some playmakers, some shooters and some guys that can hit like a truck. We've got a pretty good mix up front and I'm excited," said Rush player-assistant Brendon Cook, who lit the lamp 34 times and added 41 assists last year skating for Nottingham of England's Elite Ice Hockey League.

Other newcomers on the offensive side include another player-assistant, Scott Wray, and power forward Colt King, both of the now-shuttered Rocky Mountain Rage and Derek Campbell, who had 13 goals and 12 assists for the CHL's Memphis RiverKings in 2007-2008 and tallied 13 goals and 29 assists for Basingstoke

Bison of the EIHL last year.

Wray and King combined for 52 goals and 64 assists to lead the Rage to their only playoff appearance last year.

Returning Rush center Rich Hansen led Rapid City with 64 points, (18 goals-46 assists). Also expected to contribute are left-winger Jon Pelle (23 goals, 23 assists, 46 points) and Derek LeBlanc (26-19-45).

LeBlanc remains with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League while younger brother, Devon LeBlanc, and Jason Hill, both rookies, are in camp for the Rush.

Devon brings some junior hockey scoring punch to the table, scoring 14 goals and 16 assists for Seattle of the Western Hockey League last year. Hill skated four seasons for Buffalo (N.Y.) State.

Also vying for a return spot are R.G. Flath, Blaine Jarvis and Les Reaney.

Flath scored nine goals and had seven assists while missing 24 games because of injury last year. Jarvis was another playmaker with six goals and 17 helpers last year.

Reaney, under contract last year with the Edmonton Oilers, scored five goals and added 10 assists in just eight games with the Rush before being reassigned by the Oilers to the Dayton Bombers of the AHL, where he tallied 15 goals and 28 assists in 46 games.

With all that firepower around, Pelle noticed a difference from the first whistle Monday.

"Right away I noticed the quickness. We've got a lot of forwards who can get up and down the ice. Speed's going to be one of our strong suits," he said.

Cook believes the Rush should be able to light the lamp from any of three different combinations of players, and not rely on the "pretty" goals.

"Teams aren't going to be able to key on one guy or one line. We're going to have two or three lines that can score. That's big. You can't really look to shut down one line. If one line's not going, then we can look for another one to get it done," he said.

"Guys know they're going to have to go to the tough areas and get dirty, like sticking your nose in front of the net for a rebound, when you know you're going to get a punch to the face or a crack to the back," Cook said.

Ferras faces some difficult choices in the coming days, with his current slate of 26 prospects to be whittled down to 19 players well before the start of the season on Oct. 16.

"We're very happy with the work ethic. The five sessions have been fantastic. It's so early to tell, and we've got some tough decisions to make," he said.

Rush notes: Rush coach Joe Ferras canceled a scheduled Wednesday afternoon scrimmage to allow his players to rest. "We've been working them pretty hard, and we want them to have the best opportunity in the games this weekend," Ferras said.

- A skate is scheduled for the Rush today from 10 a.m. to noon, with this weekend's preseason opponent, the Amarillo Gorillas, scheduled to take to the ice from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

- The Rush and Gorillas are scheduled for a light workout Friday before the first of two preseason games at 7:05 p.m. The second game is Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena.