RAPID CITY- Sometimes ice hockey defensemen don't get their due for a job well done, especially when that job involves making sure something doesn't happen.

"Your main mindset is to protect your own goal and not to be scored on," said Rapid City Rush D-man Jamie VanderVeeken, stating the obvious part of his job description.

But while goalies are measured by the number of pucks that get through for the other team against the shots on goal they stop, there is no such statistic for the defensemen, at least in the Central Hockey League.

Blocked shots are tallied in the National Hockey League and elsewhere in the minors, but not listed in the CHL, simply because of a lack of bodies to keep track of that particular aspect of the game.

But players and coaches take notice of a good defensive effort.

"I keep track from watching the game films," said Rush head coach Joe Ferras. "It's something your team takes a ton of pride in."

Ferras said Luke Fritshaw leads the club "by a mile," in blocked shots for the Rush.

Ferras even calls shot-blocking an art form for players wearing far less padding than the last line of defense, the goaltender.

"These guys are timing it when that player makes that shot that they can get themselves in there where they are the most protected," Ferras said. "But at the same time, when they do get hit, they can get up and re-enter the play. They block the shot and keep going. It's an art, but it has to have a willingness to sacrifice yourself for the team. Some guys have that and some guys don't."

That's all part of the show, said Rush player-assistant Mark DeSantis.

"If you don't come out of a game with a little bit of bruise or an ache, I look at it like you're not playing hard enough," said DeSantis. "Its part of the game, and you can't worry about getting hurt, or it's going to happen. Hopefully it hits you in the right spot."

Even though the league doesn't list blocked shots, DeSantis says the team does take note.

"It doesn't go unnoticed. The guys in the locker room know and the coach knows," DeSantis said.

"It really shows when you're on a penalty kill, say a 5-on-3. You're kind of an unsung hero when you're blocking shots," said VanderVeeken. "They don't have a stat for it, and it goes kind of unnoticed. The fans like to see the goals and the big hits, A big shot block on a penalty kill is also a big thing, too, and it gets the guys going."

VanderVeeken did get noticed in Rapid City's 4-0 win over Colorado on Saturday, scoring just the third goal by a Rush defenseman this year, joining DeSantis and Gio Flamminio in the goal column.

Former Rush defenseman Paul Holder also found the net for Rapid City, but he had been moved up the forward spot at the time.

Rush defenseman Kyle Sheen picked up a Colorado turnover in the neutral zone, and got the puck to VanderVeeken, joined by Chris Di Ubaldo on the three-man rush for Rapid City.

"I shot for low pad and it happened to squeak through on (Colorado goalie) Morgan Cey, VanderVeeken recalled. "That was my first one of the year and you're always happy to get that one out of the way, especially in your home barn with 5,200 people behind you. You get pretty excited."

All worth the sacrifice for a defenseman.

Title: Rapid City Rush Date: November 28th, 2008 Follow the Rush at www.rapidcityjournal.com. VIEW PRESENTATION »