Throughout his hockey career, Lively netminder Danny Battochio has made a habit of breaking new ground. On New Year's Eve, in Rapid City (South Dakota), that tradition continued.

Battochio became the first netminder in Rapid City Rush history to be credited with scoring a goal as the hometown Central Hockey League team bounced the Tulsa Oilers 6-2.

With his team leading 5-2 and just over three minutes to play, Battochio entered the history books after an errant Tulsa pass back towards a defenseman found its way right back into a vacated Oilers' cage.

With Battochio being the last Rapid City player to have touched the puck, the former Ottawa 67's star was credited with the goal, the first of his career.

With his team sitting in 4th place in the Turner Division, Battochio is much more focused these days on the other end of the rink, helping work his team deep into the CHL playoffs.

With 19 games under his belt, the local product who recently celebrated his 26th birthday has posted a goals against average of 2.78, with a .902 save percentage and a record, between the pipes, of 9-7-1-2.

Battochio is in his third year with the Rush, sharing the netminding duties with Winnipeg native Tim Boron. Former Sudbury Wolves' ironman Bobby Chaumont sits seventh in league scoring, registering 36 points in 29 games in his rookie season with the Fort Wayne Komets.