Cedar Rapids, Iowa- The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have set a preliminary 28 player roster for the 2008-09 season in the wake of the club's tryout camp. The camp concluded yesterday."Camp was very competitive and as a result I think we've been able to put together a very solid group of players," said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson.
The RoughRiders' corps of veterans consists of forwards Robin Bergman, Dean Chelios, Kyle Flanagan, Ben Lynch, Vince Mihalek, Nick Oddo and Mike Seidel; defensemen Matt Donovan, Doug Leaverton and Paul Phillips; and goaltender Mike Johnson (who spent the bulk of last season with the North American Hockey League's St. Louis Bandits but did play two games for the RoughRiders).
The Riders next season will do without the services of Zak Stone and Garrett Vermeersch, who played for the team last year.
17 newcomers made the preliminary roster: forwards Greg Burke, Jeff Costello, Zach Lehrke, Cody Murphy, Tobias Nilsson-Roos, Jared Rickord, Scott Winkler, Zach Vierling, Eric Robinson, Brett Gensler; defensemen Nate Jensen, Derik Johnson, Darren Rowe, Frank Simonellie, Matthew Tennyson and Brock Carlston; and goaltender Troy Grosenick.
Per USHL rules, the RoughRiders are required to reduce their roster to 25 players on July 1.
The RoughRiders will open their ninth season in Cedar Rapids this fall. 2008-09 season tickets are currently available through the RoughRiders' business office (247-0340). Fans who pay for season tickets in full before August 15 will receive a significant discount in addition to a host of other benefits available exclusively to season ticket holders.
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