Cedar Rapids, Iowa- The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders' Jeff Costello and Paul Phillips were selected in the National Hockey League Entry Draft today as were RoughRider alumnus Chris Wideman and incoming Rider Mac Bennett."This is great news for all these guys" said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. "Each of them has worked very hard to accomplish as much as they have and they all have very bright futures in ahead of them."
Bennett was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round with the seventy-ninth overall pick. Wideman went in the fourth round to the Ottawa Senators with the one hundredth choice. The Senators took Costello one round later with the one hundred forty-sixth selection. Phillips was tabbed by the Chicago Blackhawks in the seventh round with the one hundred ninety-fifth choice.
Bennett, an 18-year old defenseman, is set to start his first season with the Riders in the fall. The Warwick, Rhode Island, native played for Hotchkiss School in Connecticut last season. Bennett has already committed to the University of Michigan.
Defenseman Wideman, 19, was one of eight former RoughRiders who helped propel Miami of Ohio to April's NCAA title game. The St. Louis native last season led Miami in assists (26) and was named to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie Team. Wideman scored two goals and totaled 14 points in 53 games with the RoughRiders in 2007-08.
"It's been a long road to get here and it's very exciting," said Wideman. "I feel like the time I spent in Cedar Rapids was well worth it. It taught me a lot about discipline and making sacrifices and I learned a lot from Coach Carlson."
Costello, 18, scored 24 goals- second most on the team- and totaled 33 points in 54 games with the RoughRiders last season.
"I'm obviously really excited about this and playing for the RoughRiders has been huge for me," said Costello. "I've been able to elevate my game and prepare for the next level. Right now though my focus is on next year in Cedar Rapids and after that I'll see what's coming my way."
Costello, a Notre Dame recruit, was selected by the RoughRiders in the seventh round of the October, 2007 USHL Futures Draft with the eighty-third overall pick. He was named 2007-08 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Area High School Player of the Year after starring for Waukesha (Wisconsin) Catholic Memorial High School.
Phillips, 17, finished last season ranked eighth among United States Hockey League defensemen in points (33), tied for eighth among blue liners in goals (8) and tied for ninth in assists (25). The Darien, Illinois, native was one of just two RoughRiders who played in each of the team's 60 regular season games last year. Over his two seasons in Cedar Rapids, Phillips totaled nine goals and 36 points in 103 games. He will begin his college career at Denver in the fall.
Including the four Cedar Rapids draftees, a total of 29 players who have skated in the United States Hockey League or are on USHL teams' 2009-10 protected lists were selected today.
Bennett, Wideman, Costello and Phillips join Greg Burke (Washington, 2008), Matt Donovan (New York Islanders, 2008), Tommy Wingels (San Jose, 2008), Scott Winkler (Dallas, 2008), Alec Martinez (Los Angeles, 2007), Kent Patterson (Colorado, 2007), Justin Abdelkader (Detroit, 2005), Joe Fallon (Chicago, 2005), Pat McGann (Dallas, 2005), Alex Stalock (San Jose, 2005), Derek Peltier (Colorado, 2004), Nate Perkovich (New Jersey, 2004), P.J. Atherton (Tampa Bay, 2002), Bobby Goepfert (Pittsburgh 2002) and Dave Moss (Calgary, 2001) to bring the total number of RoughRider products drafted since the team arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1999 to 19.
To date four RoughRider alumni- the Flames' Moss, the Kings' Ted Purcell, the Red Wings' Abdelkader and the Avalanche's Peltier- have played in the National Hockey League.
The RoughRiders will open their eleventh season in Cedar Rapids this fall. 2009-10 season tickets are currently available through the RoughRiders' business office (247-0340). Fans who pay for season tickets in full before August 14 will receive a significant discount in addition to a host of other benefits available exclusively to season ticket holders.
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