Cedar Rapids RoughRiders claim the Clark Cup
May 10, 2005 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Cedar Rapids, Iowa- The Cedar Rapids Rough-Riders won the United States Hockey League's Clark Cup title, defeating the Sioux City Musketeers 4-1 in game five of the Clark Cup finals at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
The Riders won the best-of-five series three games to two to claim the first USHL title in the team's history. "Tonight our guys put in a tremendous effort," said RoughRiders coach and general manager Mark Carlson. "All season long these guys have worked so hard as a team and to cap it off this way is very special."
Ray Eichenlaub, Rob Ricci, Gary Steffes and Matt Vokes scored the Rider goals, while first year goaltender Alex Stalock finished off an outstanding post season with 24 saves. Eichenlaub's goal snapped a scoreless deadlock with just under a minute left in the first period. At 2:20 of the second period Rider captain Ricci extended the Cedar Rapids lead to 2-0 with what would prove to be the game winning goal. Just over five minutes later, Steffes widened the gap to three.
Whatever comeback hopes might have remained for the Musketeers at the start of the third period were obliterated when Vokes scored just 1:21 into the third to make it 4-0. A late Sioux City goal from Joe Charlebois did nothing to dampen the Riders' raucous celebrations after final the horn.
The Riders have won the Clark Cup after also earning a share of the Anderson Cup (regular season) title for the first time in club history. The Riders completed their drive to the Clark Cup with a 9-2 playoff record. The Riders went 42-13-5 during a record setting regular season.
Game by game recap of the series below:
April 29 Sioux City 0 at Cedar Rapids 5
May 1 Sioux City 2 at Cedar Rapids 1
May 5 Cedar Rapids 4 at Sioux City 3 (2OT)
May 7 Cedar Rapids 1 at Sioux City 2 (OT)
May 9 Sioux City 1 at Cedar Rapids 4
On tap: The 2005 USHL Entry Draft will be this Thursday, May 12 at 10am. The entire draft will available to the public at wwwushl.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from May 10, 2005
- Cedar Rapids RoughRiders claim the Clark Cup - USHL
- RoughRiders Clark Cup Celebration Tomorrow at Noon in Greene Square Park - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Stampede ready for Thursday's Draft - Sioux Falls Stampede
- RoughRiders Win Clark Cup - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
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