USHL Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Weekly Update

Published on October 19, 2004 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release


COMING IN

The RoughRiders remain the only United States Hockey League team unbeaten in regulation this season. The Riders, who have the league's best winning percentage (.900), extended their team record season opening unbeaten streak to five straight games with a pair of wins last weekend.

Friday night the RoughRiders won their home opener, defeating the arch rival Waterloo Black Hawks 4-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 4,125. The following evening the Riders scored a wild 6-5 shootout victory over the Indiana Ice in Indianapolis. That victory enabled the RoughRiders to move into a tie with the Ice atop the USHL's East Division. The RoughRiders have two games in hand on Indiana.

Sunday's game was also the three hundredth in RoughRiders history. Coach Mark Carlson has been behind the bench for all 300 games.

This weekend the RoughRiders face their first three game in three night stretch of the season. Friday's game is the final contest in a stretch which will have seen the RoughRiders play five of their first six games on the road. Saturday's tilt marks the beginning of a three game homestand.

One of the keys to the RoughRiders' early success has been a balanced attack. 15 players have picked up at least one point and ten players have notched two or more points. Eleven different forwards have recorded at least one point and ten different forwards have scored at least one goal. No Rider has scored more than one goal in a single game.

Jon Grabarek scored for the first time this season in last Saturday night's win, a goal that enabled Grabarek to tie the team career goal scoring record (38).

Sunday's shootout was the third the RoughRiders have endured in five games this season. The Riders have won two of those three shootouts.

Chicago went 1-2 last week. The Steel fell 4-2 last Thursday in Indiana and dropped a 4-3 decision at home to Lincoln last Friday before bouncing back with a 3-2 win over Des Moines Saturday.

Des Moines suffered back-to-back losses last weekend and has gone winless (0-2-1) in its last three games. The Bucs fell 3-1 at Indiana last Friday before suffering another road loss Saturday in Chicago.

Sunday's game is the second of two this weekend for Des Moines. The Buccaneers host the Waterloo Black Hawks Saturday night.

Former RoughRider forward Sean Muncy will make his first Cedar Rapids Ice Arena appearance as a visiting player Sunday. Muncy was dealt to the Bucs in exchange for future considerations on September 27.

LAST WEEK

Cedar Rapids

Saturday, October 16: Cedar Rapids 4 Waterloo 1

The RoughRiders scored four unanswered goals on the way to victory. The Riders took control of the game with a three goal outburst in a span of five minutes in the second period as Jon Grabarek (who also had an assist), Brandon Svendsen and Shane Lovdahl found the net in rapid fire fashion. Jordan Pietrus's goal early in the third period finished off Waterloo. Alex Stalock made 26 saves to earn the win in goal.

Sunday, October 17: Cedar Rapids 6 Indiana 5

The Riders again demonstrated their explosiveness, scoring four times in five minutes 13 seconds to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 second period lead. Rob Ricci, Ted Purcell, Matt Vokes and Billy Loupee each contributed a goal to the onslaught. Ricci, Purcell and Vokes also added one assist apiece. The Riders fell behind again in the third period, but Erik Felde scored with 9:55 remaining to force overtime. After making 29 saves in regulation and overtime, Stalock stopped four of five penalty shots in the shootout. Jon Grabarek and Purcell scored for Cedar Rapids in the shootout.

Chicago

Thursday, October 14: Indiana 4 Chicago 2

Goals from T.J. Fox and Alan Thompson twice enabled the Steel to come from behind to tie the game, but Chicago could not provide a response to two Indiana third period goals. Billy Sauer made 30 saves but suffered the loss in goal.

Friday, October 15: Lincoln 4 Chicago 3

For a second straight night the Steel battled back from a pair of one goal deficits to tie the game, but eventually suffered defeat. David Marshall scored both tying goals and Kevin Swallow cut the Lincoln lead to 4-3 with a third period goal but their efforts were not enough. Defenseman Cody Lampl added a pair of assists to the Chicago cause. Shane Connelly started the game in net for the Steel but was replaced by Billy Sauer at 15:35 of the second period after allowing four goals on 17 shots.

Saturday, October 16: Chicago 3 Des Moines 2

Shane Connelly turned in a stellar 47-save effort to backstop the Steel to a win. David Marshall's goal snapped a 2-2 tie at 3:04 of the third period and Chicago hung on the rest of the way. The Steel had taken a 2-0 lead on goals by Chris Clackson (who also had an assist) and Sami Liimatainen, but the Bucs battled back to tie the game with two second period goals.

Des Moines

Friday, October 15: Indiana 3 Des Moines 1

By the time Alex Laseen scored Des Moines' first and only goal at 3:18 of the third period, the Ice had already scored three. Pat Watson took the loss despite making 34 saves, including 16 on 18 shots in the second period.

Saturday, October 16: Chicago 3 Des Moines 2

Chad Rau and Trevor Lewis scored just over two and a half minutes apart in the second period to erase a 2-0 deficit, but the Steel retook the lead for good early in the third period. Des Moines fell despite outshooting Chicago 49-37. Cory Gershon (34 saves) suffered the loss in goal.

TOP POINT SCORERS

Cedar Rapids GP G A PTS

Rob Ricci 5 1 5 6

Justin Abdelkader 5 2 2 4

Greg Collins 5 1 3 4

(several players tied with 3 points)

Chicago GP G A PTS

TJ Fox 9 4 2 6

Kevin Swallow 9 4 2 6

David Marshall 9 4 1 5

Alan Thompson 8 3 2 5

(several players tied with 4 points)

Des Moines GP G A PTS

Chad Rau 7 3 4 7

Matt Greer 7 3 2 5

Dustin Fulton 7 1 4 5

Trevor Lewis 7 2 2 4

(several players tied with 3 points)

LEADERS

Cedar Rapids

Goals- several players tied with 2

Assists- Rob Ricci (5)

Points- Rob Ricci (6)

Plus/Minus- Erik Felde (+4)

Penalty Minutes- Zach Miskovic (12)

Power Play Goals- Zach Miskovic, Matt Vokes, Shane Lovdahl (1)

Shorthanded Goals- none

Alex Stalock ranks fifth in the league in goals against average (2.27) and is tied four fourth in wins (3).

Chicago

Goals- TJ Fox, Kevin Swallow, David Marshall (4)

Assists- Chris Walsh (4)

Points- TJ Fox, Kevin Swallow (6)

Plus/Minus- Cody Lampl (+4)

Penalty Minutes- Eric Lampe (29)

Power Play Goals- TJ Fox (3)

Shorthanded Goals- TJ Fox (1)

Fox is tied for second in the league in power play goals...Lampl is tied for fifth among defensemen in points (4).

Des Moines

Goals- Chad Rau, Matt Greer (3)

Assists- Chad Rau, Dustin Fulton (4)

Points- Chad Rau (7)

Plus/Minus- Chad Rau (+5)

Penalty Minutes- Alex Laseen (34)

Power Play Goals- several players tied with 1

Shorthanded Goals- (none)

Rau is tied for eighth in the league in points...Laseen is tied for fifth in penalty minutes.

GOALTENDERS

Cedar Rapids GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Alex Stalock 3 185 2.27 3-0-0 0 .914

Dan Tormey 2 130 3.23 1-0-1 0 .891

Chicago GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Billy Sauer 4 202:04 1.48 2-1-0 0 .947

Shane Connelly 6 333:29 3.42 1-5-0 0 .896

Des Moines GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Pat Watson 6 367:12 2.78 1-4-1 0 .916

Cory Gershon 1 59:25 3.03 0-1-0 0 .919

WHO'S HOT

Cedar Rapids

Justin Abdelkader: recorded point in four of his first five games

Greg Collins: one goal, three assists in his last three games

Erik Felde: two goals, one assist in his last three games

Jon Grabarek: one goal, two assists in his last two games after going pointless in his first three games

Rob Ricci: recorded at least one point in each of his first five games...recorded one assist in each of his first five

games...tied for the longest active assist streak in the USHL

Alex Stalock: has won his first three USHL starts

Chicago

T.J. Fox: two goals and two assist in his last five games

Cody Lampl: three assists in his last three games

David Marshall: scored three goals in his last two games, four goals in his last four games

Eric Slais: one goal, three assists in his last five games

Alan Thompson: five game point scoring streak (3-2-5) before failing to record a point last Saturday against Des

Moines

Shane Connelly: made 47 saves to earn his first win last Saturday against Des Moines after starting the season with

five consecutive losses

Des Moines

Dustin Fulton: four assists in his last four games

Chad Rau: six points (two goals, four assists) in his last four games

WIN-LOSS

Cedar Rapids Chicago Des Moines

Home: 1-0-0 Home: 1-4-0 Home: 1-1-2

Away: 3-0-1 Away: 2-2-0 Away: 0-3-0

vs. East Division: 4-0-0 vs. East Division: 2-3-0 vs. East Division: 1-3-1

vs. West Division: 0-0-1 vs. West Division: 1-3-0 vs. West Division: 0-1-1

GOALS

Cedar Rapids Chicago Des Moines

Goals For Per Game: 4.00 (2) Goals For Per Game: 2.44 (9) Goals For Per Game: 2.57 (8)

Goals Against Per Game: 3.00 (tie 4) Goals Against Per Game: 2.78 (3) Goals Against Per Game: 3.14 (tie 8)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Cedar Rapids Chicago Des Moines

Power Play: 13% 3/23 (7) Power Play: 11.1% 6/54 (8) Power Play: 8.3% 3/36 (10)

Penalty Kill: 95% 1/20 (2) Penalty Kill: 83.1% 10/59 (10) Penalty Kill: 83.3 6/36 (9)

Shorthanded Goals For: 0 Shorthanded Goals For: 1 Shorthanded Goals For: 0

Shorthanded Goals Against: 2 Shorthanded Goals Against: 0 Shorthanded Goals Against: 0

SERIES

vs. Chicago 2004-05

9/30/04 Cedar Rapids 2 at Chicago 1

GP W-L-SOL PTS H A OPP REC OPP PTS

2004-05 1 1-0-0 2 0-0-0 1-0-0 0-1-0 0

All-Time 25 16-7-2 34 9-3-0 7-4-2 9-15-1 19

vs. Des Moines 2004-05

9/25/04 Cedar Rapids 4 at Des Moines 3 (so)

GP W-L-SOL PTS H A OPP REC OPP PTS

2004-05 1 1-0-0 2 0-0-0 1-0-0 0-0-1 1

All-Time 25 15-7-3 33 7-4-1 8-3-2 10-9-6 26

Top Point Scorers/Season Series

Cedar Rapids vs. Chicago

Cedar Rapids GP G A PTS Chicago GP G A PTS

Matt Vokes 1 1 0 1 TJ Fox 1 1 0 1

Justin Abdelkader 1 1 0 1 Kevin Swallow 1 0 1 1

Rob Ricci 1 0 1 1

Cedar Rapids vs. Des Moines

Cedar Rapids GP G A PTS Des Moines GP G A PTS

Zach Miscovic 1 1 1 2 several players tied with 1 point

several players tied with 1 point

Goaltenders/Season Series

Cedar Rapids vs. Chicago

Cedar Rapids GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Alex Stalock 1 60 1.00 1-0-0 1 .950

Chicago GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Shane Connelly 1 59:25 2.02 0-1-0 0 .920

Cedar Rapids vs. Des Moines

Cedar Rapids GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Dan Tormey 1 65 2.77 1-0-0 0 .885

Des Moines GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Pat Watson 1 65 2.77 0-0-1 0 .935

ROUGHRIDERS ROSTER

Forward Phil Axtell made his USHL debut last Saturday night. Axtell (knee) missed the Riders' first three games.

Forward Kyle Solomon made his RoughRider debut Sunday evening in Indiana. Solomon has been with the team since the start of the season, but was not in uniform for the first four games.

COACHES

Cedar Rapids

Mark Carlson, 6th year (147-125-28)

Mark Carlson has been the RoughRiders' coach since the team arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1999-2000. He has led the RoughRiders to four straight winning seasons and four straight berths in the Clark Cup playoffs. The Riders are one of just three USHL teams to have reached the post season each of the last four years.

Carlson is just three wins short of the 150 victory plateau. He earned his one hundredth coaching win on January 11, 2003 when the RoughRiders defeated the Sioux City Musketeers 3-1 in Sioux City. Carlson has coached 298 regular season games over the course of the Riders' five-plus seasons.

He was behind the bench for his three hundredth game as RoughRiders coach as the Riders defeated the Indiana Ice 6-5 in a shootout in Indianapolis on Sunday, October 17, 2004.

Prior to taking over the RoughRiders in 1999, Carlson spent four seasons as a collegiate assistant coach at Northeastern and Massachusetts-Lowell. In his playing days, Carlson was a forward at Lowell and was a 1987 draft pick of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins.

Chicago

Will Nichol, 2nd year (37-28-4)

Will Nichol piloted the Steel to a 34-22-4 record and the East Division title last season in his first year as the club's head coach. Nichol was a Chicago assistant under Steve Richmond in 2001-02. He spent 2002-03 coaching IMG Academy's midget AAA team. Nichol has also had assistant coaching stints in the college ranks with Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point (his alma mater) and Division I Miami of Ohio.

Des Moines

Bob Ferguson, 18th year (515-305-40); 9th year Des Moines (259-138-31)

Bob Ferguson collected his five hundredth career USHL coaching win on January 17, 2004 when the Bucs defeated the St. Louis Heartland Eagles 2-1 in Chesterfield, Missouri. Ferguson is the first coach in USHL history to reach the 500-win plateau.

Ferguson is in the midst of his second tour with the Bucs. Prior to his first stint in Des Moines, he spent nine years as coach of the the Sioux City Musketeers. Since returning to the Bucs bench in 2001-02 after spending six years in minor pro hockey, Ferguson has turned in a record of 89-81-18.

During his first run in Des Moines (1990-95) Ferguson led the Buccaneers to two Clark Cup (playoff) championships (1992 and 1995), two Anderson Cup (regular season) titles (1994 and 1995) and two junior A national titles (1992 and 1995).

During his time in Sioux City (1981-90), Ferguson led the Musketeers to the Anderson and Clark Cups in 1982 and 1986 and a national tournament victory in 1986.

HISTORY

Forward Jon Grabarek's goal last Friday night was his thirty-eighth for the team, matching the team career record previously set by Gerry Hickey (1999-2001). Grabarek also ranks second in team history behind Chase Watson (2000-03) in career assists (51) and points (89). He ranks fifth in club history in power play goals (11).

The Riders' season opening five game unbeaten streak is the longest such streak from the beginning of a season in club history. The previous record was set by the 2001-02 RoughRiders, who opened the campaign with three straight victories.

Should the RoughRiders win each of their three games this weekend, they would reach 150 victories all-time.

Third year defenseman Zach Miskovic has not missed a regular season game during his RoughRider career. Miskovic ranks fourth in club history in career games played (125).

The RoughRiders exploded for four goals in just five minutes 13 seconds in the second period of last Sunday evening's game in Indiana. That outburst, while noteworthy, did not match the club record. The Riders got goals from Danny O'Brien, Todd Bentley, Nate Meyers and Ted O'Leary in a span of just three minutes 19 seconds late in the second period and early in the third period of a 6-0 win over the Waterloo Black Hawks on November 13, 2001.

After notching one assist in each of the Riders' first five games, Rob Ricci is within one game of tying the team record for most consecutive games with an assist. Five different players in club history have picked up assists in six straight games. The feat was most recently accomplished by Watson, whose streak ran from December 15, 2002 through January 4, 2003.

Last season's division title was the first in Steel history. This is the Steel's fourth season in Chicago. The club moved from North Dakota in 2000 after spending four years as the Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks.

The Buccaneers have won a total of three Clark Cup (playoff) titles (1992, 1995 and 1999), four Anderson Cup (regular season) championships (1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999) and three junior A national tournaments (1992, 1995 and 1998).

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

Cedar Rapids

Justin Abdelkader (Michigan State), Phil Axtell (Michigan Tech), Greg Collins (New Hampshire), Ray Eichenlaub (Miami of Ohio), Matt Vokes (Brown)

Chicago

Nathaniel Brooks (Massachusetts), Danny Charleston (Nebraska-Omaha), Shane Connelly (Wisconsin), Cody Lampl (Colorado College), Justin Lewandowski (Ferris State), Kevin Roeder (Miami of Ohio), David Sloane (Colgate), Alan Thompson (New Hampshire)

Des Moines

John McCarthy (Boston University), Chad Rau (Colorado College), Pat Watson (Merrimack)

UPCOMING EVENTS

It's Mascot Day when the RoughRiders host the Des Moines Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon, October 24. Ricochet, the Riders' furry equine mascot, will be joined by a host of equally huggable mascots from all over eastern Iowa during the game.

On Saturday, November 13 fans will have the chance to get up close with the Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 Budweiser Born On Date Car. The Born On Date car will be on display during the RoughRiders' game against the Green Bay Gamblers. Earnhardt, one of NASCAR's top young drivers, has won nine Nextel Cup races during his five year career, including this year's Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr. is the son of the late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr.

The RoughRiders will also host their next food drive night on November 13. The Riders and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees will team for monthly food drives to benefit the HACAP Food Reservoir. The Jaycees will collect canned food items at the RoughRiders' first Saturday home game of each month.

Christian rock group Ramshackle will perform after the RoughRiders' game against the Lincoln Stars on Friday, November 19.

Marvel Comics' Spiderman will land at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena on Saturday night, November 27. Everyone's favorite web-slinging superhero will sign autographs and pose for photos as the RoughRiders host the Indiana Ice.

Fans can lend a hand to children in need during the holiday season by bringing a new stuffed animal to the RoughRiders Friday, December 10 game against the Omaha Lancers and tossing it onto the ice after the Riders' first goal. All teddy bears will be donated to area children just in time for Christmas.

COMMUNITY

The RoughRiders will take part in America Reads Days at local schools this Thursday and Friday. The Riders' Matt Vokes, Greg Collins, Dan Tormey and Brendan Olinyk will read to students at Indian Creek Elementary School in Marion on Thursday. Also on Thursday, Zach Miskovic and Phil Axtell will read at Bowman Woods Elementary School in Cedar Rapids. On Friday, RoughRiders will visit Hoover Elementary in Cedar Rapids to read to students.

TICKETS

Individual game tickets for RoughRiders first half home dates- including this weekend's games- are now on sale at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office. Tickets can be purchased over the phone at (319) 261-4625 or in person at the ice arena. The ticket office is open from noon to 5:00PM on weekdays and from noon through the end of the second period on game days. Ticket prices range from $8.00 to $17.00 including a 50-cent facility fee.

In addition to full season tickets, the RoughRiders also offer three different mini-plan packages. Fans can watch the Riders take on their archrivals, the Waterloo Black Hawks, with an i wireless Corridor Cup Mini-Plan or enjoy weekend games with five or ten game packages.

The Family Pack enables fans to get four green zone seats, four hot dogs, four fountain drinks and a game program all for just $44. The Family Pack is available for all of the RoughRiders' Friday and Sunday home games. The first Family Pack Night is next Sunday afternoon, October 24, when the Riders host the Des Moines Buccaneers at 4:05.

ON THE AIR

RoughRiders regular season and playoff games are broadcast on AM-1360 The Fan in Cedar Rapids and AM-800 KXIC in Iowa City and, courtesy of B2 Networks, free audio webcasts are available at www.roughridershockey.com. Brian Lavelle provides play-by-play.

If the St. Louis Cardinals reach the World Series, this Saturday's RoughRiders game will be broadcast on a taped delayed basis on AM-1360 after game one of the World Series at approximately 9:30PM. Under these circumstances, the audio webcast of the RoughRiders game would also be tape delayed. If the Cardinals do not reach the World Series, the radio broadcast and audio webcast of the RoughRiders game will be carried live.

The RoughRiders and B2 have teamed up to offer pay-per-view video webcasts of all RoughRiders home games and the Riders' two road games in Omaha this season. Fans can click on the "Watch RoughRiders' Games Live" icon at www.roughridershockey.com to watch and listen to the game. The broadcast is available to fans with a high speed DSL or cable modem internet connection. The charge for video webcasts is $6 per game.

Up-to-the-minute live game updates for all USHL action are available on line at www.pointstreak.com/prostats.

THIS WEEK

Friday, October 22, 7:35PM @ Edge Ice Arena, Bensenville, Illinois

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders vs. Chicago Steel

Saturday, October 23, 7:05PM @ Cedar Rapids Ice Arena

Chicago Steel vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Sunday, October 24, 4:05PM @ Cedar Rapids Ice Arena

Des Moines Buccaneers vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

RECORDS

Cedar Rapids

4-0-1, 9 points, 1st place tie East Division

Chicago

3-6-0, 6 points, 3rd place East Division

Des Moines

1-4-2, 4 points, 5th place East Division

Check out the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 19, 2004


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