USHL Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Weekly Update

Published on October 31, 2006 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release


THIS WEEK

Friday, November 3, 7:05PM @ Sioux Falls Arena

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders vs. Sioux Falls Stampede

Saturday, November 4, 7:05PM @ Cedar Rapids Ice Arena

Lincoln Stars vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

RECORDS

Cedar Rapids

4-3-0, 8 points, 2nd place East Division

Sioux Falls

2-5-1, 5 points, 6th place West Division

Lincoln

6-2-0, 12 points, 2nd place West Division

COMING IN

The RoughRiders handed the league-leading Des Moines Buccaneers their first loss of the season last Saturday night at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. The Riders' convincing 8-3 win halted Des Moines' season-opening seven game winning streak and gave the Riders' a split of their weekend home-and-home series with the Buccaneers. The Bucs outlasted the Riders 7-6 last Friday in Urbandale.

After scoring 14 goals last weekend, the Riders are now averaging a league-high 5.4 goals per game. The Riders have scored six or more goals four times in their first seven games.

Forward Jacob Cepis (9-7-16), who leads the league in points and is tied for the league lead in goals, is coming off a five point (two goals, three assists) weekend. Cepis' team record-tying six-game goal scoring streak ended last Saturday. Cepis has recorded at least one point in each of the Riders' first seven games.

Cepis' exploits notwithstanding, balance has been a hallmark of the Cedar Rapids attack in the early going- eight different Riders scored last Saturday night.

Last Friday's loss came after the Riders won their first two road games. Last Saturday's win lifted the Riders to .500 (2-2-0) on home ice this season.

The Stampede swept a pair of games from the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets in Columbus over the last two nights- Sioux Falls' first two wins of the season. The Stampede started the year 0-5-1 before downing Ohio 4-1 Sunday evening and then whitewashing the Blue Jackets 7-0 last night. Sioux Falls has actually now earned at least one point in each of its last three games, a run that began with a 3-2 overtime loss to Des Moines ten days ago.

The Stampede has scored 11 goals over the last two nights after producing a total of just 12 goals in its first six games. Sioux Falls has gotten little from its power play unit. The Stampede ranks second to last in the league on the man advantage, having converted just six of 75 power plays for an eight percent success rate.

Veterans Nick Dineen (4-3-7) and Corey Tropp (1-6-7) are Sioux Falls' top point producers.

The Stampede has clamped down defensively in recent days, allowing just five goals in its last four games after surrendering 20 in its first four outings.

Former University of Maine goaltender Matt Lundin (1-4-1) made 19 saves while picking up his first USHL win Sunday night.

The Stampede is winless (0-3-1) in its first four home games.

The Stars swept a home-and-home series with the Tri-City Storm last weekend. Lincoln won 3-1 last Friday in Kearney, Nebraska and followed up with a 6-4 victory last Saturday at home. Lincoln is now just two points behind Des Moines in the race for the top spot in the West Division.

The two wins over Tri-City marked a return to form for the Stars- Lincoln had suffered back-to-back defeats the prior weekend in Indiana. The Stars started the season with three straight wins.

The Stars' attack has been nearly as potent as the Riders' this season. Lincoln averages 5.1 goals per contest.

The Stars' Jared Brown (5-9-14) trails only Cepis in the league point-scoring race. Brown also ranks second in assists. Lincoln's Stephen Schultz (9-4-13) is tied with Cepis for the league goal-scoring lead.

LAST WEEK

Cedar Rapids

Friday, October 27: Des Moines 7 Cedar Rapids 6

A late Rider rally fell short as the Buccaneers held on for a wild win. Jacob Cepis led the Cedar Rapids attack with two goals and two assists.

Saturday, October 28: Cedar Rapids 8 Des Moines 3

The Riders jumped out to a 3-0 lead six and a half minutes into the first period and never looked back. Eight different Riders scored.

Sioux Falls

Sunday, October 29: Sioux Falls 4 Ohio 1

Dan Sexton and Bradley Malone scored in the second period and third period goals from Sam Zabkowicz and Jake Drewiske gave Sioux Falls some breathing room. The Stampede peppered the Ohio net with 60 shots while Sioux Falls goaltender Matt Lundin needed to make just 19 saves.

Monday, October 30: Sioux Falls 7 Ohio 0

Nick Dineen's natural hat trick turned the game into a rout. Dineen scored the final three goals of the night. Max Strang made 18 saves to post a shutout in his Sioux Falls debut.

Lincoln

Friday, October 27: Lincoln 3 Tri-City 1 Kyle Follmer scored with 2:08 left in the third period to break a 1-1 deadlock and Colby Cohen wrapped up the win for Lincoln with an empty net goal in the dying seconds. Carter Camper also scored for the Stars. Lincoln outshot Tri-City 29-11.

Saturday, October 28: Lincoln 6 Tri-City 4

Stephen Schultz' hat trick propelled the Stars to the win. Schultz, who also picked up an assist, scored Lincoln's final three goals. Jason Gregoire and Carter Camper rang up one goal and two assists apiece for the Stars.

TOP POINT SCORERS

Cedar Rapids GP G A PTS

Jacob Cepis 7 9 7 16

Andy Miele 7 4 5 9

(four players tied with eight points)

Sioux Falls GP G A PTS

Nick Dineen 8 4 3 7

Corey Tropp 8 1 6 7

Patrick Tiesling 8 2 3 5

Zach Hansen 8 2 2 4

Drew Fisher 8 2 2 4

Lincoln GP G A PTS

Jared Brown 8 5 9 14

Stephen Schultz 8 9 4 13

Carter Camper 8 3 7 10

(three players tied with eight points)

LEADERS

Cedar Rapids

Goals- Jacob Cepis (9)

Assists- Rob Bordson, Evan Stephens (6)

Points- Jacob Cepis (16)

Plus/Minus- Brett Dickinson (+5)

Penalty Minutes- Pat Cannone, Kevin Wehrs (16)

Power Play Goals- Robin Bergman, Jacob Cepis, Kevin Wehrs (2)

Shorthanded Goals- Aaron Bogosian (2)

Sioux Falls

Goals- Nick Dineen (4)

Assists- Corey Tropp (6)

Points- Nick Dineen, Corey Tropp (7)

Plus/Minus- Nick Dineen (+6)

Penalty Minutes- Bradley Malone (30)

Power Play Goals- Nick Dineen, Jacob Drewiske, Drew Fisher, Zach Hansen, Erik Peterson, Corey Tropp (1)

Shorthanded Goals- none

Lincoln

Goals- Stephen Schultz (9)

Assists- Jared Brown (9)

Points- Jared Brown (14)

Plus/Minus- Stephen Schultz (+10)

Penalty Minutes- Brandon Bollig (30)

Power Play Goals- Mike Kramer (4)

Shorthanded Goals- Danny Baco, Stephen Schultz (1)

WHO'S HOT

Cedar Rapids

Kevin Wehrs: four game point scoring streak (3-5-8) after failing to record a point in his first three games...two or more

points in three of his last four games...one goal in each of his last three games

Jacob Cepis: points in each of the Riders' first seven games (9-7-16)...six game goal scoring streak ended last

Saturday

Tommy Wingels: five points (two goals, three assists) in two games last weekend

Andy Miele: six game point scoring streak (4-5-9)

Sioux Falls

Nick Dineen: natural hat trick last night...six points (three goals, three assists) in his last five games

Corey Tropp: six assists in his last five games

Patrick Tiesling: five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five games

Lincoln

Jared Brown: three or more points four times in his first eight games

Carter Camper: five points (two goals, three assists) in his last three games

Kyle Follmer: five points (four goals, one assist) in his last three games

Jason Gregoire: eight points (two goals, six assists) in his first four games

Mike Kramer: four game point scoring streak (2-3-5)

Stephen Schultz: two or more points in four of his last six games

GOALTENDERS

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

Pat McGann 4 236:58 4.30 1-3-0 0 .883

Kent Patterson 3 180 2.67 3-0-0 0 .908

Sioux Falls GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Matt Lundin 6 361:49 3.32 1-4-1 0 .884

Max Strang 1 60 0.00 1-0-0 1 1.000

Lincoln GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Bryan Hogan 7 419:58 3.00 6-1-0 0 .893

Jon Morrow 1 59:59 4.00 0-1-0 0 .826

WIN-LOSS

Cedar Rapids Sioux Falls Lincoln

Home: 2-2-0 Home: 0-3-1 Home: 3-0-0

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

vs. East: 2-1-0 vs. East: 2-1-0 vs. East: 0-2-0

vs. West: 2-2-0 vs. West: 0-4-1 vs. West: 6-0-0

GOALS

Cedar Rapids Sioux Falls Lincoln

Goals For: 5.43 (1) Goals For: 2.88 (9) Goals For: 5.13 (2)

Goals Against: 3.71 (7) Goals Against: 3.38 (6) Goals Against: 3.25 (5)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Cedar Rapids Sioux Falls Lincoln

Power Play: 22.0 13/59 (6) Power Play: 8.0 6/75 (11) Power Play: 23.5 16/68 (3)

Penalty Kill: 80.0 9/45 (6) Penalty Kill: 80.7 11/57 (6) Penalty Kill: 85.5 10/69 (4)

Shorthanded Goals For: 2 Shorthanded Goals For: 0 Shorthanded Goals For: 2

Shorthanded Goals Against: 2 Shorthanded Goals Against: 1 Shorthanded Goals Against: 2

SERIES

vs. Sioux Falls

10/20/06 Cedar Rapids 3 at Sioux Falls 2

11/3/06 Cedar Rapids at Sioux Falls

3/9/07 Sioux Falls at Cedar Rapids

3/10/07 Sioux Falls at Cedar Rapids

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

2006-07 1 1-0-0 2 0-0-0 1-0-0 0-1-0 0

All-Time 34 13-16-5 31 5-9-2 8-7-3 21-12-1 43

SERIES

vs. Lincoln

11/4/06 Lincoln at Cedar Rapids

12/8/06 Cedar Rapids at Lincoln

12/9/06 Lincoln at Cedar Rapids

2/13/07 Cedar Rapids at Lincoln

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

2005-06 5 2-2-1 5 0-2-0 2-0-1 3-2-0 6

All-Time 31 11-14-6 28 5-8-2 6-6-4 20-7-4 44

Top Point Scorers/Season Series

Cedar Rapids vs. Sioux Falls (2006-07)

Cedar Rapids GP G A PTS

Kevin Wehrs 1 0 2 2

(seven players tied with one point)

Sioux Falls GP G A PTS

(six players tied with one point)

Cedar Rapids vs. Lincoln (2005-06)

Cedar Rapids GP G A PTS

Chad Costello 5 5 3 8

Phil Axtell 4 2 3 5

Ted Purcell 4 1 4 5

Lincoln GP G A PTS

Chris Vande Velde 4 1 4 5

Mike Davies 4 2 2 4

(five players tied with five points)

Goaltenders/Season Series

Cedar Rapids vs. Sioux Falls (2006-07)

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

Kent Patterson 1 60 2.00 1-0-0 0 .933

Sioux Falls GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Matt Lundin 1 58:37 3.07 0-1-0 0 .875

Cedar Rapids vs. Lincoln (2005-06)

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

Alex Stalock 4 211:23 3.69 2-2-0 0 .893

Pat McGann 2 89:35 3.35 0-0-1 0 .886

Lincoln GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT

Bryan Hogan 3 177:30 3.04 2-1-0 0 .894

Steve Jakiel 2 121:41 3.45 1-1-0 0 .885

COACHES

Cedar Rapids

Mark Carlson, 8th year (222-162-38)

Mark Carlson has been the RoughRiders' coach since the team arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1999. In 2005-06 he led the Riders to their second straight East Division title.

He has also piloted the Riders to six straight winning seasons and six straight Clark Cup playoff berths. The Riders are one of just two USHL teams to have reached the postseason each of the last six years.

The Riders are the only team to have advanced at least as far as the Clark Cup semi-finals/East Division finals each of the last two springs and four of the last five years. On December 3, 2005 Carlson picked up his two hundredth career coaching win as the Riders defeated Omaha 2-1 in a shootout. Carlson's RoughRiders went 218-159-38 in his first seven seasons with the club. The high point of his tenure was leading the RoughRiders to the first Clark Cup (playoff) title in team history along with a share of the Anderson Cup regular season title and the East Division title in 2004-05. The Riders went 42-13-5 during the regular season- the best record in club history- and swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs before defeating Sioux City three games to two in the finals. For his efforts, Carlson was named the 2004-05 USHL Coach of the Year. Carlson, a native of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing. Also while at Lowell, Carlson skated in the highly competitive Hockey East conference as a forward on the River Hawks' hockey team. His on-ice talent was recognized even before he arrived in Lowell when he was taken in the 1987 National Hockey League draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After graduating from UML, Carlson spent one season as an assistant coach at Lawrenceville School before returning to Lowell to serve as an assistant to head coach Bruce Crowder. After helping the River Hawks to a berth in the 1996 NCAA tournament, Carlson spent another three seasons beside Crowder as an assistant at Northeastern University in Boston, where he also acted as recruiting coordinator. He earned a master's degree in education from N.U.

During his time at N.U. Carlson also acted as recruiting coordinator. Among those he recruited for the Huskies were Jim Fahey, who now skates for the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks, and Mike Ryan, who would later be the top draft pick of the NHL's Dallas Stars.

Sioux Falls

Kevin Hartzell, 8th year (240-101-13); 2nd year Sioux Falls (45-18-5)

Hartzell returned to the USHL coaching ranks last season to lead the Stampede to the Anderson Cup. Hartzell previously enjoyed a six year stint as head coach of the St. Paul Vulcans that ended in 1989. Hartzell guided the Vulcans to the Anderson and Clark Cup titles in 1983-84 and reached the Clark Cup finals a total of three times during his time behind the St. Paul bench.

As a player, Hartzell was a standout at the University of Minnesota, captaining the Gophers to the 1979 NCCA Championship. The St. Paul native also played for the Vulcans in 1977-78 before heading to the U of M.

Lincoln

Steve Johnson, 11th year (402-182-38); 10th year Lincoln (373-166-43)

Steve Johnson has been Lincoln's coach since the club's inception in 1996-97. Prior to taking over in Lincoln, Johnson spent the 1995-96 campaign behind the bench of the now defunct Fargo-Moorhead Bears. He piloted the Bears to a 27-18-1 record in their only season in the league.

Johnson has been named USHL Coach of the Year three times (1995-96, 1999-2000, 2000-01) and General Manager of the Year (2000-01) once.

Johnson became just the fourth coach in league history to reach the 300 win plateau when the Stars defeated the Des Moines Buccaneers 4-3 in a shootout on October 17, 2003 in Lincoln.

HISTORY

Jacob Cepis scored in each of the Riders' first six games to tie Phil Axtell's RoughRider record for longest goal scoring streak. Axtell scored in six straight games between October 8 and October 29, 2005.

Last season was the Riders' third straight 30-win campaign and also the fifth time in the last six years that the Riders have picked up at least 30 victories.

The Riders went 42-13-5 on the road over the last two seasons combined. The Riders' road record was superior to their home record both last season season and in 2004-05.

The Riders are, along with the Omaha Lancers, one of just two teams who have reached the playoffs each of the last six years. As all 12 USHL teams will qualify for the postseason this year, that streak will be stretch to seven consecutive playoff berths in April.

The Riders are the only USHL team to advance at least as far as the division finals each of the last two years. Furthermore, Cedar Rapids is also the only team to reach the league's final four in four of the last five years. Only one team (Sioux City) has even reached the second round three times in the last five years.

Sioux Falls last year won the Anderson Cup for the first time in club history and also reached the Clark Cup finals (where they fell to Des Moines three games to two) for the first time.

The Stampede also set a new team record for most wins in one season (43) in 2005-06.

The Stampede returned to the playoffs last spring after missing the postseason each of the prior three years.

Sioux Falls last season cracked the 35 win plateau for the fourth time in the club's seven year history. The Stampede had finished each of the prior three seasons below .500 after winning at least 35 games each of its first three seasons in the league.

The Stars won the Clark Cup in 1996-97 (the team's first season in the USHL) and again in 2002-03. Lincoln also won its third Anderson Cup championship in 2002-03. The Stars won back-to-back Anderson Cups in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

The Stars qualified for the Clark playoffs nine of their first ten seasons in their league. In 2003-04 Lincoln failed to reach the post-season for the only time in team history. The Stars also finished the 2003-04 season with a losing record for the only time in team history.

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

RoughRiders (7)

Jacob Cepis (Bowling Green), David Grun (Minnesota-Duluth), Doug Jones (Princeton), Andy Miele (Miami of Ohio), Matt Tommassoni (Miami of Ohio), Kevin Wehrs (Minnesota), Tommy Wingels (Miami of Ohio)

Sioux Falls (7)

Jake Bauer (Quinnipiac), Jordy Christian (St. Cloud State), Nick Dineen (Colorado College), Chris Huxley (Harvard), Brad Malone (North Dakota), Zach Redmond (Ferris State), Sam Zabkowicz (St. Cloud State)

Lincoln (7)

Chad Langlais (Michigan), Jared Brown (Northern Michigan), Mike Kramer (Princeton), Ryan Lowery (Colorado College), Colby Cohen (Boston University), Bryan Hogan (Michigan), Carter Camper (Miami of Ohio)

NHL DRAFT PICKS

RoughRiders Year Round Overall Team

Sergei Kolosov 2004 5th 151 Detroit

Pat McGann 2005 7th 223 Dallas

ROUGHRIDER ALUMNI

Division I GP G A PTS

Justin Abdelkader (Michigan State/sophomore) 4 1 2 3

Phil Axtell (Michigan Tech/freshman) 6 2 3 5

Casey Bickley (Army/senior) 6 1 2 3

James Brannigan (Colorado College/junior) 8 0 1 1

Jamie Carroll (Providence/senior) 6 0 0 0

Greg Collins (New Hampshire/sophomore) 4 0 0 0

Chad Costello (Northeastern/freshman) 6 1 4 5

Ray Eichenlaub (Miami of Ohio/sophomore) 8 2 3 5

Jon Grabarek (Wayne State/sophomore) 6 0 1 1

Jordy Hart (Merrimack/junior) 4 0 0 0

Bryan Horan (Providence/senior) 6 0 1 1

Tyler Howells (Michigan State/senior) 4 0 0 0

Ray Kaunisto (Northern Michigan/freshman) 8 0 0 0

Steven Kaunisto (Lake Superior State/freshman) 6 0 2 2

Billy Loupee (Miami of Ohio/sophomore) 5 1 2 3

Shane Lovdahl (Alaska-Anchorage/sophomore) 5 0 2 2

Alec Martinez (Miami of Ohio/sophomore) 8 4 3 7

Zach Miskovic (St. Lawrence/sophomore) 5 2 2 4

Sean Muncy (Brown/sophomore) 1 0 1 1

Brandon Naurato (Michigan/sophomore) 5 0 2 2

Matt Olinger (Wisconsin/senior) 8 0 0 0

Zach Pearson (Ferris State/senior) 6 2 2 4

Derek Peltier (Minnesota/junior) 7 0 1 1

Nate Perkovich (Lake Superior State/freshman) 6 5 1 6

Ted Purcell (Maine/freshman) 6 5 3 8

Nick Sellers (Lake Superior State/freshman) 4 1 1 2

Gary Steffes (Miami of Ohio/freshman) 8 3 1 4

David Strathman (Northeastern/freshman) 6 1 0 1

Brandon Svendsen (Bowling Green/sophomore) 6 0 3 3

Shawn Vinz (New Hampshire/senior) 3 0 0 0

Matt Vokes (Brown/sophomore) 1 1 0 1

Chase Watson (Providence/senior) 5 0 0 0

GP W-L-T GAA SV% SO

Joe Fallon (Vermont/junior) 5 2-2-1 1.97 .912 1

Bobby Goepfert (St. Cloud State/senior) 3 1-2-0 3.33 .881 0

Alex Stalock (Minnesota-Duluth/freshman) 6 2-2-2 2.76 .893 0

Dan Tormey (Minnesota State-Mankato/sophomore) 6 2-4-0 4.31 .841 0

Professional GP G A PTS +/-

P.J. Atherton (Johnstown/ECHL) 5 0 2 2 -3

Rico Fatticci (Port Huron/UHL) 4 0 0 0 0

Mike Manley (Trenton/ECHL) 1 1 0 1 1

Dave Moss (Omaha/AHL) 9 4 4 8 --

Danny O'Brien (Fresno/ECHL) 1 0 0 0 0

Alexander Valentin (Kalamazoo/UHL) 5 0 3 3 -1

UPCOMING EVENTS

This Saturday, the Riders will team up with the University of Iowa Ice Hawks for a hockey double header. The Hawkeye-Cyclone rivalry will take to the ice as the Iowa and Iowa State hockey teams meet at 4:00PM. The RoughRiders and Lincoln Stars will clash in the night cap at 7:05PM.

The RoughRiders will welcome local youth and church groups to All Faith Night as the Riders take on Ohio on Friday, November 17 at 7:05PM. 2004 American Idol contestant George Huff will perform after the game.

COMMUNITY

Ricochet, the RoughRiders' fun-loving mascot, will be spreading cheer at the Fall Family Carnival at the Jefferson High School gymnasium from 6:00 to 8:00PM this Friday.

RoughRiders players will visit Nixon Five Seasons Learning Center on Monday, November 20.

Riders will visit the Waypoint locations on Edgewood and on 5th Street on November 21.

TICKETS

The RoughRiders are again this season offering the Flex Plan, which enables fans to purchase books of ten ticket vouchers that can be redeemed in any quantity for any regular season home game during normal box office hours. Fans who purchase the flex plan receive a significant discount ($21 off game day ticket prices) by investing in bulk tickets and can still enjoy the games of their choice in the seats they want.

Single game tickets are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office, over the phone at (319) 261-4625 or on line at www.roughridershockey.com. 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 $7 to $17 in advance and from $8 to $18 on game days.

ON THE AIR/ON LINE

RoughRiders regular season and playoff games will again this season be broadcast on AM-1360 The Fan in Cedar Rapids. Courtesy of B2 Networks, free audio webcasts of Riders games will also be available at www.roughridershockey.com. Brian Lavelle provides play-by-play.

The RoughRiders and B2 have also teamed up to offer pay-per-view video webcasts of all RoughRiders games. 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.

Real time updates of all USHL games are available on line at www.pointstreak.com/prostats.

Check out the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2006


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