Donovan Named to All-USHL First Team
April 5, 2009 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release
Cedar Rapids, Iowa- Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman Matt Donovan has been named to the All-United States Hockey League First Team, while RoughRiders forward Mike Seidel has made the All-USHL Second Team, the USHL announced today.
"Both Matt and Mike are very deserving of these honors," said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. "Not only are they both talented players but they've also both worked extremely hard during their time with the RoughRiders. This season both guys have also taken on important leadership roles for us."
Donovan, 18, led all USHL defensemen in goals (19) and points (51) this season and also set single season records for RoughRider blue liners in both categories. Donovan finished fourth among defensemen in assists (32) and matched the team record for defensemen in that category. In addition, he finished tied for ninth among all players in power play goals (10).
Selection to the all-league team is just the latest in a string of honors for Donovan, who, along with Seidel, served as one of the Riders' captains this season. The Edmond, Oklahoma, native skated in February's USHL All-Star/Prospects Game in Sioux Falls, won a gold medal with the United States team at the World Junior A Challenge in November in Camrose, Alberta and last season was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team after finishing his first junior campaign tied for second among defensemen in goals (12) and tied for seventh in points (30).
Donovan, who will play college hockey at Denver, was selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round of last May's National Hockey League Entry Draft with the ninety-sixth overall pick.
Donovan joins Jacob Cepis (2006-07), Al Stalock (2005-06), Derek Peltier (2003-04) and Bobby Goepfert (2001-02) as the fifth Rider in team history to earn First Team All-USHL honors.
Seidel, who turned 21 yesterday, finished the regular season ranked third in the USHL in assists (44), ranked fourth in points (73), tied for sixth in goals (29) and tied for seventh in shorthanded goals (3). The Darien, Illinois, native, wraps up his sterling three-year Rider career as the team's all-time career leader in goals (60), assists (103) and points (163).
Seidel joins Cepis (72 in 2006-07), Chad Costello (76 in 2005-06) and Ted Purcell (71 in 2005-06) as the fourth Rider in team history to record 70 or more points in one season.
Seidel not only joined Donovan in playing in February's All-Star/Prospects Game, but was also named the East Division All-Stars' Player of the Game.
Seidel will begin his college career at Minnesota-Duluth in the fall.
Donovan, Seidel and the rest of the RoughRiders (38-17-5, 81 points) will play the first two games of their opening round best-of-five USHL Clark Cup Playoff series on home ice Friday and Saturday nights at 7:05 against a yet to be determined opponent. The schedule for the remainder of the first round is also yet to be determined.
The Riders, who finished their regular season schedule with a 4-1 win over the Black Hawks in Waterloo last night are- at least for the moment- in first place overall in the USHL. However, the Green Bay Gamblers, who are one point behind the Riders, play their final game this evening against the Des Moines Buccaneers and can overtake the Riders in the race for the Anderson Cup regular season title and the East Division championship by defeating Des Moines. The Riders will take the cup and the division if the Gamblers lose in regulation tonight. If Green Bay earns one point for an overtime or shootout loss at the hands of the Bucs, the two clubs will share the Anderson Cup and the division crown, though the Gamblers would be the top seed in the postseason by virtue of having won their regular season series with the Riders.
Tickets to RoughRiders home playoff games go on sale Monday at 11:00AM at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office. Tickets can be purchased in person at the ticket office, over the phone at (319) 261-4625 or online at www.roughridershockey.com. Playoff ticket prices range from $10 to $18. The ticket office will be open from 11:00AM to 5:00PM on weekdays and from 11:00AM through the end of the second period on game days.
The RoughRiders will also for the first time ever offer the Family Four Pack for all home playoff games. The Four Pack enables fans to purchase four yellow zone tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four game programs all for just $44.
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2009
- RoughRiders to Face Indiana in Opening Round of Playoffs - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- USHL Playoff Dates Finalized - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Core vets return to Blackhawks - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Bucs lose heartbreaker in Green Bay 6-4 - Green Bay Gamblers
- Donovan Named to All-USHL First Team - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Eddy named to USHL All-Rookie Team - Sioux Falls Stampede
- USHL Names 2008-09 Award Winners - USHL
- No Shutout in Partytown - Waterloo Black Hawks
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