Five RoughRiders to Play in USHL Prospects/All-Star Game
Published on January 13, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release
Cedar Rapids, Iowa- Five Cedar Rapids RoughRiders- forwards Jeff Costello, Kyle Flanagan and Mike Seidel, defenseman Matt Donovan and goaltender Mike Johnson - have been selected to play in the 2009 United States Hockey League Prospects/All-Star Game on Wednesday, February 4 in Sioux Falls.
"To have five players selected says a lot about our team and what this group has been able to accomplish," said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. "These guys are all very deserving and have made big contributions to the success we've had so far this season."
No USHL team had more players selected to compete in the All-Star Game than the RoughRiders. This marks the fourth straight year that at least five Riders have been selected to play in the Prospects/All-Star game; at least four Riders have been chosen each of the last eight years. The Rider representatives will skate for the East Division All-Stars against the West Division stars. All-Stars were chosen following a vote of USHL coaches.
Costello, 18, is tied for fourth in the league in goals (15) and has totaled 19 points in this, his first USHL season. The 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. Costello was named 2007-08 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Area High School Player of the Year after starring for Waukesha (Wisconsin) Catholic Memorial High School last season.
Seidel, 20, ranks second in the USHL in points (39) and assists (25), is tied for eighth in goals (14) and plus/minus rating (+16) and is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals (3). The Darien, Illinois, native was the first Rider this season to act as team captain (the captaincy will rotate among six different players). Now in his third season in Cedar Rapids, Seidel ranks second in team history in career assists (84), is tied for second in career points (129) and ranks third in career goals (45). Next season he will begin his college career at Minnesota-Duluth.
Flanagan, 20, is tied for fourth in the league in assists (22), tied for seventh in points (32) and tied for eighth in plus/minus (+16). Last year, in his first USHL campaign, Flanagan scored 12 goals and totaled 37 points. The Canton, New York, native will return to his hometown to begin his college career at St. Lawrence University in the fall.
Donovan, 18, ranks second among USHL defensemen in goals (9) and points (22) and is tied for fifth among blue liners in assists (13). The Edmond, Oklahoma, product was named to the 2007-08 USHL All-Rookie Team after finishing tied for second among defenseman in goals (12) and tied for seventh in points (30) and leading the Riders in plus/minus (+19) last season. 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.
Johnson, 19, leads the league in shutouts (2), is tied for second in wins (13), ranks third in goals against average (2.22) and ranks fourth in save percentage (.916). Johnson is in his first full season with the Riders. The Verona, Wisconsin, native spent the bulk of last year with the North American Hockey League's St. Louis Bandits, but did play two games for the RoughRiders, going 1-1 with a 2.01 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. He went 21-3-1 in 26 games with St. Louis, posting a 2.56 goals against average and a .909 save percentage while helping the Bandits to the NAHL Robertson Cup title.
This year's Prospects/All-Star Game will be held at the Sioux Falls Arena, home of the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede. Last year the East Division All-Stars defeated the West 6-5 in a shootout in Waterloo.
The RoughRiders (19-8-2, 40 points) are in third place in the United States Hockey League's East Division. The Riders return to action with a pair of road games this weekend. The Riders will visit the Des Moines Buccaneers Friday night before travelling to Sioux City to take on the Musketeers Saturday evening. The Riders next play at home on Saturday, January 24 at 7:05PM against the Lincoln Stars.
Tickets for all remaining RoughRiders' home games- including the January 24 game- are now on sale. Tickets are available for purchase in person at the 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.
The RoughRiders also offer 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.
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