USHL Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

League-Leading RoughRiders Battle Wings in Danville Tomorrow Night

December 1, 2003 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release


Cedar Rapids, Iowa- The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders will battle to keep hold of first place in the United States Hockey League's East Division when they face the second place Danville Wings tomorrow evening in Danville.

The Riders (15-5-1, 31 points) lead the Wings by two points in the race for the top spot in the division and are also tied with the Tri-City Storm for first overall in the USHL.

The RoughRiders will look to rebound tomorrow night after the Des Moines Buccaneers ended the Riders' ten game winning streak Saturday night. The RoughRiders' 5-3 loss at the hands of the Bucs was the first set back for coach Mark Carlson's club since Halloween night. Saturday's defeat also ended the RoughRiders' five game home winning streak.

The Riders fell Saturday despite outshooting Des Moines 40-24. Jamie Carroll, James Brannigan and Sean Muncy scored the RoughRider goals, while A.J. Drago (19 saves) took the loss in goal.

Tomorrow night's meeting is the first match-up between the RoughRiders and Danville since the Riders scored a 6-1 win over the Wings on November 21 in Cedar Rapids. That victory pushed the RoughRiders into a first place tie with Danville. Tomorrow night's game will be the Riders' sixth in twelve days.

The eight game winning streak of RoughRider goaltender Joe Fallon remains intact. Fallon did not play Saturday after starting the Riders' previous five games. The second year netminder leads the USHL in victories (12) and save percentage (.932), is tied for the lead in shutouts (2), ranks third in goals against average (2.14), fourth in total saves (454) and fifth in minutes played (926:31).

The RoughRiders' 4-2 win Thanksgiving night in Waterloo was the Cedar Rapids' fifth in a row on the road, matching the five game away winning streak with which the Riders started this season. The Riders' league best road record now stands at 10-1.

The RoughRiders remain the highest scoring team in the USHL, averaging 3.95 goals per game. The Riders are sixth in the league in team goals against average (2.65).

Special teams have played a key role in the RoughRiders' recent success. The Riders power play ranks third in the league at 18.5 percent. Cedar Rapids is fourth in the league on the penalty kill, having survived 86.5 percent of their opponents' power plays.

Jon Grabarek (10-14-24) remains the RoughRiders' leader in assists and points. Grabarek is tied for sixth in the league in points and assists. Brannigan (11-10-21) now leads the team in goal scoring.

Danville (13-4-3, 29 points) lost a chance to move into a first place tie with the Riders when the Wings dropped a 3-1 decision to the Black Hawks in Waterloo Saturday night. That loss was just the Wings' second regulation defeat in their last eleven games (7-2-2).

Thomas Klempa scored the only Danville goal Saturday night. The Wings were outshot 38-18 by the Black Hawks and surrendered three power play goals. Justin Tobe made 35 saves but still suffered the loss in goal.

The Wings opened the weekend with a 2-0 shutout of the Chicago Steel last Friday in Bensenville, Illinois. Tobe stopped 32 Chicago shots to earn his first shutout of the season. Chris Anderson and Bryan Marshall provided the Danville goals.

The Wings have the second best home record (7-1-2) in the league. Danville's only home defeat was a 3-1 loss to St. Louis on October 22. The Wings are unbeaten on home ice in five games (4-0-1) since that set back.

The Wings return home tomorrow night after four straight road games. Danville went 2-2 over that stretch.

Coach Chico Adrahtas's Wings rank near the top of USHL in nearly every category. Danville is fourth in the league in power play efficiency (18.4 percent), just behind the Riders. The Wings are just ahead of Cedar Rapids in penalty killing success- third in the USHL at 88.7 percent.

Danville ranks fourth in the league in goals per game (3.5) and is third in goals against per outing (2.5).

Five Wings have hit the 20-point plateau, with Marshall (10-16-26) leading the way. The third year Wing is tied for second in the league in points and is tied for third in assists with teammate Derek Patrosso (6-16-22). Alex Foster (15-9-24) is tied for third in the USHL in goals and is tied for sixth in point scoring. Patrosso, who, like Foster, played for the Sioux Falls Stampede last season, is tied for tenth in the point scoring race. Klempa (8-12-20) and Nino Musitelli (8-12-20) have also been consistent producers for Danville.

Tobe has been a stalwart between the posts, appearing 17 of the Wings' first 20 games. He is one of just four USHL goaltenders to have already played over one thousand minutes (1023:03) this season. Only Fallon has won more games than Tobe (10-3-3). Tobe ranks fifth in total saves (433), sixth in goals against average (2.46) and ninth in save percentage (.912).

Who's Hot

During his eight game winning streak, the RoughRiders' Fallon has posted a tiny 1.37 goals against average and a superb .952 save percentage. Fallon has surrendered a total of just five goals in his last five games and has given up no more than two goals in any of his last eight.

Carroll is riding a five game point scoring streak, notching three goals and seven points during that stretch.

Vokes is in the midst of a four game point scoring streak (3-3-6). The first year forward has ripped off six goals and 15 points in his last eleven games.

Brannigan scored in each of the Riders' three games last week.

Derek Peltier and Shane Lovdahl remain among the top offensive defensemen in the USHL. Peltier (1-12-13) is tied for second among defensemen in assists and points. Lovdahl (2-8-10) is tied for third among blueliners in points and is tied for fifth in goals.

The Wings' Marshall rang up five goals and nine points in putting together a five game point scoring streak that was halted last Saturday in Waterloo.

Head to Head

Tomorrow's game is the third meeting of the season between the RoughRiders and Wings. The Wings won the first ever match-up between the two clubs 6-3 in Cedar Rapids on October 4. The Riders gained a measure of revenge with their 6-1 home ice victory on November 21.

The line of Carroll (two goals, one assist), Vokes (one goal, two assists) and Brian Pouliot (two goals, two assists) produced five of the six Cedar Rapids goals in the second meeting between the two clubs. Tobe was replaced by backup Ken Reiter in the third period after giving up all six RoughRider goals, while Fallon made 29 saves in the Rider net.

In the first game of the season series, Foster had two goals and two assists, while Patrosso had four assists. Marshall got in on the act to the tune of one goal and two assists. Tobe made 32 saves to earn the win between the pipes. For the Riders, Lovdahl put up one goals and one assist and Grabarek pocketed a pair of assists. Drago took the loss while making 22 saves.

RoughRiders Roster

Peltier sat out last Saturday's game due to illness. He is expected to return to action tomorrow night.

The RoughRiders have let defenseman Ben Caldwell go.

Historically Speaking

The RoughRiders' five game road winning streak is the second such run this season and the third in team history. The Riders first won five straight away from home from October 19 through November 9, 2001.

The RoughRiders went 10-1 in November, setting club records for best winning percentage in a full month and most wins in a month.

Fallon has established a new RoughRiders team record with his eight game winning streak. The old mark was set by Bobby Goepfert, who won five straight games from October 26, 2001 through November 9, 2001.

The Wings are in their first season in the USHL after jumping from the North American Hockey League.

Last season, in their final NAHL campaign, the Wings (30-19-7, 67 points) finished third in the West Division. Danville defeated the Chicago Freeze in the first round of the Robertson Cup playoffs before falling to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Forge in the semi-finals.

The Wings claimed back-to-back Robertson Cups in 2000 and 2001.

Alumni Report

Massachusetts-Lowell sophomore Danny O'Brien scored a pair of goals last week. O'Brien's opening goal sparked the River Hawks to a 5-4 upset of third-ranked New Hampshire last Tuesday in Durham, New Hampshire. Last Friday O'Brien scored UML's only goal in a 2-1 loss to Renssalear Polytechnic Institute. O'Brien has scored three goals and totaled ten points in 13 games.

Vermont sophomore Joey Gasparini scored his second goal of the season last Tuesday in the Catamounts 4-2 loss at Massachusetts.

New Hampshire defenseman Tim Horst scored his third goal of the campaign in the Wildcats' loss last Tuesday. With six points on the season, Horst is the second leading scorer among UNH defensemen.

College Commitments

RoughRiders: Derek Peltier (Minnesota), Brian Pouliot (New Hampshire), Ray Eichenlaub (Miami of Ohio), Greg Collins (New Hampshire)

Danville: Chris Anderson (St. Cloud State), Alex Foster (Bowling Green), Thomas Klempa (Nebraska- Omaha), Bryan Marshall (Nebraska- Omaha), Nino Musitelli (Miami of Ohio), Derek Patrosso (Colorado College), Brad Robbins (Miami of Ohio)

Tickets

Tickets for the rest of the RoughRiders' regular season home dates 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.

New this season, the RoughRiders are offering 5- and 10-game Mini Plan partial season ticket packages.

Just in time for the holidays, the RoughRiders are now offering a flexible new discount ticket option, the Power Play Punch Card. The punch card enables fans to make the initial purchase of a 5- or 10-ticket card and redeem it for tickets to the game or games of their choice.

Both 5- and 10-ticket punch cards are available for discounted rates for all seating zones. After purchasing the card, fans can simply bring it to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office and receive up to five or ten tickets to the game or games of their choice in exchange for the same number of punches on the card.

Also for the first time this season, the RoughRiders are offering the Family Pack. The Family Pack enables fans to purchase four green zone tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and one game program all for just $44 at selected games.

More Family Pack, Mini Plan and Punch Card information is available through either the ice arena ticket office or the RoughRiders' downtown business office (319-247-0340).

Upcoming Events

The RoughRiders and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees will team up to host a Teddy Bear Toss to benefit Toys for Tots this Saturday when the RoughRiders take on the Sioux Falls Stampede at 7:05PM at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped teddy bears to the game and toss them onto the ice after the RoughRiders score their first goal. The teddy bears will then be collected from the ice and donated to Toys for Tots.

The RoughRiders next Family Pack night is Sunday, December 14, when the RoughRiders host the Chicago Steel.

The RoughRiders and the University of Iowa will team up for Iowa Hawkeye Night at the RoughRiders' December 20 game against the Sioux City Musketeers.

As part of the event the RoughRiders will wear special edition black and gold jerseys sporting the Hawkeye logo on the chest and the RoughRiders' logo on the shoulders. Members of the University of Iowa Athletic Department, including Herky, will be on hand for Iowa Night and will be introduced to fans during the first intermission.

The jerseys worn by the RoughRiders in the December 20 game will be auctioned off to benefit the Iowa Athletic Department immediately following that contest.

On the Air/On-line

All RoughRiders regular season and playoff games- including this week's- are broadcast on AM-1360 The Fan in Cedar Rapids and 800-AM KXIC in Iowa City. All Riders games are also webcast on www.roughridershockey.com.

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

The RoughRiders Coach's Show with Mark Carlson is on every other Wednesday night at 6:00PM on AM-1360 The Fan. The show returns to the air waves this Wednesday evening. The coach's show is broadcast live from North Country Steakhouse on Blairs Ferry Road in Cedar Rapids.

Check out the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2003


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