USHL Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

RoughRiders Host Sioux Falls Tomorrow

January 19, 2004 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release


Cedar Rapids, Iowa- The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders return to action when they host the Sioux Falls Stampede tomorrow evening at 7:05 on Dollar Night at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

All remaining tickets for tomorrow night's game (with the exception of red zone seats) are available for just $1.00. $1.00 will also go a long way at the ice arena concession stands during the game. 20-ounce Diet Cokes with Lime, hot dogs and 32-ounce buckets of popcorn will cost just a dollar. Fans will also be able to purchase their first 16-ounce beer of the evening for only a buck.

Tomorrow's game is the first of three this week for the RoughRiders. Coach Mark Carlson's team will visit the Green Bay Gamblers Friday night before returning home to take on the Danville Wings Saturday evening at 7:05.

Cedar Rapids (23-13-2, 48 points) is tied with the Chicago Steel for first place in the United States Hockey League's East Division. The Steel missed out on an opportunity to take over sole possession of first place last night when they were beaten 5-1 by the Black Hawks in Waterloo. Chicago does have two games in hand on the RoughRiders.

The RoughRiders pulled even with Chicago with a 4-3 shootout win over the Steel last Saturday night in Bensenville, Illinois. Billy Loupee scored a pair of goals while Joe Fallon made 29 saves to earn the win in net. That victory came on the heels of a 5-3 loss to Green Bay last Tuesday in the Riders' prior outing. In between their two games last week, the RoughRiders briefly fell out of first place for the first time since November 21.

The RoughRiders' Jon Grabarek (14-23-37) is tied for fourth in the league in point scoring and assists. Grabarek is also tied for fourth in the USHL in plus/minus rating (+15). He is just behind teammate Shane Lovdahl (+16), who is tied for the league lead.

RoughRiders goaltender Joe Fallon is firmly entrenched among the top netminders in the USHL. He leads the league in wins (17-8-1), is fourth in minutes played (1535:28), fifth in save percentage (.917), tied for sixth in shutouts (2), and seventh in goals against average (2.50).

Lovdahl (8-9-17) is tied for the lead among USHL defensemen in goal scoring and is tied for fourth among blueliners in point scoring. Peltier (2-17-19) ranks second among defensemen in assists and points.

As a team, Cedar Rapids ranks second in the USHL offensively, averaging 3.5 goals per game.

The RoughRiders have run into a barren stretch on the power play. They have failed to score on their last 22 man advantages and now rank seventh in the USHL in power play efficiency (15.9 percent). The Riders have killed off 21 of their last 22 shorthand situations to move to sixth in the league on the penalty kill (83.8 percent).

Sioux Falls (11-22, 22 points) is in last place overall in the USHL. The Stampede trails the fifth place Des Moines Buccaneers by eleven points in the West Division.

Sioux Falls won two of its three games last week. The Stampede enjoyed its biggest offensive outburst of the season last Wedneday as Coach Mark Kaufman's club hammered the River City Lancers 8-4 on home ice. Matt Ford had a huge night for Sioux Falls, recording a hat trick and two assists. Friday evening the Stampede made it 15 goals in two nights with a 7-5 home win over Danville. The white hot Ford rang up his second hat trick in as many nights and tacked on another assist in that victory. The Lancers gained a measure of revenge by downing Sioux Falls 5-3 on Saturday night in Council Bluffs. Ford (two assists) had yet another multiple point night in that loss.

The Stampede has gone a respectable 3-3 in its last half dozen games after turning a record of 7-19 through its first 26 games.

Sioux Falls captain Jim McKenzie (16-21-37) is tied for fourth in the league point scoring race. Ford (17-19-36) is just behind him.

Despite last week's offensive fireworks, Sioux Falls ranks tenth in the league in goals scored per game (2.7). The Stampede is dead last in team goals against average (4.03). The Herd has surrendered 133 goals on the season.

Former Danville goaltender Craig Vardy has split time in the Stampede net with Kasey Moreland. Both have posted solid numbers under difficult circumstances. Vardy is 6-8 with a 4.11 goals against average and a .896 save percentage in 15 games with Sioux Falls. Moreland has gone 3-6 in 17 appearances while turning in a 3.20 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.

Sioux Falls goaltenders have been among the busiest in the league this season. The Stampede allow 37.8 shots per game, the second highest average in the USHL. At the other end of the ice, Sioux Falls takes just 28 shots per game, the second fewest in the league.

The Stampede has not found great success on special teams this season. Sioux Falls is tenth in the USHL in power play success (14.2 percent) and ranks eleventh in penalty killing (78.8).

Sioux Falls has the worst road record (3-10) in the USHL.

Green Bay (13-19-3, 29 points) is in fifth place in the East Division. The Gamblers have suffered just one regulation loss while playing their last five games on the road (3-1-1). However, Green Bay is still four points behind fourth place Waterloo in the race for the final playoff spot in the east.

The Gamblers went 1-1-1 last week, beginning with last Tuesday's victory at the ice arena. Eric Ehn scored the game winner for Green Bay with just 2:31 remaining in the third period. Last Friday night the host Sioux City Musketeers defeated Green Bay 4-2 to end the Gamblers' season long three game winning streak. Green Bay earned one point for Saturday night's 3-2 overtime loss at Tri-City. Ehn and Nate Dey scored as the Gamblers erased a 2-0 deficit on the way to pocketing a potentially precious point.

Jimmy Kilpatrick (14-11-25) is Green Bay's leader in goals and points and is the only Gambler with more than 20 points. Jeff Hazelwood (8-12-20) and Victor Oreskovich (5-15-20) have just reached the 20-point plateau.

Davenport is third in the league in minutes played (1594:05) and third in total saves (767). He has gone 11-14-2 with a 2.94 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and one shutout. He was lifted from Saturday night's game after giving up the first Tri-City goal just 20 seconds into the first period.

Offense has sometimes been hard to come by for Green Bay this year. The Gamblers rank eleventh in the USHL in goals per game (2.66).

The Gamblers are also in the bottom half of the league defensively. Green Bay is currently ninth with a team goals against average of 3.17.

The Gamblers have not found abundant success on special teams. They rank last on the power play (12.4 percent) and ninth on the penalty kill (81.5 percent).

Danville (17-14-5, 39 points) is in third place in the East Division. The Wings are mired in a four game losing streak and are winless in regulation in their last six games (0-5-1). Coach Chico Adrahtas's club has gone just 1-7-2 over it's last ten games

The Wings lost three road games in as many nights last weekend. Danville was outgunned 7-5 in Sioux Falls last Friday, beaten 3-1 in Lincoln last Saturday and grounded 5-3 last night by Sioux City.

Danville has given up 23 goals while losing its last four games. On the season the Wings average 3.1 goals per game, seventh most in the league. Danville is also in the middle of the pack defensively. The Wings' team goals against average of 3.06 in the sixth best in the USHL.

In Bryan Marshall (17-26-43) and Derek Patrosso (9-31-40), Danville boasts the league's top two point scorers. Patrosso leads the league in assists, just ahead of Marshall, who is tied for second. The Wings' Alex Foster (20-15-35) ranks second in the league in goals and is tied for the lead in both power play (10) and shorthanded goals (2). Tomas Klempa (11-20-31) and Nino Musitelli (10-15-25) have also been solid sources of offense for Danville.

Justin Tobe has been a stalwart between the posts, appearing in 32 of the Wings' first 36 games. He leads the league in minutes played (1823:47), is tied for third in wins (14) and fourth in total saves (766). He has turned in a solid 2.80 goals against average and a save percentage of .900.

Who's Hot

The RoughRiders' Loupee has two goals and four points in his last two games.

Lovdahl has scored three times in his last four games.

The Stampede's Ford and McKenzie have been a devastating offensive duo in recent days.

Ford has torched opponents to the tune of eight goals and thirteen points in just his last four games. He has ripped off 12 goals and 22 points over his last eleven outings.

McKenzie has scored three goals and totaled nine points over the course of a four game point scoring streak. He has eight goals and 19 points in his last eleven games.

Jeff Prough is also riding a four game point-scoring streak (2-6-8) and has gone for two goals and eleven points over his last seven games.

Andrew Carroll has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last seven games.

Justin White has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last eight games.

Brandon Harrington has scored four goals in his last seven games after picking up just one in his first 25 appearances.

The Gamblers' Ryan Carter has scored seven goals- and picked up two assists- in his last five games after scoring just four times in his first 30 games.

Ehn has eleven points (five goals, six assists) in his last eleven games.

Sean Garrity has two goals and seven points in his last seven games.

Brandon Longley has picked up six assists in his last six games.

The Stampede's Patrosso is in the midst of a four game point scoring streak (1-6-7). He has two goals and fourteen points over his last nine games.

Nik Sellers has recorded points (one goal, two assists) in three straight games after notching just four points in his first 29 outings.

Head to Head

The RoughRiders have also gone 3-0 against the Stampede this season. Most recently, the Riders edged the Herd 3-2 in Sioux Falls ten days ago. The Riders are 2-0 against the Stampede in Cedar Rapids. The two clubs will meet a total of six times this season.

Matt Vokes (3-3-6) and Grabarek (1-4-5) have led the Rider attack against the Stampede. Vokes has especially fond memories of the Herd- he scored the Riders' first hat trick of the season against Sioux Falls on December 6. Ford (3-1-4) and McKenzie (1-3-4) have led the Stampede attack against Cedar Rapids.

All three RoughRider goaltenders- Fallon, Dan Tormey and A.J. Drago have picked up wins over Sioux Falls. Vardy has suffered a pair of defeats at the hands of the Riders and Moreland a single loss.

The RoughRiders hold an 8-10-3 all-time record against the Stampede.

Friday's game is the fifth of six between the RoughRiders and Gamblers this season. The Riders have gone 2-2 against Green Bay and split a pair of games at the Resch Center.

Grabarek (4-3-7), Vokes (3-3-6), James Brannigan (2-4-6) and Rob Ricci (2-4-6) have paced the Rider attack against Green Bay. Hazelwood (3-4-7) and Oreskovich (2-4-6) are the Gamblers' leading scorers in the season series.

Fallon has gone 1-1 against Green Bay with a 2.50 goals against average, one shutout and a .932 save percentage. Davenport has been in goal for each of the first four meetings between the two teams, turning in a 3.71 goals against average and a .888 save percentage.

All time, the RoughRiders have gone 14-11-2 against Green Bay.

The Riders and Wings meet for the sixth and final time this Saturday. Cedar Rapids has won three of the first five meetings. The clubs split a pair of games at the ice arena earlier in the season.

The two clubs last got together on January 3 in Danville, a night which saw the RoughRiders take a 4-1 decision from the Wings. Tormey made 25 saves in that game to pick up the win in his Rider debut.

Foster (4-3-7) and Patrosso (0-7-7) are the top point scorers over the first five games of the Cedar Rapids-Danville series. Five different players- three Riders and two Wings- have recorded six points during the first five meetings. Brian Pouliot (3-3-6), Brannigan (3-3-6) and Ricci (1-5-6) lead the way for the RoughRiders. Danville's Klempa (3-3-6) and Marshall (2-4-6) have both gone for a half dozen points against Cedar Rapids.

Fallon was in goal for the RoughRiders' first two wins over the Wings. He gave up just three goals and posted a .949 save percentage on the way to that pair of victories. Drago has been between the pipes for both Cedar Rapids losses to Danville, turning in a 5.61 goals against average and a .800 save percentage. Tobe has gone 2-3 with a 3.92 goals against average and a .874 save percentage against the Riders.

Historically Speaking

This is Mark Kaufman's first season as Stampede coach. Kaufman returned to the junior ranks this season after spending eight years in college and minor pro hockey. He had previously spent time in the USHL as coach of the Rochester Mustangs from 1988 through 1992. Kaufman went 104-81-7 over four seasons behind the Rochester bench. He led the Mustangs to the Gold Cup (junior A national title) in 1990.

Last season Kaufman coached the Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League to a 29-39-8 record. Prior to that, he spent four years as the head coach of the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast League. He began his sojourn through the pro ranks with a two year stint (1996-98) as an assistant with the Kentucky Thoroughblades of the American Hockey League. Kaufman also spent the 1993-94 season in college hockey as an assistant at Ferris State University.

Tony Gasparini spent most of last season as Sioux Falls' head coach before departing on March 11. Ted Belisle finished the season as interim coach.

Mark Osiecki is in his seventh season behind the Green Bay bench. The Gamblers are 195-145-42 under the 1998-99 USHL Coach of the Year. Osiecki led the Gamblers to the 2000 Clark Cup (playoff) title.

All-time, Green Bay has twice claimed each of the Clark Cup (first in 1996), Anderson Cup regular season title ('96 and '97), and Gold Cup national title ('96 and '97).

In his playing days, Osiecki, a defenseman, skated in 93 National Hockey League games for the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota North Stars between 1991 and 1993. Prior to turning pro, Osiecki won an NCAA title with the University of Wisconsin in 1990.

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.

RoughRiders Roster

Captain Jamie Carroll remains out of the line-up after suffering a fractured orbital bone in the Riders' December 31 win over St. Louis.

Tormey is expected to be available this week after a minor shoulder injury suffered late in last Tuesday's game against Green Bay kept him out of uniform for last Saturday's contest at Chicago.

College Commitments

RoughRiders: Derek Peltier (Minnesota), Brian Pouliot (New Hampshire), Ray Eichenlaub (Miami of Ohio), Greg Collins (New Hampshire), Jamie Carroll (Providence), Bryan Horan (Providence), James Brannigan (Colorado College)

Sioux Falls: Jeff Prough (Brown)

Green Bay: Luke Beaverson (North Dakota), Ryan Carter (Minnesota State- Mankato), Nate Dey (St. Cloud State), Mitch Ganzak (Miami of Ohio), Sean Garrity (St. Cloud State), Chris Kelley (Harvard), Jeff Hazelwood (Maine), Kyle Klubertanz (Wisconsin), Victory Oreskovich (Notre Dame), Mike Taylor (Harvard), Dan Venard (Notre Dame) Danville: Chris Anderson (St. Cloud State), Alex Foster (Bowling Green), Thomas Klempa (Nebraska- Omaha), Cody Lampl (Colorado College), Bryan Marshall (Nebraska- Omaha), Nino Musitelli (Miami of Ohio), Derek Patrosso (Colorado College), Brad Robbins (Miami of Ohio)

Upcoming Events

As part of Dollar Night tomorrow, fans attending the game will not only be able to purchase tickets and selected concession items for $1.00, they will also have the chance to buy selected RoughRiders' novelty items for just a buck at the merchandise stand on the main concourse.

This Saturday night the RoughRiders are teaming up with Hawkeye Downs for Nascar Night. Tickets purchased on the day of the game are available for just $5.00 (excluding red zone seats) to fans wearing an item of racing apparel (hat, shirt, jacket) when purchasing tickets. The Riders will also give away two tickets and airfare to this year's Daytona 500 at Saturday night's game.

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. Barring special promotions, ticket prices range from $8.00 to $17.00 including a 50-cent facility fee.

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

On the Air/On-line

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.

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

Fans can check out the new and improved RoughRiders web site at www.roughridershockey.com.

The RoughRiders Coach's Show with Mark Carlson returns next Wednesday, January 28, at 6:00PM on AM-1360 The Fan. The coach's show is broadcast live every other Wednesday from North Country Steakhouse on Blairs Ferry Road in Cedar Rapids.

Check out the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2004


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