RoughRiders Shine in All-Star Game
Published on February 4, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release
Sioux Falls, South Dakota- Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Kyle Flanagan was named Most Valuable Player of tonight's United States Hockey League Prospects/All-Star Game while Rider forward Mike Seidel was named the East Division Player of the Game, as the RoughRiders' five All-Stars- Flanagan, Seidel, Jeff Costello, Matt Donovan and Mike Johnson- led the East Division Stars to a 4-1 win over the West Division at the Sioux Falls Arena.
RoughRiders scored all four East goals. Flanagan rang up a goal and three assists, Seidel scored twice and added an assist and Costello had one goal and one assist.
Johnson earned the win in goal after making 16 saves and giving up just one goal while playing the first half of the game for the East.
Flanagan opened the scoring with an unassisted goal just 1:12 into the game and then assisted on each of the following three East goals.
Seidel extended the lead to 2-0 at 5:09 of the first period, assisted on Costello's goal 42 seconds into the second period and scored the fourth East goal at 9:37 of the second.
Flanagan, 20, is tied for seventh in the league in assists (25) and has recorded 37 point this season- already matching exactly the totals he posted last season while leading first-year Riders in both assists and points. The Canton, New York, native will play college hockey at St. Lawrence.
Seidel, 20, ranks third in the USHL in points (48) and assists (30) and is tied for sixth in goals (18). The Darien, Illinois, native last Saturday night picked up an assist in the Riders' 5-4 overtime win over the Des Moines Buccaneers to tie Ted Purcell's team career point scoring record of 138. Seidel has totaled 49 goals and 89 assists in three seasons with the Riders. Seidel will begin his college career at Minnesota-Duluth in the fall.
Costello, 18, tonight returned to action in style after missing the Riders' last four games before the All-Star break with a broken hand. The Notre Dame recruit ranks second on the Riders in goals (16) and ranks second among first-year Riders in points (21). 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.
Donvovan, 18, leads all USHL defensemen in goals (12) and is tied for the lead among blue liners in points (28). In November the Edmond, Oklahoma, native helped the United States to the gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alberta. Donovan 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) last season. In the wake of his rookie campaign Donovan was selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round of last June's 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft with the ninety-sixth overall pick. He will play college hockey at Denver.
Johnson, who turned 20 on Sunday, leads the USHL in shutouts (2), ranks second in wins (17), third in goals against average (2.24) and is tied for fourth in save percentage (.914). In his first full season with the Riders, Johnson has already been named USHL Goaltender of the Week three times. 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.
The RoughRiders (25-8-3, 53 points) have won five straight games and are in second place overall in the USHL. The Riders return to action with a pair of road games this weekend. The Riders will visit the Tri-City Storm Friday night and the Omaha Lancers Saturday evening. Both games face off at 7:05PM. The Riders next take to the ice at home on Tuesday night, February 10 at 7:05 when they battle the league-leading Green Bay Gamblers.
Tickets for all remaining RoughRiders' home games- including the February 10 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.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2009
- RoughRiders Shine in All-Star Game - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- East Wins USHL All-Star Game - USHL
- Musketeer E-news - Coming up this Weekend - Sioux City Musketeers
- Buccaneers Weekly - Des Moines Buccaneers
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