USHL Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

RoughRiders Take Six in Futures Draft

Published on October 14, 2008 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release


Cedar Rapids, Iowa- Forward Tucker Long was the first of six players selected by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in this evening's United States Hockey League Futures Draft.

After selecting Long, the Riders went on to pick two more forwards, two goaltenders and one defenseman.

"We're excited about the players we were able to draft," said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. "This is a significant step toward building our team for next season."

The six draftees have been added to the RoughRiders' affiliate list. Players on a USHL team's affiliate list are protected by that team but are not part of its 23-player active roster. Only players born in 1991 and 1992 were eligible for selection in the Futures Draft; teams used their first four picks on 1992-born players and their remaining selections on players born in 1991.

The Riders took Long with the seventh overall pick in the draft. Long currently plays midget hockey for the St. Louis Jr. Blues

The Riders went for forward Michael Parks, another product of the St. Louis area midget ranks, in round two. The O'Fallon, Missouri, native was chosen with the sixteenth overall choice. In August Parks skated for the U.S. Under-17 Select Team at the 2008 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Prievidza, Slovakia.

In round three, the Riders turned to the Minnesota high school ranks to select goaltender Jacob Meyers. Meyers, a junior at Benilde St. Margaret's High, was an All-North Suburban Conference Honorable Mention selection last season.

The Riders selected another forward, Nick Lappin of the Team Illlinois midget program, in round four, using the forty-second overall choice on the Geneva, Illinois native.

The Riders, who did not pick in the fifth round, used their sixth round choice- number fifty-five overall- on goaltender Wyatt Galley. The Nepean Raiders netminder has gone 3-1-0 in five Central (Ontario) Junior Hockey League games this season, posting a 2.36 goals against average, a .903 save percentage and one shutout along the way. The Raiders are coached by Wyatt Galley's father, former National Hockey League defenseman Garry Galley.

The RoughRiders' made their sixth and final pick in the ninth round, choosing Robbinsdale (Minnesota) Armstrong High School defenseman Tommy Fallen with the seventy-sixth selection. Fallen, a native of Plymouth, Minnesota, scored three goals and totaled 21 points for Armstrong last season.

The RoughRiders (2-1-0, 4 points) are currently tied for first place in the USHL's East Division. The Riders return to action this weekend with a pair of road games. The Riders will visit the Sioux Falls Stampede Friday night and take on the Tri-City Storm Saturday evening. The Riders next take to the ice at home on Saturday, October 25 at 7:05 when they battle the Omaha Lancers.

Tickets for all RoughRiders home games- including the October 25 game- can be purchased in person at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office, over the phone at (319) 261-4625 or online 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. 

RoughRiders' 2008 Futures Draft Choices

Rd Overall Name Pos. Team

1 7 Tucker Long F St. Louis Jr. Blues midget

2 16 Michael Parks F St. Louis Selects midget

3 29 Jacob Meyers G Benilde St. Margaret's HS

4 42 Nick Lappin F Team Illinois midget

6 55 Wyatt Galley G Nepean Raiders

9 76 Tommy Fallen D Armstrong HS

Check out the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2008


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