RoughRiders week
Published on October 28, 2008 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release
This Weekend
Saturday, November 1, 7:05PM
Cedar Rapids Ice Arena
Chicago Steel vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Last Week
Friday, October 24
Cedar Rapids 4 Lincoln 2
Saturday, October 25
Cedar Rapids 5 Omaha 2
Sunday, October 26
Cedar Rapids 4 Green Bay 0
At a Glance
Cedar Rapids Chicago
7-1-0, 14 points 4-3-0, 8 points
tied 1st place East Division 4th place East Division
Coach/GM: Mark Carlson Coach/GM: Steve Poapst
Headlines
Streaking: The RoughRiders won three games in three nights last weekend and have now won six straight overall. The Riders last won six straight between February 24 and March 9, 2005. The Riders have not won seven in a row since putting together a team record setting ten-game winning streak between November 1 and November 27, 2003.
Thirst for First: The Riders remain tied with the Indiana Ice- which also won three games in three nights over the weekend- in the race for first place overall.
Super Start: The Riders have started a season 7-1-0 for the first time in team history.
Home Sweet Home: The RoughRiders have won their first three home games. The Riders will complete a three game homestand when they face Chicago on Saturday night.
P.K. O.K.: The RoughRiders lead the league in penalty killing (94.3 percent) and have given up just two power play goals all season. The Riders have surrendered just a single 5-on-4 goal.
Decline the Penalty?: The Riders scored two shorthanded goals in the first period of last Saturday's win over Omaha- tying a team record for shorthanded goals in one game- and have scored four on the season while giving up just two power play goals.
Still Stingy: The RoughRiders have allowed just 13 goals in their first eight games- a league low average of 1.6 goals against per game. The Riders have surrendered two goals or fewer in each of their last five games and in seven of their first eight.
Firepower: The RoughRiders and Ice are tied for the league lead in goal scoring. Both teams average 4.25 goals per game.
Mighty Mike: Mike Seidel (4-9-13) has taken over the league point scoring lead. Seidel, who also ranks second in the league in assists, is in the midst of a six game point scoring streak (4-8-12). He has recorded at least two points in each of his last five games.
Lynch Pin: Ben Lynch has scored in each of his last four games.
Firsts: Darren Rowe scored his first USHL goal last Friday in Lincoln; Cody Murphy scored his first last Sunday against Green Bay.
Three-in-Three: The RoughRiders last weekend won three games in three nights for the first time since stringing together three victories on October 7, 8 and 9, 2005.
World Junior A Challenge: Forwards Greg Burke and Nick Oddo and defensemen Matt Donovan and Darren Rowe will play for the United States at the World Jr. A Challenge, which begins next Sunday in Camrose, Alberta. As a result, those four will miss the Riders' games Saturday against Chicago, November 7 at Sioux City and November 8 at Fargo. Riders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson will coach Team USA and will also miss the Riders' next three games. Assistant coach Mark Mullen will take the reins behind the Riders' bench in Carlson's absence.
Ins and Outs: Burke (shoulder) returned to the Rider lineup last Friday after missing four games. Forward Tobias Nilsson-Roos (sports hernia) has missed the Riders' last five games.
Alumni Spotlight: Forward Justin Abdelkader (2004-05) of the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins notched a hat trick in the Griffins' 6-3 win over the Norfolk Admirals Sunday after one night earlier scoring a goal in a 6-4 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs. On the season, Abdelkader (6-1-7) leads AHL rookies in goals and is tied for third overall in goal scoring. He is tied for second among rookies in points.
Tenth Anniversary Tidbit: The RoughRiders defeated the Steel in three straight games in the opening round of the 2005 Clark Cup Playoffs- the first time the Riders swept a postseason series. Matt Vokes' goal at 18:17 of overtime in game two gave Cedar Rapids a 2-1 victory and proved to be the turning point in the series. The Riders went on to win the 2005 Clark Cup title.
Scouting Report
Chicago: The Steel swept a pair of games from the Tri-City Storm on home ice last weekend. Chicago won 4-2 last Friday and 5-4 last Saturday...The Steel's Andrew Miller (4-8-12) ranks second in the league in points and is tied for third in assists...Chicago's Eric Alexander (6-1-7) is tied for third in the USHL in goal scoring...Hudson Stremmel (2-2-0, 3.02, .906) and Matt Delaney (2-1-0, 3.67, .883) have split time in goal for Chicago...The Steel is responsible for the Riders' only loss of the season. Stremmel made 38 saves as Chicago defeated Cedar Rapids 2-0 on October 10...All-time the Riders have gone 35-15-4 against Chicago while the Steel has posted a 20-32-2 record against Cedar Rapids. The Riders have gone 17-9-1 in 27 home games against Chicago...The Steel is faced with a much busier schedule than the Riders this week. Chicago hosts Waterloo tomorrow night and visits Green Bay Friday evening.
Promotions
Mascot Night: This Saturday evening is the RoughRiders' fifth annual mascot night. The Riders will welcome a host of mascots from all over eastern Iowa, including Mr. Shucks of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the University of Iowa's Herky, Aspen Athletic Club's Zeus the Moose, the Bank of the West Bear and a host of others. The highlight of the evening will be what will no doubt be a hotly contested mascot soccer game on the ice during the first intermission.
Community
Prairie Heights Elementary: RoughRiders players will read to students on Monday morning, November 3.
Springville Elementary: Riders will read to students on Monday, November 10.
Watch/Listen
That's The Ticket!: RoughRiders single game tickets 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.
On the Air: All RoughRiders regular season and playoff games are broadcast on AM-1360 The Fan in Cedar Rapids. Brian Lavelle provides play-by-play.
Online: Courtesy of B2 Networks, free audio webcasts of Riders games are available at www.roughridershockey.com. The RoughRiders and B2 also offer pay-per-view video webcasts of all RoughRiders games. Fans can click on the "Watch RoughRiders' Games Live" icon at www.roughridershockey.com to catch the action. The broadcast is available to fans with a high speed DSL or cable modem internet connection. The charge for video webcasts is $6 per game.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2008
- RoughRiders week - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Gamblers Go 1-2-0 On The Weekend - Green Bay Gamblers
- Storm and Cabela's Team Up for Outdoor Appreciation Night and Big Red Party - Tri-City Storm
- Rider Alums Miskovic, Miele Earn Collegiate Player of the Week Honors - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly - Waterloo Black Hawks
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