RoughRiders\' Fallon Commits to Vermont
Published on January 26, 2004 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release
Cedar Rapids, Iowa- Cedar Rapids RoughRiders goaltender Joe Fallon has committed to the University of Vermont, the RoughRiders announced today.
"This is very exciting for Joe," said RoughRiders coach and general manager Mark Carlson. "He has worked very hard to become one of the top goaltenders in our league and that work ethic will also serve him very well at Vermont."
Fallon, who turns 19 next month, will begin his college career in the fall.
Before heading to UVM, Fallon will first finish what has already been a highly successful second season with the RoughRiders. Fallon shut out the Danville Wings Saturday night and has now set a team record by going 147:01 without giving up a goal.
On the season, Fallon leads USHL goaltenders in wins (19-8-1), is tied for the league lead in shutouts (3), and ranks fourth in goals against average (2.32), save percentage (.922) and minutes played (1654:51). Earlier this season, Fallon was named the league's goaltender of the month for November after going 8-0 during the month with a 1.37 goals against average, a .952 save percentage and two shutouts.
Recognition of Fallon's superlative play this season has come from all corners of the hockey world. He has been chosen to play in the USHL's Prospects/All-Star Game next Tuesday in Lincoln, marking the second straight year Fallon will take part in the mid-season classic. He was also part of the U.S. 19-and-under select team that won the silver medal at the Viking Cup world prospects tournament in Camrose, Alberta, just after Christmas. In addition, Fallon earlier this month was rated as the eleventh best goaltender in North America and top USHL netminder in the National Hockey League Central Scouting Service mid-season rankings of draft eligible players.
Last year Fallon went 20-15-6 with a 2.60 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and a pair of shutouts. The 6' 3," 185 pound native of Bemidji, Minnesota, began his USHL career in 2001-02 with the now defunct Rochester Mustangs.
Fallon's current shutout streak started after he surrendered a shorthanded goal to Chicago's Alex Spezia 17:22 into the second period of the RoughRiders' 4-3 shootout win over the Steel on January 17. Fallon held Chicago off the scoreboard for the remainder of
that game, including overtime. He then kept the Sioux Falls Stampede from scoring for 59:23 last Tuesday before his night came a to premature end when he was issued a game misconduct penalty. After serving the one game suspension resulting from that penalty when the Riders visited the Green Bay Gamblers last Friday, Fallon returned to the net to make 24 saves in holding Danville without a goal Saturday.
Fallon's run has eclipsed the old team record shutout streak of 146:43 set by Bobby Goepfert between October 20 and November 2, 2001.
Fallon will be the second RoughRider product on the Vermont roster when he heads to Burlington. Former Rider forward Joe Gasparini is a sophomore at UVM. Fallon will join a Vermont program that currently competes in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference but which will shift to Hockey East in time for the 2005-06 season. So far this year, Vermont has gone 3-17-3 overall and posted a 1-11 record in conference play.
Fallon joins Brian Pouliot (New Hampshire), Derek Peltier (Minnesota), Ray Eichenlaub (Miami of Ohio), Greg Collins (New Hampshire), Jamie Carroll (Providence) Bryan Horan (Providence) and James Brannigan (Colorado College) as the eighth member of the 2003-04 RoughRiders to make a college commitment.
Fallon and the East Division-leading RoughRiders (25-14-2, 52 points) return to action with a pair of road games this weekend. The Riders visit the River City Lancers Friday night in Council Bluffs before traveling to Kearney, Nebraska, to meet the league-leading Tri-City Storm Saturday evening.
Tickets for the RoughRiders' remaining regular season home games 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.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2004
- Black Hawks Earn Weekend Split - Waterloo Black Hawks
- RoughRiders' Fallon Commits to Vermont - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- USHL weekly - USHL
- Ciraulo dropped from roster - Tri-City Storm
- Ralph Engelstad Arena to host 2005 USHL Prospects / All-Star Game - USHL
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