Team Record Six RoughRiders to Play in USHL Prospects/All-Star Game
Published on January 10, 2006 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release
Cedar Rapids, Iowa- A team record six Cedar Rapids RoughRiders- forwards Phil Axtell, Chad Costello, Ray Kaunisto and Ted Purcell, defenseman Kevin Wehrs and goaltender Al Stalock- have been selected to play in the 2006 United States Hockey League Prospects/All-Star Game Tuesday, February 7 in Sioux City.
"This is certainly quite an achievement on the part of these guys," said RoughRiders coach and general manager Mark Carlson. "They're all having very good seasons and have each played a big role in getting us where we are."
The Rider representatives will skate for the East Division All-Stars against the West Division stars. Only the league-leading Sioux Falls Stampede, which will have seven representatives on the West team, had more players chosen to compete in the all-star game than the RoughRiders.
The half dozen Riders selected this year tops the old club high of five players chosen to skate in the 2003 All-Star game. This marks the fourth straight year that at least four Riders have been selected to play in the Prospects/All-Star game.
Purcell is making his second all-star appearance in as many USHL seasons, while Axtell was chosen to play in last year's mid-season classic, but was unable to participate because of a knee injury. Costello, Kaunisto, Stalock and Wehrs will all make their all-star debuts next month.
Purcell (12-27-39) is tied with teammate Costello for the league lead in assists and ranks fourth in points. The 20-year old earlier this season became the second Rider in team history to reach 100 career points and is now within one of the team career assists record (75). Purcell last year was named to the All-USHL Second Team after setting Rider single season records for most assists (47) and points (67). The St. John's, Newfoundland, native is bound for the University of Maine next season.
Axtell (18-11-29) is tied for sixth in the league in goals and leads the USHL in power play goals (12). Injuries kept the New Windsor, Maryland, native to just 26 games last season, during which Axtell scored five goals and totaled 11 points. Axtell, 19, will begin his college career at Michigan Tech in the fall.
Costello (15-27-42), who is currently riding a seven game point scoring streak (4-7-11), is tied for the league lead in assists and ranks second in points. Costello arrived in Cedar Rapids after playing for the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the North American Hockey League last season. Costello finished 2004-05 tied for eighth in the NAHL in goals (29) and tied for ninth in points (34). He returned to the USHL this season after playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers two years ago. Originally from Johnston, he is the first Iowa native to ever play for the RoughRiders.
Kaunisto (3-7-10) was selected by the RoughRiders in the first round of last May's USHL draft with the tenth overall choice. The 18-year old was named to the North American Hockey League All-Rookie team last season after scoring 20 goals and totaling 40 points in 55 games with the Soo Indians. Kaunisto, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, will play his college hockey at Northern Michigan.
Wehrs (2-13-15) is tied for seventh among USHL defensemen in assists. The 17-year old jumped from Wayzata (Minnesota) High School to the USHL last February, playing four regular season games after joining the Riders. The Plymouth, Minnesota, native will return to his home state to play collegiately for the University of Minnesota.
After enjoying a standout first junior campaign last year, Stalock, 18, is now in the midst of another superb season. The Minnesota-Duluth recruit is tied for the USHL lead in wins (15), is tied for second in save percentage (.930) and ranks fifth in goals against average (2.43) and minutes played (1212:26). In 2004-05, Stalock went 19-9-3 with a 2.73 goals against average, a .905 save percentage and one shutout. The St. Paul, Minnesota, product returned to the Riders last week after helping the United States Junior Select 18-and-Under Team to a bronze medal at the Viking Cup international tournament in Camrose, Alberta.
Prospects/All-Star Game participants are selected by the USHL in conjunction with the National Hockey League's Central Scouting Service. In a change this year, All-Stars will represent the league's two divisions. In recent years players chosen had been split into Team USHL and Team World.
Led by Riders Purcell, Matt Vokes and Rob Ricci (who had one goal and one assist apiece), Team World won last year's game over Team USHL 5-3.
This year's Prospects/All-Star Game will be held at the Tyson Events Center, the two-year old home of the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers.
The Riders (20-9-2, 42 points) are in second place in the USHL's East Division. The Riders return to action this weekend with a pair of home games. The Riders will meet the Omaha Lancers Friday night and take on the Chicago Steel Saturday evening. Both games face off at 7:05PM.
Tickets for this weekend's games- and all remaining RoughRider home games- can be purchased in person at the Cedar Rapids 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 including a 50-cent facility fee.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2006
- Five Des Moines Buccaneers Make USHL All Star Team - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Four Lancers Named To Prospects/All Star Game Roster - Omaha Lancers
- Stampede Sending Seven Players to All-Star Game - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Team Record Six RoughRiders to Play in USHL Prospects/All-Star Game - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Gamblers in Splitsville - Green Bay Gamblers
- Ice Seek Offensive Supernova Versus Stars - Indiana Ice
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