USHL Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Three RoughRiders Ranked by NHL Central Scouting

Published on January 16, 2004 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders News Release


Cedar Rapids, Iowa- The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders' Joe Fallon, Matt Vokes and Derek Peltier have all made the National Hockey League Central Scouting Service mid-season rankings of draft eligible players. The Central Scouting rankings were released yesterday.

Fallon, 18, ranks eleventh among North American goaltenders and is the highest rated United States Hockey League netminder. Vokes, an 18-year old forward, ranks ninety-ninth among North American skaters, while defenseman Peltier is the one hundred thirty-fifth ranked skater. A total of 33 current or former USHL players made the Central Scouting list.

"I think this just shows how strong our league is and what a great place it is for developing talent," said RoughRiders coach and general manager Mark Carlson. "Some of the players fans come out and watch today at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena could be playing professionally in a few years."

Fallon (16-8-1) leads USHL goaltenders in wins and, along with Peltier, Vokes and teammate Jon Grabarek, has been selected to play in the USHL Prospects/All-Star game February 3 in Lincoln. Fallon (along with Peltier and Grabarek) also won a silver medal with the U.S. 19-and-under select team at the Viking Cup world prospects tournament earlier this month. With the RoughRiders this season, Fallon, 18, has posted a 2.49 goals against average, a .917 save percentage and two shutouts. The Bemidji, Minnesota, native was also named USHL goaltender of the month for November.

Peltier (2-16-18) ranks second among USHL defensemen in points and assists. The 18-year old will return to his home state to play for the two-time defending NCAA champion Minnesota Golden Gophers next season.

Vokes (13-18-31) is tied for the league lead in plus/minus rating (+15). Unlike veterans Fallon and Peltier, the Auburn, Massachusetts, native is in the midst of his first USHL campaign. Last season Vokes was named Massachusetts high school player of the year while skating for St. John's High.

The 2004 NHL draft will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, this June. Three RoughRiders have been drafted since the team's arrival in Cedar Rapids five years ago. Forward Dave Moss was chosen by the Calgary Flames in 2001. Goaltender Bobby Goepfert (Pittsburgh Penguins) and defenseman P.J. Atherton (Tampa Bay Lightning) were selected in 2002.

The 2003-04 RoughRiders return to action tomorrow night when they take on the Chicago Steel in Bensenville, Illinois, in a battle for first place in the USHL's East Division. The RoughRiders (22-13-2, 46 points) are one point ahead of Chicago in the race for the top spot in the east. The RoughRiders will return to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena next Tuesday evening to take on the Sioux Falls Stampede on Dollar Night. All remaining tickets for that game (with the exception of red zone seats) are available for just $1.00. Selected food and beverage items and selected RoughRiders merchandise will also be on sale for just one dollar.

Tickets for next Tuesday's game- and all remaining RoughRiders 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.

Check out the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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