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RoughRiders Break USHL Record with Thirteenth Straight Road Win, Clinch Fifth Straight Playoff Berth
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RoughRiders Break USHL Record with Thirteenth Straight Road Win, Clinch Fifth Straight Playoff Berth
<p>February 12, 2005- The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders last night set a new United States Hockey League record with their thirteenth straight road win, a 5-4 overtime defeat of the Chicago Steel in Bensenville, Illinois. That victory, combinded with the Green Bay Gamblers’ 5-1 loss to the Waterloo Black Hawks last night, also enabled the Riders to clinch their fifth straight Clark Cup playoff berth.</p>
<p>The Riders, who have not lost away from home since suffering a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Tri-City Storm on November 6 in Kearney, Nebraska, have eclipsed the league record for most consecutive road wins over one or more seasons. The Riders last week broke the league record for longest single season road winning streak with their twelfth road win in succession. </p>
<p>The Riders last night snapped a record set by the Rochester Mustangs, who won 12 straight road games over parts of two seasons from February 28 through December 13, 1986. </p>
<p>Last night’s win improved the Riders’ record to 31-6-4 on the season. The Riders are in first place overall in the United States Hockey League, three points ahead of the Omaha Lancers, and are the first USHL team to clinch a playoff spot this season. </p>
<p>The Riders have secured a playoff berth earlier this season- after 41 games- than in any other season in club history. </p>
<p>“This is a very good achievement on the part of our guys and a nice reward for all the hard work they’ve put in,” said RoughRiders coach and general manager Mark Carlson. “At the same time, we know we have a lot more work to do and a lot more that we want to accomplish this season.”</p>
<p>Jon Grabarek’s goal at 2:27 of overtime gave the Riders the win last night. Ted Purcell scored a pair of power play goals and Justin Abdelkader had one goal and two assists in the win.</p>
<p>Prior to this year, the earliest the Riders had clinched a playoff spot was 51 games into the 2000-01 season. That season the Riders guaranteed their first ever trip to the playoffs with a 3-2 win over Chicago on March 10, 2001. </p>
<p>Since last losing an away game nearly three months ago, the Riders have picked up three road wins against both the Des Moines Buccaneers and the Indiana Ice, two against Waterloo and one over each of Chicago, Green Bay, the Sioux Falls Stampede, the Sioux City Musketeers and the Lincoln Stars. The Riders have outscored their opponents 50-31 over the course of their last thirteen road games.</p>
<p>On the season, the Riders have gone 17-2-1 on the road, far and away the best away record in the league. In fact, the Riders have a better winning percentage on the road (.875) than at home, where they have gone 14-3-3 (.738).</p>
<p>Ironically, both the first and final wins of Rochester’s 12-game road winning streak came over the North Iowa Huskies, the club that would move to Cedar Rapids and become the RoughRiders in 1999.</p>
<p>The Riders face another road game tonight when they travel to Waterloo to meet the arch rival Black Hawks.</p>
<p>The RoughRiders return home next Tuesday night at 7:05 to host West Division-leading Omaha. Tickets for that game and all remaining RoughRiders home dates 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. </p>
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Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 (Archive on Sunday, February 13, 2005)
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