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Weekly Update: March 29, 2005

Weekly Update: March 29, 2005

<DIV class=Section1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 4in"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2.5in"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> RoughRiders <o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2.5in">Weekly Update<o:p></o:p></H1> March 29, 2005<o:p></o:p> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></H1> <o:p> </o:p> THIS WEEK<o:p></o:p> Friday, April 1, 7:05PM @ Resch Center, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> RoughRiders vs. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> Gamblers<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, April 2, 7:05PM @ Resch Center, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> RoughRiders vs. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> Gamblers<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> RECORDS <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 40-13-5, 85 points, 1st place East Division <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 21-35-2, 44 points, 5th place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">The RoughRiders approach the final weekend of the regular season tied for first place overall in the United States Hockey League with the Omaha Lancers. The Riders entered last week four points ahead of the Lancers but lost 3-2 to the Sioux City Musketeers 3-2 Friday night and to the Tri-City Storm 4-2 Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Lancers picked up wins over the Sioux Falls Stampede and Lincoln Stars last week to pull even with the Riders.<o:p></o:p></H1> If the Riders and Lancers finish in a tie for the top spot, they would share the Anderson Cup regular season title as co-champions. In the event of a tie, the Lancers would be the top seed for the Clark Cup playoffs, however, because they won their regular season series with the Riders. As a result- in that scenario- <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City> would be guaranteed home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.<o:p></o:p> The Riders will face either the Indiana Ice or Green Bay Gamblers in the first round of the playoffs. The Ice is two points ahead of the Gamblers in the race for fourth place and the final East Division playoff spot. Both teams have two games remaining. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> visits the Des Moines Buccaneers Friday night and the Waterloo Black Hawks Saturday evening. If the Gamblers and Ice should finish in a tie, the Gamblers would win the tie-breaker because they won the season series between the two teams.<o:p></o:p> If the Ice earns at least three points from its two games this weekend, <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> will qualify for the playoffs, regardless of what the Gamblers do against the Riders. The Ice had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth last weekend, but lost both of its games, falling on the road to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> and Des Moines.<o:p></o:p> The Riders will be trying to avoid what would be their first three-game (regulation) losing streak of the season when they take on the Gamblers Friday night. The Riders have suffered two straight regulation defeats four different times this season.<o:p></o:p> The Riders have lost back-to-back road games after winning five straight on the road and going 18-1 in their prior 19 games away from home. The Riders have gone 1-2 so far in what is a season-ending stretch of five straight road games.<o:p></o:p> Even with last weekend’s setbacks, the Riders remain the top road team in the league, with a 22-5-1 record away from home. The Riders have a better winning percentage on the road (.804) than at home, where they went 18-8-4 (.667).<o:p></o:p> The Riders are the USHL’s best offensive team and rank second in the league defensively. The Riders score an average of 3.8 goals per game and give up 2.7 goals per contest. <o:p></o:p> The Riders remain atop the league on the power play (23.6 percent). The Riders are the only team in the league with better than a 20 percent success rate on the man advantage.<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell (20-44-64) has set a new team single season assist record. Purcell broke the old record of 41 when he assisted on Ray Eichenlaub’s power play goal late in the second period of last Friday’s game in Sioux City.<o:p></o:p> Riders captain Rob Ricci has recorded points in thirteen straight games, breaking the team record for longest point scoring streak. Ricci has scored eleven goals and totaled 19 points during that run.<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers won back-to-back games last weekend to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Gamblers defeated <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 4-1 last Friday and edged <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> 4-3 in overtime last Saturday. Those wins came on the heels of a 3-2 overtime loss last Wednesday at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> The Ice had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth last weekend, but lost both of its games, falling on the road to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> and Des Moines.<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers staggered through most of March before righting themselves last weekend. Prior to last week <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> had suffered five consecutive losses and won just one of its previous eight games.<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> has struggled mightily on special teams. The Gamblers are last in the league on both the power play (9.6 percent) and penalty kill (76.5 percent).<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LAST WEEK<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Friday, March 25: <st1:City w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:City> 3 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Rider goals from Ray Eichenlaub and Rob Ricci were not enough as the Musketeers took a first period lead and never relinquished it. Rider goaltender Dan Tormey made 36 saves.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, March 26: TriCity 4 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 2 <o:p></o:p> The Riders were forced to operate from behind most of the game. Ray Eichenlaub tied the game at one for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> early in the second period, but the Storm regained the lead for good just over two minutes later. Tri-City extended the lead to 3-1 late in the second before a Rob Ricci power play goal just 12 seconds into the third period brought the Riders back within one. The Storm would again extend the lead to two goals just under eight minutes later, however. <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Wednesday, March 23: <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 3 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 2 (ot)<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers jumped in front 2-0 early in the first period, only to squander the lead and fall in overtime. Mark Stockdale and Corey Coutourier scored just 33 seconds apart to give the Gamblers the two goal advantage less than four and a half minutes into the game. The Ice battled back to tie the game with goals in the first and second periods and the produced the winner with just 56 seconds left in sudden death.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, March 25: <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 4 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers scored four unanswered goals after falling behind 1-0 just two and a half minutes into the game. Billy Smith, Mark Magnowski, John Mitchell and Brendan Olinyk scored for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place>. Daniel Rosen made 33 saves while keeping the Buccaneers off the scoreboard for the game’s final 57:30.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, March 26: <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 4 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> Billy Smith’s goal at 1:58 of overtime gave the Gamblers a come from behind win. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>’s John Mitchell scored at 11:38 of the third period to tie the game at three. Corey Coutourier scored just 37 seconds into the first period and again early in the second period stake Green Bay to a 2-0 lead before the Black Hawks responded with three straight goals. Daniel Rosen stopped 40 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> shots.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> TOP POINT SCORERS<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section2> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> GP G A PTS<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell 56 20 44 64<o:p></o:p> Rob Ricci 57 26 31 57<o:p></o:p> Matt Vokes 56 27 24 51<o:p></o:p> Justin Abdelkader 58 26 25 51<o:p></o:p> Brandon Svendsen 58 18 25 43<o:p></o:p> Green Bay GP G A PTS<o:p></o:p> Blake Wheeler 56 18 28 46<o:p></o:p> Mark Stockdale 56 17 21 38<o:p></o:p> Billy Smith 53 14 18 32<o:p></o:p> Mark Magnowski 58 14 17 31<o:p></o:p> Brad Miller 46 13 14 27<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LEADERS <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals- Matt Vokes (27)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (44)<o:p></o:p> Points- Ted Purcell (64)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Ray Eichenlaub (+26)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Zach Miskovic (147)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Matt Vokes (11)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Brandon Svendsen (3)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Purcell ranks second in the league in assists, is tied for third in points and is tied for tenth in plus/minus (+18)…Rob Ricci ranks ninth in points (55) and is tied for second in game winning goals (7)…Vokes is tied for sixth in goals and is tied for third in power play goals…Justin Abdelkader is tied for ninth in goals (26)…Lovdahl is tied for fourth in plus/minus and, among defensemen, is tied for the league lead in points (37), is tied for second in assists (26) and is tied for tenth in goals (7)…Ray Eichenlaub (+26) is tied for second in plus/minus and, among defensemen, ranks second in goals (10), fourth in points (31) and is tied for fifth in assists (21)…Svendsen is tied for third in shorthanded goals…Miskovic is tied for eighth in penalty minutes…Alec Martinez is tied for fifth among defensemen in goals (9)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals- Blake Wheeler (18)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Blake Wheeler (28)<o:p></o:p> Points- Blake Wheeler (46)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Chris Stansik (+9)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Garrett Suter (167)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Billy Smith (6)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Mark Magnowski, Chris Stansik, Tyler Lehrke (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Suter ranks sixth in penalty minutes…Mark Stockdale is tied for fourth in game winning goals (6)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GOALTENDERS <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT <o:p></o:p> Dan Tormey 29 1659:33 2.28 21-3-2 3 .923<o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock 31 1742:57 2.69 19-8-3 1 .906<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tormey leads the league in save percentage, ranks second in goals against average, is tied for third in shutouts, is tied for fourth in wins and ranks tenth in minutes played…Stalock ranks seventh in goals against average and wins and ninth in save percentage<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT<o:p></o:p> Zane Kalemba 38 2113:11 3.15 13-20-2 1 .891<o:p></o:p><PRE style="tab-stops: .5in">Daniel Rosen 20 1017:50 3.36 7-11-0 1 .902<o:p></o:p></PRE> <o:p> </o:p> Kalemba ranks fourth in minutes played and is tied for seventh in saves (987)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> WHO’S HOT<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Ray Eichenlaub: three goals in his last three games…five game point scoring streak (3-3-6)<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: five game point scoring streak (2-8-10)<o:p></o:p> Rob Ricci: 13 game point scoring streak (11-8-19)<o:p></o:p> Matt Vokes: four game point scoring streak (3-3-6)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Corey Coutourier: eight points (six goals, two assists) in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Billy Smith: five game point scoring streak (2-5-7)<o:p></o:p> Blake Wheeler: five game point scoring streak (1-5-6)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> WIN-LOSS <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> <o:p></o:p> Home: 18-8-4 Home: 14-13-1 <o:p></o:p> Away: 22-5-1 Away: 7-22-1 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East: 32-6-0 vs. East: 16-20-2 <o:p></o:p> vs. West: 8-7-5 vs. West: 5-15-0 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GOALS PER GAME<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> <o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.81 (1) Goals For: 2.38 (11) <o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 2.66 (2) Goals Against: 3.66 (10) <o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> SPECIAL TEAMS <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Power Play: 23.9 62/259 (1) Power Play: 9.6 24/249 (11) <o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill: 84.2 37/234 (7) Penalty Kill: 76.5 63/268 (11)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 8 Shorthanded Goals For: 4 <o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 2 Shorthanded Goals Against: 7 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SERIES<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 11/13/04 at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 6 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 0 2/26/05 Cedar Rapids 3 at Green Bay 1<o:p></o:p> 1/2/05 <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 4 at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 2 3/17/05 at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 6 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> 1<o:p></o:p> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="1" Day="19" Year="2005">1/19/05</st1:date> at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 4 Green Bay 1 4/1/05 at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="1" Day="21" Year="2005">1/21/05</st1:date> Cedar Rapids 3 at Green Bay 1 4/2/05 at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GP W-L-SOL PTS H A OPP REC OPP PTS<o:p></o:p> 2004-05 6 5-1-0 10 3-1-0 2-0-0 1-5-0 2<o:p></o:p> All-Time 35 20-13-2 42 13-5-1 7-8-1 15-14-6 36<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Top Point Scorers/Season Series <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> GP G A PTS <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> GP G A PTS<o:p></o:p> Brandon Svendsen 6 4 5 9 Mark Magnowski 6 2 1 3 Rob Ricci 6 5 3 8 Mark Stockdale 6 1 2 3<o:p></o:p> (two players tied with six points) (eight players tied with two points) <o:p></o:p> Goaltenders/Season Series <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT<o:p></o:p> Dan Tormey 4 240:00 1.75 3-1-0 0 .940<o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock 2 120:00 1.50 2-0-0 1 .944<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT<o:p></o:p> Zane Kalemba 3 177:18 2.71 1-2-0 0 .923<o:p></o:p> Daniel Rosen 3 178:35 5.04 0-3-0 0 .853<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> ROUGHRIDERS ROSTER<o:p></o:p> Forward Matt Vokes missed the Riders’ game Saturday in Tri-City after being assessed a gross misconduct penalty at the end of the Riders’ game Friday in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:place></st1:City>. The penalty has since been reduced to a game misconduct. Vokes will be available to play when the Riders return to action Friday in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p> Forward Phil Axtell returned to the line-up last Friday in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:City></st1:place> after missing 23 games with a knee injury.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COACHES<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Mark Carlson, 6th year (183-138-32)<o:p></o:p> Mark Carlson has been the RoughRiders’ coach since the team arrived in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> in 1999-2000. This season he has led the RoughRiders to the first division title in team history.<o:p></o:p> He has also piloted the Riders to five straight winning seasons and five straight Clark Cup playoff berths (including this year). Coming into this season, the Riders were one of just three USHL teams to have reached the post season each of the last four years. <o:p></o:p> Carlson reached the 150 victory plateau October 30 as the RoughRiders defeated the Indiana Ice 4-3. He earned his one hundredth coaching win on January 11, 2003 when the RoughRiders defeated the Sioux City Musketeers 3-1 in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p> He was behind the bench for his three hundredth game as RoughRiders coach as the Riders defeated <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 6-5 in a shootout in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indianapolis</st1:place></st1:City> on October 17.<o:p></o:p> Prior to taking over the RoughRiders in 1999, Carlson spent four seasons as a collegiate assistant coach at Northeastern and Massachusetts-Lowell. In his playing days, Carlson was a forward at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lowell</st1:place></st1:City> and was a 1987 draft pick of the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Mark Mazzoleni, 1st year (21-35-2)<o:p></o:p> Mark Mazzoleni took over the Gamblers in the off season after spending 16 years as a collegiate head coach, the last five at Harvard. Mazzoleni went 82-72-13 behind the Harvard bench, leading the Crimson to three NCAA tournament berths and two Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament titles.<o:p></o:p> Prior to taking over at Harvard, Mazzoleni spent five years at <st1:City w:st="on">Miami</st1:City> (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place>) University, where he piloted the Red Hawks to an 85-83-20 record and the second NCAA tournament berth in school history. <o:p></o:p> The vastly experienced Mazzoleni began his coaching career as an assistant at the University of Illinois-Chicago (1980-85). His first head coaching job was at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Points (1986-91) where he piloted the Pointers to three straight national titles. Mazzoleni next spent three years as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> (1991-94).<o:p></o:p> In his playing days, Mazzoleni was a goaltender at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Michigan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> from 1976 to 1980.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> HISTORY<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell (20-44-64) has set a new team single season assist record. Purcell broke the old record of 41 when he assisted on Ray Eichenlaub’s power play goal late in the second period of last Friday’s game in Sioux City. Micah Wouters picked up 41 assists in the Riders’ inaugural season, 1999-2000. Purcell had already broken the team single season point-scoring record set by Jon Grabarek, who notched 57 points last season.<o:p></o:p> Riders captain Rob Ricci has recorded points in thirteen straight games, breaking the team record for longest point scoring streak. Ricci has scored eleven goals and totaled 19 points during that run. Ricci broke a record set by Jon Grabarek, who had points in ten consecutive games from October 24 through November 21 of last season.<o:p></o:p> Ray Eichenlaub scored his twelfth goal of the season in Saturday’s loss to Tri-City to set a new team record for most goals by a defenseman. Eichenlaub broke the old record of 11 goals set last season by Shane Lovdahl.<o:p></o:p> The RoughRiders have won 22 road games this season. The Riders broke the USHL record for most road wins on March 9 when they defeated the Chicago Steel 4-2 in <st1:place w:st="on">Bensenville</st1:place>, Illionis- the Riders’ twenty-first win away from home on the campaign. The old record (20) was set by both the Green Bay Gamblers and the U.S. National Under-18 Team in 1998-99. <o:p></o:p> The Riders have also already set new team records for wins, points and road wins this season.<o:p></o:p> The Riders’ 4-1 win over the Black Hawks on March 19 was their fortieth of the season. This is the first time in club history that the Riders have won forty games in a season. <o:p></o:p> The Riders cracked the eighty point barrier for the first time in team history with a 6-1 win over <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> on March 17.<o:p></o:p> The RoughRiders clinched the first East Division title in club history on February 26 after finishing second in the division each of the last four years. <o:p></o:p> The Riders had twice in the prior three years narrowly missed out on first place. The Riders finished one point behind the division champion Chicago Steel last season. In 2001-02, the Riders could have claimed the eastern title with a win over the Green Bay Gamblers on the final night of the regular season, but lost that game 1-0 and finished three points behind <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p> This is the Riders’ fourth 30-victory season in the team’s six-year <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> history.<o:p></o:p> Lovdahl (7-30-37) broke the team single season record for most assists and points by a defenseman with the first of his two assists in Riders’ win over <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> March 9 in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w: