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Weekly Update: September 26, 2005

Weekly Update: September 26, 2005

<DIV class=Section1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><?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 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">Weekly Update<o:p></o:p></H1> <st1:date w:st="on" Year="2005" Day="26" Month="9" ls="trans">September 26, 2005</st1:date><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> Saturday, October 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> 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> 1-0-0, 2 points, tied 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> 0-2-0, 0 points, tied 5th place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders opened the season with a 3-1 win over the Tri-City Storm last Saturday in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Kearney</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Nebraska</st1:State></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p>             Saturday’s win was the Riders’ fifth straight opening night victory.  The Riders are 6-1 all time in season openers and are 5-0 when opening on the road.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders will play their first three games on the road.<o:p></o:p>             <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> suffered back-to-back losses last weekend.  Last Friday in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bensenville</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Illinois</st1:State></st1:place>, the Gamblers dropped their opener to the Chicago Steel 4-2.  The Waterloo Black Hawks edged the Gamblers 4-3 last Saturday in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>.  The Gamblers surrendered leads in both games.<o:p></o:p>             The Gamblers return 10 players from the squad that last season missed out on the final East Division playoff spot by three points.      <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> Saturday, September 19: <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 3  Tri-City 1<o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock made 41 saves and Andy Miele, Ian Slater and Phil Axtell provided the goals.  The Riders won despite being outshot 42-25<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> Friday, September 23: <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Sergio Somma’s first period goal gave the Gamblers a 1-0 lead, but the Steel stormed back with three goals in the second period.  Steve Silva scored to bring the Gamblers back within one with just over three minutes left in the third, but an Eric Lampe empty net goal in the final minute clinched the win for the Steel.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, September 24: <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> 4 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers took a 3-0 lead on three power play goals- two from Mark Stockdale and one from Chris Stansik- in a span of just two and a half minutes late in the first period only to squander the advantage.  The Black Hawks scored three times in the second period to tie it and Zach Bearson then provided the game winning power play goal at 7:04 of the third period.<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> (several players tied with one point)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Green Bay                    GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Chris Stansik                 2          1          2          3<o:p></o:p> Mark Stockdale             2          2          0          2<o:p></o:p> Sergio Somma              2          1          1          2<o:p></o:p> (several players tied with one point)<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> <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- Phil Axtell, Andy Miele, Ian Slater (1)<o:p></o:p> Assists- several players tied (1)<o:p></o:p> Points- several players tied (1)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Phil Axtell (+2)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Sergei Kolosov (12)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Andy Miele (1)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- none<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> Goals- Mark Stockdale (2)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Chris Stansik (2)<o:p></o:p> Points- Chris Stansik (3)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Kevin Deeth, Steve Silva, Sergio Somma (+1)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Steve Silva (10)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Mark Stockdale (2)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- none<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> Alex Stalock                  1          60         1.00      1-0-0                 0          .976<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> Daniel Rosen                2          118:36  3.54      0-2-0                 0          .885<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4> WHO’S HOT<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Andy Miele: scored first USHL goal last Saturday<o:p></o:p> Ian Slater: scored first USHL goal last Saturday<o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock: made 41 saves- 21 in the third period- last Saturday<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> Steve Silva: scored first USHL goal last Friday<o:p></o:p> Sergio Somma: two points (one goal, one assist) in his first two games…scored first USHL goal last Friday<o:p></o:p> Chris Stansik: one goal and two assists last Saturday<o:p></o:p> Mark Stockdale: two power play goals last Saturday<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: 0-0-0                              Home: 0-1-0<o:p></o:p> Away: 1-0-0                               Away: 0-1-0<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East Division: 0-0-0              vs. East Division: 0-2-0<o:p></o:p> vs. West Division: 1-0-0             vs. West Division: 0-0-0<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GOALS<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                           <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.0 (tied 5)                Goals For: 2.5 (8)<o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 1.0 (1)                Goals Against: 4.0 (9)<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5></DIV> <DIV class=Section6> SPECIAL TEAMS <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                                       <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Power Play:       12.5%  1/8  (5)               Power Play:       23.1%  3/13  (2)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       85.7%  1/7  (8)               Penalty Kill:       81.3%  3/16  (10)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For:  0                     Shorthanded Goals For: 0<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 0                 Shorthanded Goals Against: 0<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SERIES<o:p></o:p> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place>   <o:p></o:p> 10/1/05             Cedar Rapids at Green Bay                    1/27/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 10/8/05             <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                    2/19/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 12/16/05            Cedar Rapids at Green Bay                    3/11/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 12/29/05            <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</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             8          7-1-0                 14         3-1-0     4-0-0                 1-7-0                 2<o:p></o:p> All-Time                        37         22-13-2             45         13-5-1   9-8-1                 15-16-6             36<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section7> Top Point Scorers/Season Series (2004-05)<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place>               GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Rob Ricci                      8          5          6          11<o:p></o:p> Brandon Svendsen        8          5          6          11<o:p></o:p> (four players tied with seven points)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Green Bay                    GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Mark Magnowski            8          3          1          4<o:p></o:p> (four players tied with three points)<o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> Top Goaltenders/Season Series (2004-05)<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> Alex Stalock                  2          120       1.50      2-0-0                 1          .944<o:p></o:p> Dan Tormey                  6          360       1.67      5-1-0                 0          .950<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>                    GP       MIN      GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT   <o:p></o:p> Zane Kalemba               4          237       3.03      1-3-0                 0          .910<o:p></o:p> Daniel Rosen                4          239       4.78      0-4-0                 0          .866<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COACHES<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Mark Carlson</st1:PersonName>, 7th year (186-138-32)<o:p></o:p> Mark Carlson has been the RoughRiders’ coach since the team arrived in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> in 1999-2000.  Last season he led the RoughRiders to the first Clark Cup (playoff) title in team history along with a share of the Anderson Cup regular season title and the East Division title.<o:p></o:p> He has also piloted the Riders to five straight winning seasons and five straight Clark Cup playoff berths.  The Riders are one of just three USHL teams to have reached the postseason each of the last five years.  The Riders have also advanced at least as far as the Clark Cup semi-finals/East Division finals three of the last four years.<o:p></o:p> Carlson reached the 150 victory plateau October 30, 2004 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:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:City></st1:place>.  <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:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Indianapolis</st1:City></st1:place> 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:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Lowell</st1:City></st1:place> and was a 1987 draft pick of the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins.<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> Mark Mazzoleni, 2nd year (21-39-2)<o:p></o:p>             Mark Mazzoleni is in his second year in charge of the Gamblers.  In his first season, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> went 21-37-2, finished fifth in the USHL’s East Division and missed out on a playoff spot by three points.  Mazzoleni took over the Gamblers 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>             The RoughRiders are 6-1 all time in season openers.  The only opening night defeat in team history was a 9-1 loss to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> to start the 2000-01 season.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders have won five straight season openers and are 5-0 all time when opening on the road.<o:p></o:p>             Alex Stalock’s win last Saturday at Tri-City was the twentieth regular season victory of his RoughRider career.<o:p></o:p> The RoughRiders last season won the Clark Cup, a share of the Anderson Cup and the East Division championship- all firsts in club history.  The Riders went 42-13-5 during the regular season- the best record in team history.<o:p></o:p> The RoughRiders last season set new team records for wins (42), points (89), road wins (24), goals scored (229), power play goals scored (64) and fewest goals against (157).<o:p></o:p> The Riders last season also set new United States Hockey League records for most road wins and longest road winning streak (13 straight from November 9 through February 11).<o:p></o:p> 2004-05 was the Riders’ fourth 30-victory season in the team’s six-year <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> history.  Last season marked the first time the Riders have won 40 or more games.  <o:p></o:p> The Gamblers have missed the playoffs each of the last three seasons.  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> last appeared in the post season in 2001-02, when the Gamblers won their fourth straight East Division title.<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> has twice claimed each of the Clark Cup (1996 and 2000), Anderson Cup (1996 and 1997), and junior A national titles (1996 and 1997).<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COLLEGE COMMITMENTS<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> (6)<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell (Michigan Tech), Jacob Cepis (Bowling Green), Ray Kaunisto (Northern Michigan), Ted Purcell (Maine), Alex Stalock (Minnesota-Duluth), Gary Steffes (Miami of Ohio)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> (5)<o:p></o:p> Sean Backman (Yale), Kevin Deeth (Notre Dame), Jeremy Dehner (Massachusetts-Lowell), Tyler Lehrke (<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Bemidji</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType>), Mark Stockdale (<st1:place w:st="on">Western Michigan</st1:place>)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> NHL DRAFT PICKS<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>               Year     Round   Overall  Team<o:p></o:p> Sergei Kolosov             2004     5th         151       <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Detroit</st1:place></st1:City>  <o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock                  2005     4th         112       <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Jose</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  2005     7th         223       <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place>                    Year     Round   Overall  Team<o:p></o:p> Greg Beller                    2005     6th         178       <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> Rangers<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> UPCOMING EVENTS<o:p></o:p> The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders will open the doors to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Sunday, October 2 from 5:00 to 7:00PM, for the 2005 RoughRiders Open House.  The open house will offer fans a chance to meet the 2005-06 RoughRiders and will also feature tours, an autograph session and a free skate.  Admission to the open house is free.<o:p></o:p> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">The RoughRiders play their 2005-06 home opener Saturday, October 8 at 7:05PM against the Green Bay Gamblers.  <o:p></o:p></H1>             Prior to the start of the home opener, the RoughRiders will celebrate their historic 2004-05 season by raising Clark Cup, Anderson Cup and East Division championship banners to the rafters of the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.  The Riders will also conduct a special number retirement ceremony as part of the pregame festivities.  <o:p></o:p> In addition, all fans in attendance at the home opener will receive free 2005-06 RoughRiders magnet schedules.<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders will also host their first food drive night the evening of the home opener.  The Riders and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees will team for monthly food drives to benefit the HACAP Food Reservoir. The Jaycees will collect canned food items at the RoughRiders’ first Saturday home game of each month.<o:p></o:p>                 It’s Mascot Day when the RoughRiders host the Sioux City Musketeers on Saturday night, October 15 at 7:05.  Ricochet, the Riders’ furry equine mascot, will be joined by a host of equally huggable mascots from all over <st1:place w:st="on">Eastern Iowa</st1:place> during the game.<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders will put on a post-game fireworks display following the Saturday night, October 22 contest between the Riders and Chicago Steel.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders will team up with the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Iowa Ice Hawks</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> and the Iowa State Cyclones for a hockey double header on Saturday, October 29.  The <st1:State w:st="on">Iowa</st1:State> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Iowa</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> hockey teams will meet at 3:30PM, before the RoughRiders and Des Moines Buccaneers clash at 7:05PM.  <o:p></o:p> On Friday, November 11, fans will have the chance to get up close with the Dale Earnhardt Sr. #3 “Taz” Car.  The #3 car will be on display during the RoughRiders’ game against the Sioux City Musketeers.  Earnhardt, who died in a final lap crash at the 2001 Daytona 500, won seven NASCAR championships and a total of 76 races over the course of a 27 year career.  His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is currently one of NASCAR’s top drivers and it will be Junior’s car arriving at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena one night later, on Saturday, November 12 when the Riders host the Sioux Falls Stampede.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMMUNITY<o:p></o:p> Saturday evening, October 8 is also the RoughRiders’ first Food Drive Night of the season.  The Riders and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees will again this season team up for monthly food drives to benefit the HACAP Food Reservoir.  The Jaycees will collect canned food items at the RoughRiders’ first Saturday home game of each month.  <o:p></o:p>             RoughRiders players will read to area students as part of America Reads Days Thursday, October 20 and Friday, October 21.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> TICKETS<o:p></o:p> 2005-06 season tickets are currently available through the RoughRiders’ business office (247-0340).  In addition to their seats, season ticket holders also receive a host of exclusive benefits.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes&quo