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Weekly Update: October 24, 2005

Weekly Update: October 24, 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></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 4in"><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 4in"><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 4in"><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> RoughRiders <o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">Weekly Update<o:p></o:p></H1> October 24, 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> Saturday, October 29, 7:05PM @ <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> Ice Arena<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> Buccaneers vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> RoughRiders<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> 6-2-0, 12 points, 1st place East Division <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 4-2-1, 9 points, tied 2nd place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders are tied with the Sioux Falls Stampede and Tri-City Storm for first place overall in the United States Hockey League.  The Riders are three points ahead of second place <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> in the race for the top spot in the East Division.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders split a pair of games with the Chicago Steel last weekend.  The Riders won 3-2 in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bensenville</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Illinois</st1:State></st1:place> last Friday but fell on home ice 5-4 one night later.  That defeat ended the Riders’ five game winning streak.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders average a league best 4.3 goals per game.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders rank second in the league in power play efficiency (23.0 percent).<o:p></o:p>             Ted Purcell (4-8-12) is the Riders’ top point producer and is tied for second in the league.  Phil Axtell (6-4-10) leads the team in goals and has scored in five straight games <o:p></o:p>             The Buccaneers won back-to-back games last weekend and are unbeaten in regulation (3-0-1) in their last four games.  The Bucs defeated the Gamblers 4-2 last Friday in Green Bay and then traveled all the way to Sioux City to drop the Musketeers 4-1 one night later.<o:p></o:p>             The Buccaneers are 3-0 on the road this season.<o:p></o:p>             <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> has given up just 2.6 goals per game, second fewest in the league.  Veteran goaltender Troy Davenport ranks third in the league in goals against average (2.13) and save percentage (.933).<o:p></o:p>             The Bucs have also been stingy while shorthanded.  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> ranks second in the league in penalty killing (92.7 percent), having given up just four power play goals in 55 shorthanded situations.<o:p></o:p>             The Buccaneers have also scored only four power play goals (on 51 opportunities) and are tied for last in the league on the man advantage (7.8 percent).<o:p></o:p>             <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place>’ Trevor Lewis (8-3-11) is tied for the league lead in goals.  <o:p></o:p>             <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>’ Kyle Okposo, the first overall pick in last May’s USHL draft, leads the league in plus/minus (+10).  Okposo has totaled four goals and nine points in his first seven games as a Buccaneer.<o:p></o:p>             The Bucs will take on the Chicago Steel Friday in <st1:City w:st="on">Urbandale</st1:City> before traveling to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> Saturday.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <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, October 21: <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell’s goal midway through the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and proved to be the game winner.  Chad Costello and Nik Sellers also scored for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>.  Al Stalock made 30 saves- including 14 in the third period- to earn the win in goal.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, October 22: <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 4<o:p></o:p> Chris Clackson’s second power play goal of the game broke a 4-4 deadlock with just under three minutes remaining in the third period.  The Riders had rallied from a 4-2 third period deficit thanks to two Chad Costello goals.  Phil Axtell and Ted Purcell also scored for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>.  The game was dominated by special teams play.  The two clubs were on the power play a combined 21 times- the Steel converted four times and the Riders thrice.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>                                                                                            <o:p></o:p> Friday, October 21: <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Rob Johnson scored two goals including the game winner early in the third period.  Kyle Okposo scored an empty net goal in the final minute to clinch the win and Shane Sims also scored for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>.  Troy Davenport stopped 34 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> shots.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, October 22: <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:City></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> The Bucs took a 2-0 lead on second period goals from Richard Purslow and Kyle Okposo and Trevor Lewis scored two third period goals- including a shorthanded empty netter with just one second left- to put Sioux City away.<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                    8          4          8          12<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     8          6          4          10<o:p></o:p> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Costello               8          3          7          10<o:p></o:p> Jacob Cepis                 8          4          4          8<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                     8          3          4          7<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>                  GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Trevor Lewis                  7          8          3          11<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo                 7          4          5          9<o:p></o:p> John Vadnais                7          3          4          7<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock                    7          2          4          6<o:p></o:p> Aaron Palushaj              6          1          4          5<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 (6)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (8)<o:p></o:p> Points- Ted Purcell (12)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Sergei Kolosov (+6)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (38)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell (4)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Gary Steffes (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Purcell is tied for second in the USHL in points and tied for third in assists…Axtell is second in power play goals (4), tied for fifth in goals, tied for ninth in points (10) and plus/minus (+5) and ranks fourth in penalty minutes…Chad Costello is tied for fifth in assists (7), tied for sixth in power play goals (2) and tied for ninth in points (10)…Kolosov is tied for third in plus/minus and is tied for fifth in penalty minutes (36)…Evan Stephens is tied for ninth in plus/minus (+5)…Jacob Cepis is tied for sixth in power play goals (2)…Andy Miele is tied for sixth in power play goals (2)…Among defenseman, David Strathman is tied for sixth in assists (4) and tied for ninth in points (9)…Steven Kaunisto is tied for sixth in assists (4) among blue liners<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals- Trevor Lewis (8)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Kyle Okposo (5)<o:p></o:p> Points- Trevor Lewis (11)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Kyle Okposo (+10)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Ken Rowe (29)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Trevor Lewis (2)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Trevor Lewis (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Trevor Lewis is tied for the league lead in goals and shorthanded goals, tied for third in plus/minus (+6), tied for fifth in points and tied for sixth in power play goals…Kyle Okposo leads the league in plus/minus and is tied for second in game winning goals (2)…Among defensemen, John Vadnais is tied for second in goals (3), tied for fourth in points (7) and tied for sixth in assists (4)<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                  7          417:22  2.44      5-2-0                 0          .926<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  1          60         3.00      1-0-0                 0          .893<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock leads the league in wins, ranks third in total saves (212) and ranks fourth in goals against average, save percentage and minutes played<o:p></o:p>                         <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>                  GP       MIN      GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Troy <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Davenport</st1:place></st1:City>             7          422:13  2.13      4-2-1                 1          .933<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Davenport</st1:City></st1:place> is tied for second in wins and shutouts, ranks third in goals against average, save percentage and minutes played and is fourth in saves (209)<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> Phil Axtell: five game goal and point scoring streak (5-3-8)<o:p></o:p> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Costello: has recorded at least one point in each of his first eight games (3-7-10)…has scored three goals in his <o:p></o:p>             last two games after going goalless in his first six<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: seven game point scoring streak (4-8-12)…at least two points in four of his last six games<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers: five points (two goals, three assists) in his last four games<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock: allowed five goals last Saturday night after giving up just two goals in each of his previous four games and<o:p></o:p>             three or fewer in his first six games<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Trevor Lewis: five goals (and two assists) in just his last four games…two or more points in three of his last four games<o:p></o:p>             and four of his last six outings<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo: four game point scoring streak (3-3-6)<o:p></o:p> John Vadnais: five game point scoring streak (3-4-7)<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock: five game point scoring streak (2-4-6) ended last Saturday<o:p></o:p> Troy <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Davenport</st1:place></st1:City>: gave up just three goals while making a total of 64 saves in back-to-back wins last weekend for a .955<o:p></o:p>             save percentage…has made at least 30 saves in each of his last four games…has given up three goals or<o:p></o:p>             fewer in each of his first seven games<o:p></o:p>                          <o:p></o:p> WIN-LOSS <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                           <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Home: 2-1-0                              Home: 1-2-1<o:p></o:p> Away: 4-1-0                               Away: 3-0-0<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East Division: 3-2-0              vs. East Division: 3-2-0<o:p></o:p> vs. West Division: 3-0-0             vs. West Division: 1-0-1<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">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 4.3 (1)                       Goals For: 3.4 (4)<o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 2.63 (tied 3)        Goals Against: 2.57 (2)<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5> <o:p> </o:p> 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">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Power Play:       23.0%  14/61  (2)           Power Play:       7.8%  4/51  (tied 10)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       83.3%  8/48  (7)             Penalty Kill:       92.7  4/55  (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 1                       Shorthanded Goals For: 3<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 1                 Shorthanded Goals Against: 3<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SERIES<o:p></o:p> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 10/29/05            <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                 2/16/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 11/18/05            <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                 2/17/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 11/19/05            <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City>                 2/22/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 1/20/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</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                 1-6-1                 3<o:p></o:p> All-Time                        32         21-8-3               45         10-5-1   11-3-2               11-15-6             28<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section6> <o:p> </o:p> 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> Ted Purcell                    7          4          10         14<o:p></o:p> Rob Ricci                      8          5          8          13<o:p></o:p> (two players tied with ten points)            <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>                  GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Rau                      8          4          6          10<o:p></o:p> Alex Laseen                  7          3          4          7<o:p></o:p> (two players tied with six points)<o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> 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> Dan Tormey                  6          338:02  2.48      5-1-0                 0          .909<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock                     3          146:58 4.08      2-0-0                 0          .890<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>                  GP       MIN      GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT   <o:p></o:p> Troy <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Davenport</st1:place></st1:City>             1          60         3.00      1-0-0                 0          .893<o:p></o:p> AJ Bucchino                 6          271:33  5.30      0-5-0                 0          .858<o:p></o:p> Pat Watson                   2          112:01  5.36      0-1-1                 0          .861<o:p></o:p> Jake Maida                   1          40         7.50      0-0-0                 0          .800<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 <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Carlson</st1:PersonName></st1:PersonName>, 7th year (191-140-32)<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:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Regg Simon, 3rd year (37-41-5); 2nd year <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>