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Weekly Update: November 14, 2005

Weekly Update: November 14, 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> November 14, 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> Tuesday, November 15, 6:05PM @ Pepsi Coliseum, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indianapolis</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> RoughRiders vs. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> Ice<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, November 18, 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:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> RoughRiders<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, November 19, 7:35PM @ Buccaneer Arena, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Urbandale</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> RoughRiders vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> Buccaneers<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> 9-4-0, 18 points, 2nd place East Division <o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p> 5-5-3, 13 points, 4th 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> 9-3-1, 19 points, 1st place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders split a pair of home games last weekend.  The Riders defeated the Sioux City Musketeers 4-1 last Friday and fell to the Sioux Falls Stampede 4-0 one night later.  The loss to the Stampede ended the Riders’ three game winning streak.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders are one point behind the Des Moines Buccaneers in the race for first place in the United States Hockey League’s East Division.<o:p></o:p> With Saturday’s defeat, the Riders are now 3-3 on home ice.  The Riders return to the road Tuesday with a 6-1 away record.  The Riders have won five straight road games.<o:p></o:p>             Last Saturday marked the first time the Riders have been shutout since they fell to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> 4-0 on March 20 of last season.  The Riders are now tied with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> for the league lead in goal scoring.  Both teams average 3.9 goals per game.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders’ Ted Purcell saw his eleven game point-scoring streak halted Saturday night.  Purcell (7-14-21) is, however, tied for the league point scoring lead.  Teammate Chad Costello (7-12-19) last Saturday was held pointless for the first time this season.  Costello is tied for fourth in points. <o:p></o:p> The Ice has lost its last two games and is winless (0-3-2) in its last five.  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> played just once last weekend, falling to the Green Bay Gamblers 6-2 on Saturday night.<o:p></o:p> The Ice has won just one of its first six home games.<o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> boasts the league’s best power play unit.  The Ice has converted on 21.3 percent of its man advantage opportunities.  <o:p></o:p> Ice players have spent more time in the penalty box (26.5 minutes per game) than any other team.<o:p></o:p> Defenseman Eddie Del Grosso (7-7-14) leads the Ice in goals, assists and points.  Del Grosso also leads USHL blue liners in goals and assists.<o:p></o:p> The Buccaneers have gone 8-1-1 in their last ten games.  The Bucs split two games last weekend.  A 3-2 loss in <st1:City w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:City> last Friday ended <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place>’ six game winning streak and eight game unbeaten streak.  The Bucs rebounded with a 7-3 win over <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> the following evening.<o:p></o:p> Last Friday’s loss was the Buccaneers’ first road defeat.  The Bucs won their first four road games.  <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> has won its last four home games.<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> ranks second in penalty killing (91.4 percent).  The Bucs have given up just seven power play goals and have scored a league high six shorthanded goals.<o:p></o:p> Trevor Lewis (12-6-18), who also ranks second in the league in total goals and is tied for eighth in points, has scored a league best four shorthanded goals.<o:p></o:p> The Bucs have scored nearly as many goals while shorthanded as they have on the power play (8).  The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> power play ranks last in the USHL at 11.3 percent.<o:p></o:p> Des Moines’ Kyle Okposo, the first overall pick in last May’s USHL draft, is tied for the league lead in plus/minus (+12) with teammate and former Rider Chase Ryan.  Okposo has totaled seven goals and fifteen points in his first 13 games as a Buccaneer.<o:p></o:p> Veteran Bucs goaltender Troy Davenport, who started last season at Cornell, is tied for the league lead in save percentage (.936) and wins (7).<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, November 11: <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</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 Riders took control of the game with first period goals from Gary Steffes, Nik Sellers and Jacob Cepis.  Chad Costello’s goal early in the second period chased <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:place></st1:City> starting goaltender Eddie Wheeler from the game.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, November 12: Sioux Falls 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 0<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:City></st1:place>’ Drew Akens and Jake Bauer scored three minutes apart midway through the second period to break a scoreless deadlock.  Andreas Nodl made the lead three early in the third period and Akens finished the scoring with his second goal later in the third.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>                                                                                                  <o:p></o:p> Saturday, November 12: <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Second period goals from Eddie Del Grosso and Nathan Lawrence enabled the Ice to cut what had been a 3-0 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> lead to 3-2, but the Gamblers put the Ice away with three unanswered third period goals.<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, November 11: <st1:City w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> The Bucs were unable to hold 1-0 and 2-1 leads and gave up the game winning goal with just three and a half minutes left in the third period.  Ben Ryan and Shane Sims provided the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> goals.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, November 12: <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 7  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> The Buccaneers broke the game open with four second period goals.  Seven different Bucs- Colin Vock, Ben Ryan, Ken Rowe, Kyle Okposo, Aaron Palushaj, Tom Gerken and Trevor Lewis- scored a goal apiece.  <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                    13         7          14         21<o:p></o:p> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Costello               13         7          12         19<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     13         8          7          15<o:p></o:p> Jacob Cepis                 13         5          5          10<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                     13         4          6          10<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>                         GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Eddie Del Grosso         13         7          7          14<o:p></o:p> Jay Sprague                 13         5          5          10<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe                   12         4          6          10<o:p></o:p> Brian Gifford                 12         3          7          10<o:p></o:p> Justin Milo                    13         3          6          9<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> <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                  13         12         6          18<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo                 13         7          8          15<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock                    13         5          8          13<o:p></o:p> John Vadnais                12         5          7          12<o:p></o:p> Aaron Palushaj              12         4          8          12<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 (8)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (14)<o:p></o:p> Points- Ted Purcell (21)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Ted Purcell (+10)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (67)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell (5)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Gary Steffes (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Purcell is tied for the league lead in points, ranks second in assists, is tied for fourth in plus/minus and tied for tenth in goals (7)…Axtell is tied for second in power play goals, tied for seventh in plus/minus (+9), tied for eighth in goals and leads the league in penalty minutes…Chad Costello is tied for third in assists (12), tied for fourth in points (19) and tied for tenth in goals (7) and plus/minus (+8)… Kevin Wehrs is tied for eighth among defensemen in assists (6)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p> Goals- Eddie Del Grosso (7)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Eddie Del Grosso, Brian Gifford (7)<o:p></o:p> Points- Eddie Del Grosso (14)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Garrett Roe (+6)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Garrett Roe (35)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Eddie Del Grosso (6)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Eddie Del Grosso, Brian Gifford (1)<o:p></o:p>                                                                     <o:p></o:p> Del Grosso leads the league in power play goals and is tied for tenth in goals.  He leads defensemen in goals and points and is tied for fifth among blue liners in assists…Jay Sprague is tied for fifth in power play goals (3)<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> Goals- Trevor Lewis (12)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Kyle Okposo, Aaron Palushaj, Chase Ryan, Colin Vock (8)<o:p></o:p> Points- Trevor Lewis (18)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Kyle Okposo, Chase Ryan (+12)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Ken Rowe (31)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Trevor Lewis, Shane Sims, Colin Vock (2)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Trevor Lewis (4)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lewis leads the league in shorthanded goals, ranks second in goals and game winning goals (3), is tied for seventh in plus/minus (+9) and is tied for eighth in points…Okposo is tied for the league lead in plus/minus and is tied for tenth in goals (7)…Ryan is tied for the league lead in plus/minus…Aaron Palushaj is tied for third in plus/minus (+11)…Rowe is tied for seventh in plus/minus (+9)<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                  11         656:25  2.56      7-4-0                 0          .923<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  2          120:00  2.50      2-0-0                 0          .924<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock is tied for the league lead in wins, ranks fourth in save percentage, minutes played and total saves (335) and ranks seventh in goals against average<o:p></o:p>                         <o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>                         GP       MIN      GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Cody Reichard              8          437:20  3.57      3-3-1                 0          .879<o:p></o:p> Jay Clark                       6          355:39  3.04      2-2-2                 0          .898<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Reichard ranks ninth in minutes played and tenth in saves (189)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place>                  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>             11         660:11  2.18      7-3-1                 1          .936<o:p></o:p> Brian Foster                  2          120:00  2.50      2-0-0                 0          .917<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Davenport</st1:place></st1:City> is tied for the league lead in wins and save percentage, ranks third in minutes played and saves (353) and fourth in goals against average<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> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Costello: twelve game point scoring streak (7-12-19) ended last Saturday<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: eleven game point scoring streak (7-14-21) ended last Saturday<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p> Nathan Lawrence: four points (three goals, one assist) in his last four games…eight points (five goals, three assists) in <o:p></o:p>             his last nine games<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe: eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last seven 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: ten points (six goals, four assists) in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Aaron Palushaj: seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last six games<o:p></o:p> Richard Purslow: nine points (four goals, five assists) in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Ken Rowe: seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last six games<o:p></o:p> Ben Ryan: five game point scoring streak (3-5-8)<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock: five game point scoring streak (3-4-7)<o:p></o:p> Troy <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Davenport</st1:City></st1:place>: five game winning streak and seven game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) ended last Friday…has not given<o:p></o:p>             up more than three goals in a game this season<o:p></o:p>                          <o:p></o:p> WIN-LOSS <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>               <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State>                         <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Home: 3-3-0                  Home: 1-3-2                  Home: 5-2-1<o:p></o:p> Away: 6-1-0                   Away: 4-2-1                   Away: 4-1-0<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East: 3-3-0               vs. East: 3-3-1               vs. East: 6-2-0<o:p></o:p> vs. West: 6-1-0              vs. West: 2-2-2              vs. West: 3-1-1<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GOALS<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>               <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State>                         <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.9 (tied 1)    Goals For: 3.2 (6)           Goals For: 3.9 (tied 1)<o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 2.62 (3)   Goals Against: 3.62 (9)   Goals Against: 2.46 (2)<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5> <o:p> </o:p> SPECIAL TEAMS <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                                       <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Power Play:       19.5  17/87  (2)              Power Play:       21.3  16/75  (1)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       82.4  12/68  (8)              Penalty Kill:       86.7  10/75  (3)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 1                       Shorthanded Goals For: 2<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 3                 Shorthanded Goals Against: 1<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> Power Play:       11.3      8/71  (11)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       91.4      7/81  (2)            <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 6                       <o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 3<o:p></o:p>             <o:p></o:p> SERIES<o:p></o:p> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> <o:p></o:p> 11/15/05            <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State>                         2/24/06             <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 12/10/05            <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                         3/7/06               <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 12/17/05            <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State>                         3/14/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p> 1/28/06             <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 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          8-0-0                 16         4-0-0     4-0-0                 0-7-1                 1<o:p></o:p> All-Time                        8          8-0-0                 16         4-0-0     4-0-0                 0-7-1                 1<o:p></o:p> <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> 4 at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3            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>     &nbs