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Weekly Update: December 5, 2005

Weekly Update: December 5, 2005

<DIV class=Section1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2.5in">Cedar Rapids RoughRiders <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></H1> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 2.5in">Weekly Update<o:p></o:p></H1> December 5, 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> Wednesday, December 7, 7:05PM @ Sioux Falls Arena<o:p></o:p> Cedar Rapids RoughRiders vs. Sioux Falls Stampede<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Friday, December 9, 7:35PM @ Tyson Events Center, Sioux City<o:p></o:p> Cedar Rapids RoughRiders vs. Sioux City Musketeers<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Saturday, December 10, 7:05PM @ Cedar Rapids Ice Arena<o:p></o:p> Indiana Ice vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> RECORDS <o:p></o:p> Cedar Rapids<o:p></o:p> 15-5-1, 31 points, 2nd place East Division <o:p></o:p> Sioux Falls<o:p></o:p> 18-3-0, 36 points, 1st place West Division<o:p></o:p> Sioux City<o:p></o:p> 8-10-4, 20 points, 5th place West Division<o:p></o:p> Indiana<o:p></o:p> 7-11-4, 18 points, 5th place East Division<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders won back-to-back games last weekend.  The Riders defeated the Lincoln Stars 4-2 last Friday in Lincoln and edged the Omaha Lancers 2-1 in a shootout one night later on home ice.<o:p></o:p>             Last Saturday’s win was the two hundredth in team history and also the two hundredth of Rider coach Mark Carlson’s career<o:p></o:p>             The Riders remain two points behind the Des Moines Buccaneers in the race for first place in the United States Hockey League’s East Division.  <o:p></o:p>             The Riders enter Wednesday’s game in Sioux Falls having gone 6-1-1 in eight games since losing to the Stampede 4-0 on November 12.<o:p></o:p>             With last Friday’s win the Riders improved to 9-2-1 on the road.  The Riders have won more away games than any other team in the league.  <o:p></o:p> The Riders rank second in the league in goal scoring, averaging 3.7 goals per game.  <o:p></o:p> Despite failing to record a point in his last three games, the Riders’ Ted Purcell (10-21-31) remains the league leader in points and assists.  Linemate Chad Costello (10-19-29) ranks fourth in point scoring and second in assists.<o:p></o:p> The league leading Stampede defeated Sioux City 5-3 last Friday and rallied past Lincoln 3-2 last Saturday.  <o:p></o:p> Sioux Falls is riding a seven game winning streak.  The streak started with the Stampede’s November 12 shutout of the Riders.  Sioux Falls has gone 16-1 in its last 17 games after starting the season 2-2.<o:p></o:p> Sioux Falls is three points ahead of Des Moines in the race for first place overall.  The Stampede has opened up a nine point lead over Omaha in the West Division and has three games in hand on the Lancers.<o:p></o:p> The Stampede has the best home record (11-1-0) in the USHL.  The Stampede’s lone home loss was a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Omaha Lancers on September 30.  Since then Sioux Falls has won 10 straight home games.  The Stampede would tie the team record for longest home winning streak with a victory over the Riders Wednesday.<o:p></o:p> The Stampede is the top defensive team in the league.  Sioux Falls has given up just 2.14 goals per game.<o:p></o:p>             The Stampede’s Alex Kangas and John Murray are the top goaltending duo in the USHL.  Kangas (1.98) leads the league in goals against average and save percentage (.936).  Murray ranks second in goals against average (2.15) and fourth in save percentage (.919).  The two are tied for third in the league with nine wins apiece.<o:p></o:p>             Sioux Falls’ Andreas Nodl (18-10-28) leads the league in goals and is tied for fifth in points.  Nodl has scored ten goals in just his last nine games.<o:p></o:p>             Sioux Falls coach Kevin Hartzell was back behind the bench last weekend after missing three games with broken ribs.  Hartzell broke three ribs in a fall during practice on November 22.  <o:p></o:p>             After falling to Sioux Falls last Friday, the Musketeers bounced back with a 3-2 win over Indiana last Saturday.<o:p></o:p>             The Musketeers are two points behind fourth place Lincoln in the West Division standings.<o:p></o:p>             Despite sitting in the division basement, Sioux City has gone 6-5-1 on home ice and is one of just five teams with a winning record at home.<o:p></o:p>             The Musketeers have surrendered an average of 4.2 goals per game, second most in the USHL.  Neither of the two goaltenders now on the Sioux City roster- Jerry Kuhn and Beau Erickson- were with the team at the start of the season.  Three other goaltenders- Bill Blase, Phil Tetzlaff and Eddie Wheeler- have come and gone since the beginning of the campaign.<o:p></o:p>             Sioux City’s Sam Gagner (8-15-23), the son of former National Hockey Leaguer Dave Gagner, ranks eighth in the USHL in point scoring.<o:p></o:p>             The Ice is winless in its last six games (0-5-1) and went 0-2-1 last weekend.  Indiana fell to Omaha 7-6 in a shootout last Friday, suffered another one goal loss the following evening in Sioux City and dropped a 7-4 decision to Waterloo yesterday.  The Ice has not won since shutting out Tri-City 4-0 on November 19.<o:p></o:p>             Indiana went 5-2-1 in its first eight games but has gone just 2-8-3 in its last 13 outings and is now just two points ahead of the league cellar-dwelling Chicago Steel.<o:p></o:p>             The Ice is also winless (0-4-2) in its last six road games.  This Saturday’s game will be Indiana’s fourth straight away from home.<o:p></o:p>             Indiana is one of just three teams that has allowed an average of at least four goals per game (4.1).<o:p></o:p>             The Ice’s top scorer is defenseman Eddie Del Grosso (11-12-23).  Del Grosso leads USHL defensemen in goals and is tied for the lead among blue liners in points.  Del Grosso is also the overall league leader in power play goals (10).  The Ice as a team has the league’s best power play (22.5 percent).<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> LAST WEEK<o:p></o:p> Cedar Rapids<o:p></o:p> Friday, December 2:  Cedar Rapids 4  Lincoln 2<o:p></o:p> Ryan Gunderson scored two goals and Al Stalock made 31 saves as the Riders never trailed.  Chad Costello and Jacob Cepis (who provided what proved to be the game winning goal) also scored for Cedar Rapids.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Saturday, December 3: Cedar Rapids 2  Omaha 1<o:p></o:p> Jacob Cepis and Nik Sellers converted penalty shots as the Riders outscored the Lancers 2-0 in the shootout.  Chad Costello scored the Riders’ only regulation goal.  Al Stalock stopped 38 Omaha shots in regulation and overtime and four more in the shootout.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Sioux Falls<o:p></o:p> Friday, December 2:  Sioux Falls 5  Sioux City 3<o:p></o:p> Travis Vermuelen led the Sioux Falls attack with a pair of goals as the Stampede outshot Sioux City 44-18 on the way to the win.  Andreas Nodl and Casey Parenteau both had one goal and one assist.  Nick Dineen also scored for Sioux Falls.  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Saturday, December 3: Sioux Falls 3  Lincoln 2<o:p></o:p> Sioux Falls rallied from a 2-0 deficit with goals from Corey Tropp, Jacob Drewiskie and Andreas Nodl (who scored the game winner early in the third period).<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Sioux City<o:p></o:p> Friday, December 2:  Sioux Falls 5  Sioux City 3<o:p></o:p> The Musketeers took a 2-1 lead on first period goals from Ryan Hohl and Andrew Rowe but then gave up three straight goals.  Chris Minella scored early in the third period to bring Sioux City back within one, but the Musketeers got no closer.  Jerry Kuhn took the loss in goal despite making 39 saves.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Saturday, December 3:  Sioux City 3  Indiana 2<o:p></o:p> Kyle Follmer scored two goals and Ryan Hohl provided what proved to be the game winner early in the third period.  Beau Erickson made 29 saves as the Musketeers won despite being outshot 31-18.  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Indiana<o:p></o:p> Friday, December 2: Omaha 7  Indiana 6 (SO)<o:p></o:p> The Ice rallied from 3-0 and 5-3 deficits only to fall in the shootout 3-1.  Justin Milo led the Indiana attack with one goal and two assists while Garrett Roe, John Kemp, Eddie Del Grosso and Eric Olimb each provided one goal and one assist.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Saturday, December 3: Sioux City 3  Indiana 2<o:p></o:p> Goals from Garrett Roe and Brian Gifford were not enough as the Ice fell despite outshooting Sioux City 31-18.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Sunday, December 4: Waterloo 7  Indiana 4<o:p></o:p> The Ice never recovered after falling behind 5-1.  Eddie Del Grosso led the Indiana attack with two goals and one assist.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> TOP POINT SCORERS<o:p></o:p></DIV><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <DIV class=Section2> Cedar Rapids                GP            G            A            PTS<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    21            10            21            31<o:p></o:p> Chad Costello                21            10            19            29<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     21            13            9            22<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                    21            7            8            15<o:p></o:p> Jacob Cepis                  21            7            6            13<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Sioux Falls                   GP            G            A            PTS<o:p></o:p> Andreas Nodl                 21            18            10            28<o:p></o:p> Casey Parenteau            21            4            18            22<o:p></o:p> Mark Magnowski            21            8            11            19<o:p></o:p> Drew Akens                   21            5            9            14<o:p></o:p> Ryan Thang                   20            6            7            13<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> Sioux City                    GP            G            A            PTS<o:p></o:p> Sam Gagner                  22            8            15            23<o:p></o:p> Blake Martin                  11            5            11            16<o:p></o:p> Phillip DeSimone            22            3            13            16<o:p></o:p> Ryan Hohl                     22            9            6            15<o:p></o:p> Anthony Maiani              22            4            8            12<o:p></o:p> Indiana                         GP            G            A            PTS<o:p></o:p> Eddie Del Grosso  22            11            12            23<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe                   20            9            10            19<o:p></o:p> Justin Milo                     22            5            11            16<o:p></o:p> Brian Gifford                  21            6            8            14<o:p></o:p> John Kemp                    16            3            11            14<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5> LEADERS<o:p></o:p> Cedar Rapids<o:p></o:p> Goals- Phil Axtell (13)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (21)<o:p></o:p> Points- Ted Purcell (31)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- David Strathman (+13)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (75)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell (9)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Jacob Cepis, Gary Steffes (1)<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Purcell leads the league in points and assists …Axtell is second the league in power play goals, is tied for sixth in goals and ranks fourth in penalty minutes…Costello ranks second in assists (19) and fourth in points (29)…Nik Sellers is tied for second in game winning goals (3)…David Strathman is tied for eighth in power play goals (4) and plus/minus rating and, among defensemen, is tied for seventh in points (12) and goals (4)…Kevin Wehrs is tied for tenth among defensemen in assists (9) and points (11)<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Sioux Falls<o:p></o:p> Goals- Andreas Nodl (18)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Casey Parenteau (18)<o:p></o:p> Points- Andreas Nodl (28)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Nate Prosser (+14)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Ben Holmstrom (59)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Andreas Nodl (6)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Ben Holmstrom, Ryan Thang (1)<o:p></o:p>             <o:p></o:p> Nodl leads the league in goals, is tied for the lead in game winning goals (4), is tied for third in power play goals and is tied for fifth in points…Parenteau ranks third in assists and is tied for eighth in plus/minus (+13)…Prosser is tied for sixth in plus/minus and, among defensemen, is tied for fifth in assists (10) and tied for seventh in points (12)…Chris Berenguer is tied for eighth in plus/minus (+13) and, among defensemen, is tied for tenth in points (11)…Jake Bauer is tied for seventh among defensemen in goals (7)…<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Sioux City<o:p></o:p> Goals- Ryan Hohl (9)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Sam Gagner (15)<o:p></o:p> Points- Sam Gagner (23)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Dustin Gazely (+8)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Ryan Hohl (82)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Ryan Hohl (5)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Ryan Hohl (2)<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Gagner is tied for seventh in assists…Hohl ranks third in penalty minutes (82) and is tied for fifth in power play goals and shorthanded goals…Kyle Follmer is tied for fourth among defensemen in goals (5)<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Indiana<o:p></o:p> Goals- Eddie Del Grosso (11)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Eddie Del Grosso (12)<o:p></o:p> Points- Eddie Del Grosso (23)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Garrett Roe (+3)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Garrett Roe (55)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Eddie Del Grosso (10)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Mike Hull (2)<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Del Grosso leads the league in power play goals (10), is tied for eighth in points, tied for tenth in goals and, among defenseman, leads the league in goals, is tied for the lead in points and ranks third in assists…Justin Milo is tied for eighth in power play goals (4)…Hull is tied for fifth in shorthanded goals<o:p></o:p>                         <o:p></o:p> GOALTENDERS<o:p></o:p> Cedar Rapids                GP            MIN                  GAA            W-L-SOL      SO            SPCT   <o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock                  17            1033:48            2.50            12-5-0               0            .928<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  4            245:00              2.45            3-0-1                 0            .920<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Stalock leads the league in wins, ranks second in saves (552), third in save percentage, fourth in minutes played and fifth in goals against average<o:p></o:p>                         <o:p></o:p> Sioux Falls                   GP            MIN                  GAA            W-L-SOL      SO            SPCT<o:p></o:p> Alex Kangas                  10            605:00              1.98            9-1-0                 1            .936<o:p></o:p> Eddie Neville                  11            668:41              2.15            9-2-0                 1            .919<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Kangas leads the league in goals against average and save percentage, is tied with Murray for third in wins and ranks tenth in saves (291)…Murray ranks second in goals against average, fourth in save percentage and ninth in minutes played<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Sioux City                    GP            MIN                  GAA            W-L-SOL      SO            SPCT<o:p></o:p> Beau Erickson               1            60                     2.00            1-0-0                 0            .935<o:p></o:p> Jerry Kuhn                     4            212:47              3.38            1-2-1                 0            .901<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Indiana                         GP            MIN                  GAA            W-L-SOL      SO            SPCT<o:p></o:p> Jay Clark                       11            569:41              3.37            2-4-2                 0            .879<o:p></o:p> Cody Reichard               15            767:54              4.14            5-7-2                 1            .868 <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section6>  <o:p></o:p> Reichard ranks eighth in minutes played<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> WHO’S HOT<o:p></o:p> Cedar Rapids<o:p></o:p> Chad Costello: ten points (three goals, seven assists) in his last eight games<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock: made 69 saves while giving up just three goals in back-to-back wins last weekend<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> <SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold