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Weekly Update, October 25, 2004

Weekly Update, October 25, 2004

<DIV class=Section1> <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 <?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> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="10" Day="25" Year="2004">October 25, 2004</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 30, <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="19" Minute="5">7:05PM</st1:time> @ <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> Ice Arena<o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> Ice 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> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="6" Day="1" Year="2001">6-1-1</st1:date>, 13 points, 1st place East Division <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="5" Day="3" Year="2001">5-3-1</st1:date>, 11 points, 2nd place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p> The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders will face <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> in a battle between the top two teams in the United States Hockey League’s East Division Saturday night.  The RoughRiders are two points ahead of the Ice in the race for the top spot in the east.  <o:p></o:p> Last weekend the RoughRiders sandwiched their first regulation loss of the season between a pair of victories.  The Riders shutout the Chicago Steel 3-0 Friday night in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bensenville</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Illinois</st1:State></st1:place>, but fell to the Steel 3-1 on home ice the next evening.  Coach Mark Carlson’s squad rebounded with a 3-2 home win over <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Danville</st1:City></st1:place> Sunday afternoon.<o:p></o:p> Saturday night’s defeat ended the RoughRiders’ six game season opening unbeaten streak, the longest unbeaten run at the start of a season in team history.  The Riders still have the best winning percentage (.813) in the USHL.<o:p></o:p> In last Friday’s win, Jon Grabarek scored an empty net goal to set a new team career goal scoring record (39).  The RoughRiders have a chance to reach another milestone this Saturday.  The Riders’ next win will be the <o:p></o:p> one hundred fiftieth in team history and, thus, also the one hundred fiftieth of Carlson’s USHL coaching career.<o:p></o:p> One of the keys to the RoughRiders’ early success has been a balanced attack.  Ten players have recorded <o:p></o:p> at least three points and 17 skaters have notched at least one point.  Only four <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> skaters- Chase Ryan, Brent Cornelius, Hunter Bishop and Kyle Solomon- have not yet registered a point.  14 different Riders have scored, but no one on the roster has more than three goals (Matt Vokes, Brandon Svendsen, Justin Abdelkader).<o:p></o:p> The RoughRiders’ often potent attack has been nearly silent in the first period this season.  Ted Purcell scored the team’s only first period goal of the season at <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="17" Minute="48">5:48</st1:time> of the first in the Riders’ September 25 season opener in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place>.  Since then the RoughRiders have gone 154:12 of first period play without scoring.  In contrast, the Riders have thrived in the second period, outscoring foes 15-5 in the second on the season. <o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> split a home-and-home series with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> last weekend.  The Ice defeated the Gamblers 5-3 last Friday in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Indianapolis</st1:City></st1:place>.  The follow evening <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> fell 5-4 in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place>.  <o:p></o:p> Saturday’s game is the second of two this weekend for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>.  The Ice visits the Waterloo Black Hawks Friday night.<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 22:  <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> 0<o:p></o:p> Dan Tormey made 26 saves to post his first shutout of the season.  The Riders scored all three of their goals in the third period.  Matt Vokes gave <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> a 1-0 lead with a power play goal just over a minute into the third.  Brandon Svendson doubled the RoughRiders advantage at <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="12" Minute="29">12:29</st1:time> and Jon Grabarek’s empty netter with just over 26 seconds remaining clinched the win.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, October 23:  <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> The RoughRiders fell despite outshooting <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> 36-21.  Phil Axtell’s first USHL goal tied the game at one 8:11 into the second period, but Chicago’s T.J. Fox scored just 10 seconds later to put the Steel back on top for good.  Rider goaltender Alex Stalock (18 saves) suffered his first USHL defeat.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sunday, October 24:  <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Justin Abdelkader’s goal broke a 2-2 tie at <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="13" Minute="17">1:17</st1:time> of the third period and the RoughRiders hung on for the win.  Abdelkader scored just 33 seconds after the Buccaneers evened the score.  The Riders first moved in front with a pair of goals early in the second period.  Jordan Pietrus jammed the puck home just 12 seconds into the second to erase a 1-0 Buccaneer lead.  Zach Miskovic’s power play goal at <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="15" Minute="49">3:49</st1:time> put the Riders on top 2-1.  Dan Tormey earned the win in goal with a 29-save effort.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Friday, October 22: <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> Tomas Klempa scored his second goal of the game to break a 3-3 tie with <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="14" Minute="6">2:06</st1:time> left in the third period.  Klempa also had one assist.  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>’s Travis Winter had evened the score at three at <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="11" Minute="30">11:30</st1:time> of the third.  Todd McIlrath scored a clinching empty net goal in the final minute after assisting on three of the first four Ice goals.  B.J. O’Brien (23 saves) was the winning goaltender. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, October 23:  <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 4<o:p></o:p> The Ice’s Eddie Del Grosso tied the game at four at <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="14" Minute="11">14:11</st1:time> of the third period, but the Gamblers responded with Black Wheeler’s game winning goal with just <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="13" Minute="56">1:56</st1:time> remaining.  Mike Beck led the Ice attack with two goals and one assist, while Brian Gifford added one goal and one assist.  Jake Maida took the loss in goal, surrendering five goals on just 19 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> shots.  <o:p></o:p>   <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> Rob Ricci                      8          1          6          7<o:p></o:p> Greg Collins                  8          1          5          6<o:p></o:p> Justin Abdelkader          8          3          2          5<o:p></o:p> Zach Miskovic               8          2          3          5<o:p></o:p> Jon Grabarek                8          2          3          5<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>                         GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Todd McIlrath                8          4          9          13<o:p></o:p> Tomas Klempa              9          5          6          11<o:p></o:p> Travis Winter                 9          6          2          8<o:p></o:p> Mike Beck                    8          2          6          8<o:p></o:p> Ryan Peckskamp           9          4          2          6<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> 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- Justin Abdelkader, Matt Vokes, Brandon Svendsen (3)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Rob Ricci (6)<o:p></o:p> Points- Rob Ricci (7)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Zach Miskovic (+5)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Zach Miskovic (16)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Zach Miskovic, Matt Vokes (2)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- none<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Vokes is tied for the league lead in game winning goals (2)…Miskovic is tied for second among defenseman in goals (2) and is tied for fifth among blue liners in points (5)…Dan Tormey ranks fourth in goals against average (2.16), fifth in save percentage (.926) and is tied for fifth in wins (3)…Alex Stalock is also tied for fifth in wins and ranks seventh in goals against average (2.46)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals- Travis Winter (6)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Todd McIlrath (9)<o:p></o:p> Points- Todd McIlrath (13)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Eddie <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Del</st1:State></st1:place> Grosso (+7)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Sergei Kukushkin (29)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Tomas Klempa, Travis Winter, Mike Beck (2)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Colin Vock, Nick Deutz (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> McIlrath ranks third in the league in assists and fourth in points…Klempa is tied for fifth in points (11)…Winter is tied for fourth in goals and tied for the lead in game winning goals (2)…Del Grosso is second in the league in plus/minus rating…Mike Beck ranks second among defensemen in points (8) and is tied for second among blue liners in goals (2) and assists (6)…B.J. O’Brien ranks fourth in wins (4) and is tied for ninth in goals against average (2.59)<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                  4          250       2.16      3-0-1                 1          .926<o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock                  4          244:07  2.46      <st1:date w:st="on" Month="3" Day="1" Year="2000">3-1-0</st1:date>                 0          .902<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>                         GP       MIN      GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> B.J. O’ Brien                 6          324:38  2.59      <st1:date w:st="on" Month="4" Day="1" Year="2001">4-1-1</st1:date>                 0          .911<o:p></o:p> Jake Maida                   4          217:41  3.58      <st1:date w:st="on" Month="1" Day="2" Year="2000">1-2-0</st1:date>                 0          .865<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> Jon Grabarek: two goals and three assists in his last five games <o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: one goal and two assists in his last three games<o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock: loss Saturday ended his season opening three game winning streak<o:p></o:p> Dan Tormey:  unbeaten in regulation in his first four starts…in two games over the weekend: two wins, one shutout <o:p></o:p>             and just two goals against on 57 shots faced.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Mike Beck: two goals and two assists in two games against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> last weekend…eight points (two goals, six<o:p></o:p>             assists) in his last five games<o:p></o:p> Jay Cascalenda: three assists in his last three games<o:p></o:p> Brian Gifford: two goals and two assists in his last three games<o:p></o:p> Tomas Klempa: ten points (five goals, five assists) in his last six games<o:p></o:p> Todd McIlrath: five game point scoring streak (<st1:date w:st="on" Month="3" Day="8" Year="2011">3-8-11</st1:date>)…points in seven of eight games this season<o:p></o:p> Ryan Peckskamp: one goal and two assists in his last three games…six points (four goals, two assists) in his last<o:p></o:p>             seven games<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock: one goal, two assists in his last three games<o:p></o:p> B.J. O’Brien: in his last four games: unbeaten in regulation (3-0-1) with a 2.34 goals against average and a .915 save <o:p></o:p>             percentage<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> WIN-LOSS <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> Home: <st1:date w:st="on" Month="2" Day="1" Year="2000">2-1-0</st1:date>                              Home: 4-0-1                              <o:p></o:p> Away: 4-0-1                               Away: <st1:date w:st="on" Month="1" Day="3" Year="2000">1-3-0</st1:date>                               <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East Division: <st1:date w:st="on" Month="6" Day="1" Year="2000">6-1-0</st1:date>              vs. East Division: <st1:date w:st="on" Month="5" Day="1" Year="2001">5-1-1</st1:date>              <o:p></o:p> vs. West Division: 0-0-1             vs. West Division: 0-2-0             <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GOALS <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> Goals For Per Game: 3.38 (3)                 Goals For Per Game: 3.67 (2)                <o:p></o:p> Goals Against Per Game: 2.50 (tie 2)      Goals Against Per Game: 3.33 (10)<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:       13.5%  5/37  (5)             Power Play:       19.1%  9/47  (2)             <o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       93.9%  2/33  (1)                         Penalty Kill:       82.2%  8/45  (10)           <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 0                       Shorthanded Goals For: 2                       <o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 2     Shorthanded Goals Against: 0                 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SERIES<o:p></o:p> vs. Indiana 2004-05<o:p></o:p> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="10" Day="17" Year="2004">10/17/04</st1:date>            <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 6 at <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 5 (so)            <st1:date w:st="on" Month="12" Day="4" Year="2004">12/4/04</st1:date>             at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="10" Day="30" Year="2004">10/30/04</st1:date>            at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                                    <st1:date w:st="on" Month="12" Day="5" Year="2004">12/5/04</st1:date>             at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="11" Day="9" Year="2004">11/9/04</st1:date>             at <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State>                                              <st1:date w:st="on" Month="1" Day="28" Year="2005">1/28/05</st1:date>             at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <st1:date w:st="on" Month="11" Day="27" Year="2004">11/27/04</st1:date>            at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                                    <st1:date w:st="on" Month="2" Day="25" Year="2005">2/25/05</st1:date>             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             1          1-0-0                 2          0-0-0     1-0-0                 0-0-1                 1<o:p></o:p> All-Time*                       7          <st1:date w:st="on" Month="5" Day="2" Year="2000">5-2-0</st1:date>                 10         <st1:date w:st="on" Month="2" Day="1" Year="2000">2-1-0</st1:date>     <st1:date w:st="on" Month="3" Day="1" Year="2000">3-1-0</st1:date>                 <st1:date w:st="on" Month="2" Day="4" Year="2001">2-4-1</st1:date>                 5<o:p></o:p> *-vs. Indiana/Danville<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:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></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:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>                         GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Matt Vokes                   1          1          1          2                      Brian Gifford                 1          1          1          2<o:p></o:p> Rob Ricci                      1          1          1          2                      Colin Vock                    1          1          1          2<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    1          1          1          2                      Tristin Llewellyn             1          1          1          2<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> Goaltenders/Season Series <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></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> Alex Stalock                  1          65         4.62      1-0-0                 0          .853<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>                         GP       MIN      GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT   <o:p></o:p> B.J. O’Brien                  1          25         2.40      0-0-1                 0          .900<o:p></o:p> Jake Maida                   1          40         6.00      0-0-0                 0          .852<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> Mark Carlson, 6th year (149-126-28)<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.  He has led the RoughRiders to four straight winning seasons and four straight berths in the Clark Cup playoffs.  The Riders are one of just three USHL teams to have reached the post season each of the last four years.  <o:p></o:p> Carlson is just one win short of the 150 victory plateau.  He earned his one hundredth coaching win on <st1:date w:st="on" Month="1" Day="11" Year="2003">January 11, 2003</st1:date> 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 the Indiana Ice 6-5 in a shootout in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Indianapolis</st1:City></st1:place> on <st1:date w:st="on" Month="10" Day="17" Year="2004">Sunday, October 17, 2004</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p> <P