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Weekly Update: January 3, 2006

Weekly Update: January 3, 2006

<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> January 3, 2006<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> Friday, January 6, 7:05PM @ Young Arena, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</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">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> Black Hawks<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, January 7, 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">Waterloo</st1:City> Black Hawks 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> 18-9-2, 38 points, 2nd place East Division <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 12-14-3, 27 points, 4th place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders went 0-2-1 in their first three games after the United States Hockey League’s holiday break.  The Riders returned to action with a 3-2 home loss to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> last Thursday.  The following evening the Riders fell 4-3 in overtime in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:place></st1:City>.  The Riders suffered a 4-1 loss to the Omaha Lancers Sunday in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Council Bluffs</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders have dropped four points behind the Des Moines Buccaneers in the race for first place in the United States Hockey League’s East Division.  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> has gone three games without a victory for the first time since the Riders endured a four game winless streak (0-3-1) from February 12 through February 19 of last season.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders are now 12-4-2 on the road.  No USHL team has won more road games than the RoughRiders.  <o:p></o:p>             After scoring just six goals in their last three games, the Riders now rank third in goal scoring (3.5 per game).<o:p></o:p>             The Riders have been without forwards Ted Purcell and Gary Steffes and goaltender Al Stalock for the last three games.  Steffes and Stalock were playing for the United States Junior Select 18-and-Under Team at the Viking Cup international tournament in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Camrose</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Alberta</st1:State></st1:place>.  The U.S. won the bronze medal at the tournament.  Travel delays prevented Purcell from rejoining the Riders last week.  All three players are expected to be available for action against <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> this weekend<o:p></o:p> Purcell (12-26-38) is tied with teammate Chad Costello (14-24-38) for the league lead in point scoring.  The duo also ranks one-two in the league in assists.<o:p></o:p> Should the RoughRiders win both of this weekend’s games in regulation, they would clinch the i wireless Corridor Cup for a second straight season.  The i wireless Corridor Cup is awarded to the winner of the Cedar Rapids-Waterloo regular season series.  <o:p></o:p> The Black Hawks went 1-1-1 last week.  The Hawks endured a wild 6-5 defeat at <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> last Wednesday and then fell at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> 5-4 in overtime last Friday.  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> rebounded to post a 4-3 shootout win over the Steel Saturday evening on home ice.<o:p></o:p> Saturday’s win was just the Hawks’ second in their last nine games.  They have gone 2-5-2 during that stretch.  <o:p></o:p> The Black Hawks now boast the league’s second best power play (20.8 percent).  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City>’s penalty kill efforts have not been as sharp.  The Hawks rank last on the shorthand (11.8 percent).<o:p></o:p> Mitch Ryan (12-11-23) is the Black Hawks’ top point scorer, while Mike Testwuide (13-5-18) leads the team in goals.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> RECENT ACTION<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Thursday, December 29:  <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> The Riders jumped out to a 1-0 lead on David Strathman’s first period goal, but then allowed three straight <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> goals.  The Riders pulled within one when Sergei Kolosov scored from center ice late in the third period.<o:p></o:p>                                      <o:p></o:p> Friday, December 30: <st1:City w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 3 (OT)<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:place></st1:City>’s Mike Davies ended a see-saw game at 2:15 of overtime.  The Riders and Stars scored a goal apiece in each of the first three periods.  Jordan Pietrus, Dustin Cloutier and Jacob Cepis scored for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sunday, January 1: <st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> After Phil Axtell scored the Riders’ only goal in the first period the Lancers, who outshot the Riders 41-22, scored three times unanswered to pull away.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Wednesday, December 28:  <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> 5<o:p></o:p> The Black Hawks erased a 5-3 third period deficit on goals from Isak Tranvik (who led the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> attack with two goals and one assist) and Andy Bomach only to surrender Ryan Peckskamp’s game winner with just 1:20 remaining in regulation.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, December 30: <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> 4 (OT)<o:p></o:p> Chicago’s Stewart Carlin scored the winner 1:37 into overtime after Waterloo’s Garrett Suter had scored with 2:05 left in the third period to force sudden death.  The Black Hawks had earlier surrendered a 3-1 lead.  First period goals from Cody Chupp, Vince Lo Verde and Adam Blanchette gave the Hawks the early jump.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, December 31:  <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> 3 (SO)<o:p></o:p> Shootout goals from Cody Chupp and Mitch Ryan gave the Black Hawks the win after Mike Testwuide had tied the game with just 10 seconds left in regulation.<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                    26         12         26         38<o:p></o:p> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Costello               29         14         24         38<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     27         16         10         26<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                     29         9          10         19<o:p></o:p> David Strathman           29         6          10         16<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City>                      GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Mitch Ryan                    29         12         11         23<o:p></o:p> Cody Chupp                 29         8          13         21<o:p></o:p> Matt Arhontas               26         10         9          19<o:p></o:p> Mike Testwuide              26         13         5          18<o:p></o:p> Isak Tranvik                   26         7          9          16<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- Phil Axtell (16)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (26)<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Points- Ted Purcell</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Chad</st1:country-region></st1:place> Costello (38)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Phil Axtell (+12)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (98)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell (10)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Jacob Cepis, Gary Steffes (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Purcell leads the league in assists and is tied for the lead in points …Axtell leads the league in power play goals, is tied for seventh in goals and ranks fourth in penalty minutes…Costello is tied for the league lead in points, ranks second in assists (24) and is tied for tenth in goals (14)…Nik Sellers is tied for second in game winning goals (4)…David Strathman is tied for seventh in power play goals (5) and, among defensemen, is tied for fifth in goals (6) and tied for sixth in points (16)…Among defensemen, Kevin Wehrs is tied for sixth in assists (13) and tied for eighth in points (15)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals- Mike Testwuide (13)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Cody Chupp (13)<o:p></o:p> Points- Mitch Ryan (23)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Jokhim Nettelbladt (+6)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Mitch Ryan (72)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Cody Chupp (5)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Mike Testwuide (1)<o:p></o:p>             <o:p></o:p> GOALTENDERS<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>               GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT   <o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock                  20         1212:26 2.52      13-7-0               0          .926<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  9          547:28              2.63      5-2-2                 1          .920<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock ranks third in saves (638), is tied for third in wins, ranks fourth in save percentage, ranks fifth in minutes played and ranks sixth in goals against average<o:p></o:p>                         <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place>                      GP       MIN      GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Joe Grossman              18         942:02  3.57      6-9-2                 0          .874<o:p></o:p> Kenneth Wochele          15         808:55  2.82      6-5-1                 0          .894<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Wochele ranks seventh in goals against average and tenth in save percentage…Grossman ranks ninth in minutes played<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> 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: five game point scoring streak (3-4-7)<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: six points (two goals, four assists) in his last two games<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers: four points (two goals, two assists) in his last five games<o:p></o:p> Gary Steffes: six points (four goals, two assists) in his last four games<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Matt Arhontas: eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last eight games<o:p></o:p> Zach Bearson: ten points (three goals, seven assists) in his last ten games<o:p></o:p> Adam Blanchette: four points (one goal, three assists) in his last five games<o:p></o:p> Cody Chupp: four goals in his last four games…seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last five games…14<o:p></o:p>             points (six goals, eight assists) in his last ten games<o:p></o:p> Mitch Ryan: five game point scoring streak (two goals, six assists)…20 points (ten goals, ten assists) in his last 15 <o:p></o:p>             games<o:p></o:p> Isak Tranvik: six points (two goals, four assists) in his last three 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">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Home: 6-5-0                  Home: 8-6-1                  <o:p></o:p> Away: 12-4-2                 Away: 4-8-2                   <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East: 9-6-0               vs. East: 9-7-3               <o:p></o:p> vs. West: 9-3-2              vs. West: 3-7-0              <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">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.5 (3)           Goals For: 3.1 (8)           <o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 2.69 (3)   Goals Against: 3.34 (7)   <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4> <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">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Power Play:       20.2  35/173  (3)            Power Play:       20.8  32/154  (2)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       84.1  21/132  (6)            Penalty Kill:       78.7  32/150  (11)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 2                       Shorthanded Goals For: 1<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 8                 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">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 10/7/05             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 4 at <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> 2                1/7/06               <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 11/23/05            at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3 <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> 2 (OT)         3/4/06               <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 11/24/05            at <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> 5 <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 4                3/10/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 1/6/06               <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</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> 2005-06             3          2-1-0                 4          1-0-0     1-1-0                 1-1-1                 3<o:p></o:p> All-time                         42         20-18-4             44         11-7-2   9-11-2               22-17-3             47<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5> Top Point Scorers/Season Series<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> vs. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><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                    3          2          4          6<o:p></o:p> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Costello               3          0          6          6<o:p></o:p> (two players tied with three points)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City>                      GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Matt Arhontas               3          2          0          2<o:p></o:p> Zach Bearson                3          1          1          2<o:p></o:p> Mitch Ryan                    3          1          1          2<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section6>                                                                         <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:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></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> Al Stalock                     3          182:54  2.95      2-1-0                 0          .905<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place>                      GP       MIN      GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Joe Grossman              3          182:37  3.61      1-1-1                 0          .849<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 (203-147-34)<o:p></o:p> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Mark <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Carlson</st1:PersonName></st1:PersonName> 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.  On December 3 <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Carlson</st1:PersonName> picked up his two hundredth career coaching win as the Riders defeated <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City> 2-1 in a shootout.<o:p></o:p> 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">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> P.K. O’Handley, 10th year (249-270-38); 4th year <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> (109-83-17) <o:p></o:p> O’Handley won his one hundredth game as <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> coach when the Black Hawks defeated the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 5-4 in overtime on October 14.  He is now in the fourth season of a successful tenure with the Black Hawks.  He has guided the Hawks to three straight playoff berths, the 2003-04 Clark Cup title and the 2002-03 East Division title.<o:p></o:p> O’Handley spent seven years (1991-98) as the head coach of the North Iowa Huskies, the team that moved from <st1:City w:st="on">Mason City</st1:City> to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> to become the RoughRiders after the 1998-99 campaign.  He posted a 140-187-21 record behind the Huskies bench.  Prior to returning to the USHL with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place>, O’Handley was an assistant coach in the pro ranks for four seasons.           <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> HISTORY<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell is just two assists shy of Jon Grabarek’s team career assists record (75).  <o:p></o:p> The Riders this weekend have a chance to clinch the i wireless Corridor Cup for a second straight season.  The Riders claimed the cup l