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Weekly Update: January 24, 2006

Weekly Update: January 24, 2006

<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 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> January 24, 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 27, 7:05PM @ <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> Ice Arena<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> Gamblers 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, January 28, 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: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> 22-10-4, 48 points, tied 1st place East Division <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 19-16-3, 41 points, 3rd 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> 13-18-5, 31 points, tied 5th place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             A 3-2 loss to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City> last Saturday ended the RoughRiders’ six game (4-0-2) unbeaten streak.  Last Saturday’s game was the Riders’ third in four nights.  The Riders started the week by earning one point for a 3-2 shootout loss in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> last Wednesday.  The Riders moved into a tie with <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> atop the United States Hockey League’s East Division by shutting out the Bucs 3-0 last Friday in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Urbandale</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> The Riders have one game in hand on the Bucs, who fell 7-2 in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> Sunday and missed out on an opportunity to reclaim sole possession of first place.<o:p></o:p>             With last Friday’s victory, the Riders are now tied with <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> for the league lead in road wins (14).  <o:p></o:p>             The Riders’ Chad Costello (19-30-49) scored two goals last week and remains the league’s to point scorer.  Costello’s 11 game point scoring streak (9-10-19) ended last Saturday.<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell (12-31-43) has moved past Costello to take over sole possession of the league lead in assists.<o:p></o:p>             Rider goaltender Al Stalock has posted shutouts in two of his last three games.   Stalock is unbeaten in regulation in his last five games (4-0-1) and has turned in a 0.98 goals against average and a .975 save percentage during that streak.  The second year netminder has also moved into a tie for the league lead in save percentage (.937).<o:p></o:p>             Rider forward Sean Dolan and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> forward Aaron Bendickson, who were traded for each other last week, will likely have the first opportunity to face their former teams this Saturday.<o:p></o:p>             An 8-2 drubbing last Saturday at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> ended the Gamblers’ season best five-game winning streak.  That defeat came one night after <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> defeated the Ice 3-2 in a shootout on home ice.  The Gamblers started the week with a 3-0 shutout of the Steel in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City> last Tuesday.<o:p></o:p>             The Gamblers are in third place in the East Division, seven points behind co-leaders <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> and <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> and seven points ahead of fourth place <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p>             <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> has recovered superbly from a slow start.  The Gamblers have gone 15-6-3 over their last 24 games after going just 4-10 in their first 14 outings.  <o:p></o:p>             The Gamblers have lost just two of their last ten road games (6-2-2).  <o:p></o:p>             Kevin Deeth (12-26-38) is the Gamblers’ top point scorer, while Sean Backman (19-14-33) leads the team in goals.  <o:p></o:p>             Goaltender Eddie Neville has been an integral part of the Gamblers’ hot streak.  Neville has started five straight games since being acquired from <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City> earlier this month.  Neville posted two shutouts and gave up a total of four goals over four games before surrendering the Ice’s first five goals in last Saturday’s defeat.<o:p></o:p>             The Gamblers host <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City> tonight.<o:p></o:p>             The Ice ended a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) with last Saturday’s victory.  The week started for <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> with a 2-1 loss at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> last Tuesday.<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> last nosed above .500 with a win over Tri-City on November 19 that improved its record to 7-6-3.  Since then the Ice has gone just 6-12-2.<o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> is tied for last place overall with <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:place></st1:City>.  The Ice is three points behind fourth place <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> in the east.<o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> boasts the league’s most effective power play (23.6 percent).<o:p></o:p> Eddie Del Grosso (16-19-35), <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>’s lone all-star, leads the Ice attack.  Del Grosso leads USHL defensemen in goals and ranks second among blue liners in points.<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> Wednesday, January 18: Sioux Falls 3  Cedar Rapids 2 (SO)<o:p></o:p> The Riders led 2-1 until <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City>’ Andreas Nodl tied the score with just 2:22 left in regulation.  Only Nik Sellers converted for the Riders in the shootout, while the Stampede went 3-for-4.  Jordan Pietrus and Chad Costello scored in regulation for the Riders.  Al Stalock made 42 saves to help <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> to a point.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, January 20: <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> 0<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock made 44 saves to whitewash the Bucs.  The Riders got power play goals from Andy Miele and Chad Costello before Gary Steffes put the game away with an even strength goal late in the second period.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, January 21: <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> 2<o:p></o:p> The Steel scored a pair of shorthanded goals midway through the third period to erase a 2-1 Rider lead.  The Riders had built the lead on first period goals from Ryan Gunderson and Jacob Cepis.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Tuesday, January 17: <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> 0<o:p></o:p> Eddie Neville stopped 31 shots to blank the Steel.  Brian Roloff scored the first <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> goal and assisted on another.  Sergio Somma and Eric Gryba also scored for the Gamblers.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, January 20:  <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 2 (SO)<o:p></o:p> Eddie Neville made 39 saves in regulation and overtime and then stopped all four <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> penalty shots.  Kevin Deeth and Kurt Davis converted in the shootout for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>.  Deeth and Brian Roloff scored in the second period to give Green Bay a 2-0 lead before <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> rallied to force overtime.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, January 21: <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 8  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> By the time Brian Roloff scored twice in two minutes, 39 seconds in the second period, the Ice had already scored four times and would score four more.  <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> Tuesday, January 17: <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> 2  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> Todd McIlrath gave <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> a 1-0 first period lead but <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> came from behind for the win.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, January 20:  <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 2 (SO)<o:p></o:p> The Ice went 0-for-4 in the shootout after erasing a 2-0 deficit in regulation on goals from Jay Sprague and Eric Olimb.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, January 21: <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 8  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Eddie Del Grosso had four assists and Todd McIlrath (who also had an assist) and Ryan Scott both scored twice to lead the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> onslaught.  The Ice went 6-for-11 on the power play.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <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> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Costello               33         19         30         49<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    33         12         31         43<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     33         18         13         31<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                     36         11         16         27<o:p></o:p> David Strathman           36         7          12         19<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Green Bay                    GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Kevin Deeth                  38         12         26         38<o:p></o:p> Sean Backman              35         19         14         33<o:p></o:p> Brian Roloff                  38         21         11         32<o:p></o:p> Sergio Somma              38         16         14         30<o:p></o:p> Jeremy Dehner              34         3          20         23<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>                         GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Eddie Del Grosso         36         16         19         35<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe                   32         10         21         31<o:p></o:p> Joe Kemp                     30         4          22         26<o:p></o:p> Brian Gifford                 35         10         13         23<o:p></o:p> Jay Sprague                 34         12         8          20<o:p></o:p> <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> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Goals-</st1:City> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Chad</st1:country-region></st1:place> Costello (19)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (31)<o:p></o:p> Points- Chad Costello (49)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Sergei Kolosov (+15)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (124)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell (12)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Jacob Cepis, Gary Steffes (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Costello leads the league in points, ranks second in assists, ranks fourth in power play goals (8) and is tied for seventh in goals…Purcell leads the league in assists and is tied for second in points (43) …Axtell leads the league in power play goals, is tied for tenth in goals (18) and ranks fourth in penalty minutes…Nik Sellers is tied for second in game winning goals (5)…David Strathman is tied for eighth in power play goals (6) and, among defensemen, is tied for fourth in goals (7) and tied for seventh in points (19)…Among defensemen, Kevin Wehrs is tied for tenth in assists (14)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals- Brian Roloff (21)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Kevin Deeth (26)<o:p></o:p> Points- Kevin Deeth (38)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Brian Roloff (+19)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Eric Gryba (107)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Brian Roloff (10)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Kevin Deeth, Tyler Lehrke (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Roloff is tied for second in power play goals, tied for third in goals and ranks sixth in plus/minus…Sean Backman is tied for seventh in goals (19)…Deeth is tied for third in assists and is tied for seventh in points… Sergio Somma is tied for eighth in power play goals (6)…Gryba ranks seventh in penalty minutes…Among defensemen, Jeremy Dehner is tied for third in assists (20) and is tied for fourth in points (23)<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- Eddie Del Grosso (16)<o:p></o:p> Assists- John Kemp (22)<o:p></o:p> Points- Eddie Del Grosso (35)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Mike Phillippi (+5)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Lucas Klimek (68)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Eddie Del Grosso (10)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Eddie Del Grosso, Mike Hull (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Del Grosso is tied for second in power play goals, ranks tenth in points and, among defenseman, leads the league in goals, ranks second in points and is tied for fourth in assists …Sprague is tied for eighth in power play goals… John Kemp is tied for ninth in assists…Eric Olimb is tied for fourth among defensemen in goals (7)<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                  25         1519:58 2.21      17-7-1               2          .937<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  11         671:41              2.68      5-3-3                 1          .917<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock is tied for the league lead in save percentage and wins, leads the league in saves (829), ranks second in minutes played and is tied for fourth in goals against average<o:p></o:p>                         <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place>                    GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Eddie Neville                 24         1217:23 2.96      12-9-1               2          .910<o:p></o:p> Max Strang                   10         462:17              2.99      4-1-1                 0          .901<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Neville is tied for sixth in wins, ranks seventh in save percentage and ranks tenth in goals against average<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> Cody Reichard              23         1221:27 3.93      9-11-2               2          .874<o:p></o:p> Steve Jakiel                  23         1352:38 3.11      12-7-3               0          .894<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4> <o:p> </o:p> Jakiel is tied for sixth in wins and ranks seventh in minutes played…Reichard ranks ninth in minutes played and is tied for ninth in wins<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> WHO’S HOT<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>                                                                   <o:p></o:p> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Costello: 11 game point scoring streak (9-10-19) ended last Saturday<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: eleven points (two goals, nine assists) in his last ten games<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock: two shutouts in his last three games…has given up two goals in his last three games while making 114 <o:p></o:p>             saves (2-0-1, 0.65, .983)…has given up just five goals in his last five games while making 191 saves (4-0-1,<o:p></o:p> 0.98, .975)…unbeaten in regulation in his last six games (5-0-1, 1.31, .964)...has given up three goals or fewer in each of his last 10 games (7-2-1, 1.57 .955).<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Sean Backman: nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last eight games<o:p></o:p> Kevin Deeth: 34 points (ten goals, 24 assists) in his last 27 games<o:p></o:p> Jeremy Dehner: five game point scoring streak (1-4-5)…20 points (two goals, 18 assists) in his last 16 games<o:p></o:p> Brian Roloff: five points (four goals, one assist) in his last three games<o:p></o:p> Eddie Neville: won first four starts as a Gambler before suffering his first <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> loss last Saturday…4-1 with <o:p></o:p>             two shutouts, a 1.89 goals against average and a .946 save percentage since joining <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><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> Michael Borovansky: four points (one goal, three assists) in his last two games<o:p></o:p> Eddie Del Grosso: four assists last Saturday…eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last five games<o:p></o:p> John Kemp: ten points (one goal, nine assists) in his last nine games<o:p></o:p> Todd McIlrath: nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe: 11 points (one goal, ten assists) in his last ten games<o:p></o:p> Jay Sprague: five goals in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Steve Jakiel: 2-1-1 in his first four games with Indiana (1.99, .926)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> WIN-LOSS <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>               <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City>                    <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>             <o:p></o:p> Home: 8-6-1                  Home: 10-8-1                 Home: 8-10-2<o:p></o:p> Away: 14-4-3                 Away: 9-8-2                   Away: 5-8-3<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East: 13-7-0             vs. East: 11-9-2             vs. East: 6-11-2<o:p></o:p> vs. West: 9-3-4              vs. West: 8-7-1              vs. West: 7-7-3<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GOALS<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>               <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City>                    <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.4 (4)           Goals For: 3.3 (5)           Goals For: 3.3 (6)<o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 2.53 (2)   Goals Against: 3.05 (5)   Goals Against: 3.92 (9)<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">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Power Play:       22.0  46/209  (2)            Power Play:       17.4  30/172  (7)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       85.9  23/163  (4)            Penalty Kill:       80.4  40/204  (8)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 2                       Shorthanded Goals For: 5<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against:10                Shorthanded Goals Against: 4<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> Power Play:       23.6  45/191  (1)            <o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       81.1  39/206  (7)            <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For:  10                     <o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 5                 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"