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Weekly Update: February 7, 2006

Weekly Update: February 7, 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:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> 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> February 7, 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, February 10, 7:05PM @ <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> Ice Arena<o:p></o:p> Tri-City Storm 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, February 11, 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">Omaha</st1:City> Lancers 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> 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> 23-14-4, 50 points, 2nd place East Division <o:p></o:p> Tri-City<o:p></o:p> 19-18-6, 44 points, 4th place West Division<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 27-15-1, 55 points, 2nd place West Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders have lost four straight games for the first time since February of 2004.  The Riders started last week with a 3-0 defeat at Tri-City Tuesday and were then outscored 13-4 while suffering back-to-back home losses to <st1:City w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:City> (7-2) last Friday and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:place></st1:City> (6-2) last Saturday.  The Riders have been outscored 20-5 over their last four games.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders are three points behind the East Division-leading Des Moines Buccaneers.  <o:p></o:p>             Last Friday’s 7-2 loss to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:place></st1:City> was the Riders’ worst defeat of the season.  Prior to that contest the Riders had not given up seven goals in a game since last March.  Before last Friday, the Riders had not lost by five goals since January of 2004.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders have stumbled on special teams of late.  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> has failed to score on its last 23 power plays and has given up seven goals on its opponents’ last 18 man advantages.  <o:p></o:p>             Nor have the Riders been overwhelming at even strength.  They have scored just 16 even strength goals in their last 13 games and have not scored more than two even strength goals in any of those 13 contests.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders’ Chad Costello (21-31-52) ended a three-game pointless streak (his longest drought of the season) with a goal last Saturday night and remains the league’s leading point scorer, just ahead of teammate Ted Purcell (12-37-49).  Purcell remains the league leader in assists, while Costello is tied for second. <o:p></o:p>             The Storm followed up on last Wednesday’s shut out of the Riders’ with a 6-5 shootout win over <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> last Friday.  Tri-City has won five of its last six games and is now three points behind third place <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:place></st1:City> in the West Division.<o:p></o:p>             The Storm will try to end a six game road winless streak (0-5-1) when it takes to the ice in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> Friday.<o:p></o:p>             Tri-City averages 2.9 goals per game, third fewest in the USHL, but also gives up just 2.8 goals per contest, the fourth best average in the league.<o:p></o:p>             Slovak Jaroslav Markovic (21-22-43) is the Storm’s top point scorer.  Markovic is tied for fifth in the league in goals and leads the league lead in shorthanded goals (5).<o:p></o:p>             Tri-City goaltender Aaron Rock leads the league in shutouts (6) and minutes played (1846:38) and ranks third in goals against average (2.18).<o:p></o:p>             The Storm is easily the least penalized team in the league.  Tri-City players spend an average of just 15.2 minutes in the penalty box per game.<o:p></o:p> The Lancers swept a home-and-home series with league-leading <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> last weekend.  The Lancers won in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:City></st1:place> 4-1 last Friday and blanked the Stampede 3-0 one night later on home ice.<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> has now won seven of its last eight games and has gone 11-3-0 in its last 14 games.  <o:p></o:p> For all their recent success, the Lancers are still 15 points behind <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:City></st1:place> in the West Division.<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> ranks last in the league in power play efficiency (12.4 percent).<o:p></o:p> The Lancers’ Matt Schepke (27-15-42) is the league’s top goal scorer, while Ryan Thang (16-21-37) has made a considerable impact since being acquired from <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> last month.  Thang has scored eight goals and totaled 15 points in just ten games with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City>’s Nick Schaus (6-31-37) is tied for second overall in assists and leads USHL defensemen in assists.  He also ranks third among defensemen in points.<o:p></o:p> Lancer goaltender Michael Spillane leads the league in wins (19) and ranks fourth in goals against average (2.41).<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> Tuesday, January 31:  Tri-City 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 0<o:p></o:p> The Riders were held to just 15 shots and fell despite a 24-save effort from Pat McGann.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, February 3: <st1:City w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:City> 7  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> The Riders took an early lead on a Jacob Cepis goal at 1:50 of the first period, but had little to celebrate thereafter as the Stars scored three straight goals to take control of the game.  Phil Axtell brought the Riders back within one early in the second period, but Stars pulled away with two goals in 20 seconds later in the second and two more in the third period.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, February 4: <st1:City w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> The Musketeers took the lead just 8 seconds into the first period and never looked back.  Ian Slater and Chad Costello scored the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> goals.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tri-City<o:p></o:p> Tuesday, January 31:  Tri-City 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 0<o:p></o:p> Matt Ambroz scored a pair of goals and Mario Lamoureux provided the other while Aaron Rock stopped all 15 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> shots.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, February 3: Tri-City 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 5<o:p></o:p> Brett Gorman scored the only goal of a twelve-round shootout to end a wild game.  The contest only went to overtime after Kyle Lawson scored with 2:43 remaining in the third period to tie the score at five.  Matt Ambroz (one goal, two assists) led a balanced Tri-City attack.  Jake Obermeyer, Jaroslav Markovic and Zach Cohen also scored for the Storm.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Friday, February 3: <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> 4  Sioux Falls 1<o:p></o:p> Ryan Thang broke loose for two goals and two assists to spearhead the Lancers.  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City> jumped in front 2-0 on first period goals from Chris Moran and Matt Schepke.  Thang scored twice in less than two and a half minutes in the second period to put <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> away.  Michael Spillane had to make only 13 saves in the <st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City> net as the Lancers outshot <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> 34-14.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, February 4: <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> 3  Sioux Falls 0<o:p></o:p> Michael Spillane stopped all 31 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> shots and Matt Thurber, Tony Lucia and Matt Schepke provided the goals for the Lancers.<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                41         21         31         52<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    38         12         37         49<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     38         19         14         33<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                    40         12         16         28<o:p></o:p> David Strathman            41         8          12         20<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tri-City                         GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Jaroslav Markovic           43         21         22         43<o:p></o:p> Jarod Palmer                 41         12         24         36<o:p></o:p> Zach Cohen                   43         13         11         24<o:p></o:p> Matt Ambroz                 43         8          15         23<o:p></o:p> Jordan Willert                41         5          15         20<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City>                         GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Matt Schepke                43         27         15         42<o:p></o:p> Nick Schaus                  43         6          31         37<o:p></o:p> Chris Moran                   43         10         22         32<o:p></o:p> Tony Lucia                    40         12         18         30<o:p></o:p> Ryan Raven                   40         13         11         24<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 (21)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (37)<o:p></o:p> Points- Chad Costello (52)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Sergei Kolosov (+10)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (149)<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, is tied for second in assists, is tied for fifth in power play goals (9) and is tied for fifth in goals…Purcell leads the league in assists and ranks second in points (49) …Axtell is tied for the league lead in power play goals and penalty minutes (149)…Nik Sellers is tied for second in game winning goals (6)…David Strathman is tied for ninth in power play goals (7) and, among defensemen, ranks fourth in goals (8) and ranks tenth in points (20)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tri-City<o:p></o:p> Goals- Jaroslav Markovic (21)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Jarod Palmer (24)<o:p></o:p> Points- Jaroslav Markovic (43)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Greg Battani (+4)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Mario Lamoureux (95)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Zach Cohen (5)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Jaroslav Markovic (5)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Markovic is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals, is tied for fifth in goals and is tied for seventh in points…Kyle Lawson is tied for fifth among defensemen in goals<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals- Matt Schepke (27)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Nick Schaus (31)<o:p></o:p> Points- Matt Schepke (42)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Nick Schaus (+17)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Chris Hepp (88)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Matt Schepke (11)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Matt Schepke (4)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Schepke leads the league in goals and game winning goals (8), is tied for second in shorthanded goals, ranks third in power play goals and ranks ninth in points…Ryan Thang is tied for first in plus/minus (+29) and is tied for sixth in shorthanded goals (3)…Schaus is tied for second in assists, tied for ninth in plus/minus and, among defensemen, leads the league in assists, ranks tird in points and is tied for ninth in goals<o:p></o:p> <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                  29         1732:06 2.46      18-10-1             3          .930<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  13         758:14              2.61      5-4-3                 1          .917<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock leads the league in saves (938), ranks second in minutes played, is tied for second in wins, ranks third in save percentage, is tied for third in shutouts and ranks fifth in goals against average<o:p></o:p>                         <o:p></o:p> Tri-City                         GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Aaron Rock                   32         1846:38 2.18      15-10-4             6          .904<o:p></o:p> Derek Brennan               9          380:48              3.94      1-5-2                 0          .844<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Rock leads the league in shutouts and minutes played, ranks third in goals against average, ranks sixth in wins and ranks ninth in save percentage<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City>                         GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Michael Spillane            28         1571:24 2.41      19-6-0               3          .915<o:p></o:p> Daniel Rosen                 2          82:32                5.82      0-1-0                 0          .855<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4> <o:p> </o:p> Hogan ranks sixth in save percentage, ranks eighth in goals against average and is tied for tenth 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> Ted Purcell: six assists in his last five games<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tri-City<o:p></o:p> Matt Ambroz: eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Jaroslav Markovic: nine points (three goals, six assists) in his last nine games<o:p></o:p> Jarod Palmer: seven points (three 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">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Chris Moran: five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five games<o:p></o:p> Matt Schepke: six goals in his last six games…ten points (six goals, four assists) in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Ryan Thang: 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in ten games since joining <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Matt Thurber: five points (one goal, four assists) in his last four games<o:p></o:p> Michael Spillane: has won seven straight games, a streak during which he has posted a 1.56 goals against average, a <o:p></o:p>             .938 save percentage and two shutouts<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> WIN-LOSS <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                Tri-City                         <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Home: 9-9-1                  Home: 12-8-1                 Home: 16-7-0<o:p></o:p> Away: 14-5-3                  Away: 7-10-5                  Away: 11-8-1<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East: 14-8-0             vs. East: 12-7-4             vs. East: 12-8-1             <o:p></o:p> vs. West: 9-6-4              vs. West: 7-11-2            vs. West: 15-7               <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GOALS<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City>                Tri-City                         <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.20 (6)         Goals For: 2.86 (9)         Goals For: 3.28 (4)         <o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 2.71 (3)   Goals Against: 2.77 (4)   Goals Against: 3.05 (5)   <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5> <o:p> </o:p> SPECIAL TEAMS <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>                                        Tri-City<o:p></o:p> Power Play:       20.8  50/240  (2)            Power Play:       18.6  41/220  (6)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       83.9  30/186  (6)            Penalty Kill:       85.6  23/160  (4)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 2                       Shorthanded Goals For: 8<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against:12                Shorthanded Goals Against: 8<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City>                                                 <o:p></o:p> Power Play:       12.4  27/218  (10)           <o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       84.3  35/223  (5)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For:  6                      <o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 7                 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SERIES<o:p></o:p> vs. Tri-City                    <o:p></o:p> 9/24/05             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3 at Tri-City 1                    2/10/06             Tri-City at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 11/26/05            at Tri-City 2 <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 1 (SO)            3/17/06             Tri-City at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 1/31/06             at Tri-City 3 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> 0<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          1-1-1                 3          0-0-0     1-1-1                 2-1-0                 4<o:p></o:p> All-Time                        25         12-11-2             26         6-4-1     6-7-1                 13-10-2             28<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section6> <o:p> </o:p> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 11/4/05             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 4 at <st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City> 2            &nbsp