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Weekly Update: February 14, 2006

Weekly Update: February 14, 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> February 14, 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> Thursday, February 16, 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">Des Moines</st1:City> Buccaneers 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> Friday, February 17, 7:35PM @ 95KGGO Arena, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Urbandale</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">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> Buccaneers<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sunday, February 19, 3:05PM @ Resch Center, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</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">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> Gamblers<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> 24-15-4, 52 points, 2nd place East Division <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> 25-14-5, 55 points, 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> 23-19-3, 49 points, 3rd place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders defeated the Omaha Lancers 5-2 on home ice Saturday night to snap a five game losing streak.  The Riders were able to rebound Saturday evening after falling to the Tri-City Storm 4-3 one night earlier.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders’ enter this week’s home-and-home series with <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> three points behind the East Division-leading Bucs.  The Riders have one game in hand on <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>.  With a pair of regulation wins over the Bucs this week, the Riders would take over sole possession of first place in the east for the first time since November 24.<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders last Saturday ended what was the team’s first five game regulation losing streak since the Riders dropped eight in a row during the 1999-2000 season.  The victory was the first for the Riders since a 5-0 defeat of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> on January 27.<o:p></o:p>             Last Saturday’s win also snapped a team-record tying four game home losing streak and an eight game (0-4-4) winless streak against West Division opponents.  <o:p></o:p>             The Riders’ Chad Costello broke loose for four goals and one assist in the Riders’ two games last weekend.  Costello (25-32-57) leads the league in points, and is tied for second in goals and assists.<o:p></o:p>             Ted Purcell (12-39-51) leads the league in assists and is tied for second in points.<o:p></o:p>              The Buccaneers snapped a three game losing streak and a four game winless streak with a 3-1 win in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> Sunday night.  That game was the Bucs’ third in three nights.  <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> was shut out by the Stampede 3-0 last Friday and fell 5-3 in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:place></st1:City> last Friday.<o:p></o:p>             The Bucs have gone just 3-8-1 over their last dozen games after starting the season 22-6-4.<o:p></o:p>             Sunday night’s win also ended the Bucs’ four game road winless streak (0-3-1).  <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> has gone just 2-5 in its last seven home games after starting the season 10-2-2 on home ice.<o:p></o:p> The Bucs are tied for the league lead in goal scoring, averaging 3.4 goals per game.  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> allows the second fewest goals per contest (2.7).<o:p></o:p> The Bucs boast the USHL’s most efficient penalty kill (87.8 percent) and have scored a league high 16 shorthanded goals.<o:p></o:p>             <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place>’ Trevor Lewis (25-25-50) is tied for second in the league in goals and ranks fourth in points, just ahead of teammate Kyle Okposo (22-27-49).<o:p></o:p>             The Bucs acquired former Rider forward Aaron Bendickson from the Indiana Ice last week.  Bendickson started the season in <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> before being dealt to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> last month.<o:p></o:p>             The Gamblers have won four of their last five games and are now three points behind the Riders in the East Division.  <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> has played two more games than <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p>             The Gamblers won back-to-back home games over the weekend, whitewashing <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 6-0 last Friday and edging <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City> 4-3 Sunday night.<o:p></o:p>             <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> has recovered superbly from a slow start.  The Gamblers have gone 19-9-3 over their last 31 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">ames</st1:City></st1:place> after going just 4-10 in their first 14 outings.  <o:p></o:p>             The Gamblers have gone 8-3 in their last 11 home games after beginning the season 4-7-1 on home ice.<o:p></o:p>             Kevin Deeth (15-31-46) leads <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> in point scoring and is tied for fourth in the league in assists.  Brian Roloff (24-14-38) is the Gamblers’ leading goal scorer and is tied for fourth in the league in goals.<o:p></o:p> Goaltender Eddie Neville has been an integral part of the Gamblers’ recent successes.  Since being acquired from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> last month, Neville has started 12 straight games, going 8-4 with a 2.55 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.  He picked up his third shutout since arriving in <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> last Friday against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers play twice in the next three days.  <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> visits <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> tomorrow tonight and hosts <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> Thursday.<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, February 10:  Tri-City 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> The Riders surrendered four unanswered goals- including the game winner with just 28.6 seconds left in regulation- after jumping out to a 3-0 lead.  Chad Costello (two goals, one assist) had a hand in all three Rider goals.  Goaltender Pat McGann stopped 44 Tri-City shots.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, February 11: <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Chad Costello scored twice to lead the Rider attack.  David Strathman’s second period shorthanded goal proved to be the game winner.  Rider goaltender Al Stalock stopped 41 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City> shots.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Friday, February 10: Sioux Falls 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 0<o:p></o:p> The Bucs were shut out despite outshooting <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City> 39-30.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, February 11: <st1:City w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> The Musketeers snapped a 3-3 tie with a late power play goal and added an empty netter to put the Bucs away.  After falling behind 3-0, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> had rallied to tie the game on goals from Rob Johnson, Kyle Okposo and Ben Ryan.  The Bucs fell despite outshooting the Musketeers 45-25.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sunday, February 12: <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 3  Sioux Falls 1<o:p></o:p> Aaron Bendickson, Trevor Lewis and Kyle Okposo scored a goal apiece as the Bucs came from behind for the win.<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> Friday, February 10: <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 0<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers broke the game open early with five first period goals.  Sean Backman scored a pair of goals while Brian Roloff, Nick Tabisz, Tyler Lehrke and Justin Braun provided one apiece.  Eddie Neville made 24 save to shut out the Ice.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sunday, February 11: <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> Sergio Somma’s hat trick paced the Gamblers.  Kevin Deeth also scored for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>.<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                43         25         32         57<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    40         12         39         51<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     40         20         15         35<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                    42         12         17         29<o:p></o:p> David Strathman            43         10         12         22<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>                  GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Trevor Lewis                  41         25         25         50<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo                 41         22         27         49<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock                    42         13         21         34<o:p></o:p> Richard Purslow 43         11         20         31<o:p></o:p> Ken Rowe                     44         14         16         30<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> Green Bay                    GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Kevin Deeth                   45         15         31         46<o:p></o:p> Sean Backman              42         22         20         42<o:p></o:p> Sergio Somma               45         20         20         40<o:p></o:p> Brian Roloff                    45         24         14         38<o:p></o:p> Jeremy Dehner              41         5          24         29<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 (25)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (39)<o:p></o:p> Points- Chad Costello (57)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Phil Axtell, Sergei Kolosov (+9)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (151)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell (13)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Jacob Cepis, Gary Steffes, David Strathman (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Costello leads the league in points, is tied for second in goals and assists and is tied for sixth in power play goals (9) …Purcell leads the league in assists and is tied for second in points (51) …Axtell leads the league in power play goals (13) and penalty minutes (151) and is tied for tenth in goals (20)…Nik Sellers is tied for second in game winning goals (6)…David Strathman is tied for ninth in power play goals (8) and, among defensemen, ranks fourth in goals (10) and  ninth in points (22)…Kevin Wehrs is tied for seventh among defensemen in assists (17)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals- Trevor Lewis (25)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Kyle Okposo (27)<o:p></o:p> Points- Trevor Lewis (50)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Kyle Okposo (+27)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Donnie Hallmark (106)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Trevor Lewis (8)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Trevor Lewis, Kyle Okposo, Colin Vock (4)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lewis is tied for second in goals and shorthanded goals, ranks fourth in points, is tied for fourth in plus/minus (+21) and is tied for ninth in power play goals…Okposo ranks second in plus/minus (+27), is tied for second in shorthanded goals, ranks fifth in points (49), is tied for seventh in goals (22) and ranks tenth in assists (27)…Ken Rowe is tied for sixth in plus/minus (+20)…Chase Ryan ranks tenth in plus/minus (+18)…Vock is tied for second in shorthanded goals (4)…Hallmark ranks eighth in penalty minutes…Shane Sims is tied for fifth among defensemen in goals (7)<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> Goals- Brian Roloff (24)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Kevin Deeth (31)<o:p></o:p> Points- Kevin Deeth (46)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Brian Roloff (+26)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Eric Gryba (134)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Brian Roloff (11)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Kevin Deeth, Tyler Lehrke (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Deeth is tied for fourth in assists and tied for seventh in points…Sean Backman is tied for sixth in plus/minus (+20), tied for seventh in goals (22) and is tied for tenth in points (42)…Rohloff ranks third in plus/minus, is tied for third in power play goals and is tied for fourth in goals…Sergio Somma is tied for ninth in power play goals (9) and tied for tenth in goals (20)…Eric Gryba ranks fourth in penalty minutes (134)…Jeremy Dehner ranks fourth among defensemen in points (29) and assists (24)…Nick Tabisz is tied for ninth among defensemen in goals (6)<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                  30         1792:06 2.44      19-10-1             3          .931<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  14         818:14              2.71      5-5-3                 1          .917<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock leads the league in saves (979), ranks second in minutes played, is tied for second in wins and save percentage, is tied for third in shutouts and is tied for fifth in goals against average<o:p></o:p>                         <o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>                  GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Troy <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Davenport</st1:place></st1:City>               28         1669:13 2.44      17-8-3               2          .925<o:p></o:p> Brian Foster                  17         987:52              2.55      8-6-2                 0          .911<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Davenport ranks fourth in save percentage, is tied for fourth in wins, ranks fifth in minutes played, is tied for fifth in goals against average…Foster ranks seventh in save percentage and eighth 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                  12         682:04              2.55      8-4-0                 3          .919<o:p></o:p>    (TOTALS)                   31         1614:27 2.97      16-12-1             5          .907<o:p></o:p> Max Strang                   15         662:01              2.90      6-1-1                 0          .902<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4> <o:p> </o:p> Neville ranks second in shutouts, ranks sixth in minutes played, is tied for sixth in wins, ranks eighth in save percentage and ranks ninth in goals against average (2.97)<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:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Chad</st1:country-region></st1:place> Costello: four goals (and one assist) in his last two games<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: eight assists in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann: made personal season high 44 saves in 4-3 loss to Tri-City last Friday<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock: made 41 saves in last Saturday’s 5-2 win over <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City>, ending a three-game losing streak<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Aaron Bendickson: scored his first <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> goal Sunday night in 3-1 win at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Trevor Lewis: one goal and one assist Sunday night after going four games without a point…eight points (three goals, <o:p></o:p> five assists) in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo: eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last seven games<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: five game point scoring streak (three goals, six assists)<o:p></o:p> Kevin Deeth: 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his last eleven games <o:p></o:p> Brian Roloff: 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in his last ten games<o:p></o:p> Sergio Somma: recorded his second hat trick of the season Sunday…14 points (eight goals, six assists) in his last<o:p></o:p>             11 games<o:p></o:p> Eddie Neville: 4-1-0 in his last five games with a 1.82 goals against average, a .930 save percentage and one shutout<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">Des Moines</st1:City>                  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Home: 10-10-1               Home: 12-7-2                 Home: 12-10-1<o:p></o:p> Away: 14-5-3                  Away: 13-7-3                  Away: 11-9-2<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East: 14-8-0             vs. East: 15-5-3             vs. East: 15-12-2                       <o:p></o:p> vs. West: 10-7-4            vs. West: 10-9-2            vs. West: 8-7-1<o:p></o:p> <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:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City>                  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.23 (6)         Goals For: 3.43 (tied 1)   Goals For: 3.24 (tied 4)   <o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 2.72 (3)   Goals Against: 2.66 (2)   Goals Against: 3.02 (5)   <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">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Power Play:       21.0  52/248  (2)            Power Play:       14.2  34/239  (9)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       84.5  30/193  (5)            Penalty Kill:       87.7  31/253  (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 3                       Shorthanded Goals For: 16<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against:12                Shorthanded Goals Against: 8<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> Power Play:       17.7  36/203  (7)            <o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       78.2  52/238  (11)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For:  5                      <o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 4                 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SERIES<o:p></o:p> vs. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 10/29/05            <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 4 at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3<SPAN style="