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Weekly Update: February 21, 2006

Weekly Update: February 21, 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 21, 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> Wednesday, February 22, 7:05PM @ 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> Friday, February 24, 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: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> 25-16-5, 55 points, tied 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> 27-15-5, 59 points, 1st 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> 17-23-5, 39 points, 5th place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders went 1-1-1 last weekend.  The Riders fell 5-1 to the Des Moines Buccaneers last Thursday on home ice, rebounded with a 6-4 win at <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> last Friday and Sunday afternoon earned one point for a 2-1 shootout loss at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p>             Sunday’s win enabled <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> to move into tie with the RoughRiders for second place in the United States Hockey League’s East Division.  The Riders are four points behind the Bucs heading into tomorrow night’s season series finale in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Urbandale</st1:place></st1:City>.  The Riders have one game in hand on <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> and have played two fewer games than <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p>             Last Thursday’s game began a stretch that will see the Riders play seven straight games against East Division opponents.  <o:p></o:p>             Ted Purcell is closing in on Jon Grabarek’s RoughRider career points record.  Purcell, who is now in his second season with the team, has totaled 124 points in 100 games for the Riders.  Grabarek collected 129 points in 175 games over three seasons in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City>.             Purcell (13-44-57) currently leads the USHL in assists and ranks second in points, just behind teammate Chad Costello (25-35-60).  Purcell has rung up eight points (one goal, seven assists) in just his last four games.<o:p></o:p>             Costello became the first player in the league to reach 60 points this season after he picked up one goal and two assists in last Friday’s win at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>.  He is also tied for second in the league in assists and tied for fifth in goals.<o:p></o:p>             The Buccaneers went 2-1-0 while playing three games in three nights last weekend.  After splitting with the Riders, the Bucs handed <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> a 5-3 loss last Saturday in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Urbandale</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p>             The Bucs have now won three of their last four games after going winless (0-3-1) in their prior four.  Despite the Bucs’ recent uptick, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> has gone just 5-9-1 over its last 16 games after going 22-6-4 in its first 32 contests.<o:p></o:p>             With last Saturday’s win, the Bucs snapped a three game home losing streak.<o:p></o:p>             The Bucs ranks second in the league in both goals scored per game (3.5) and goals allowed per contest (2.7).  <o:p></o:p> The Bucs have been superb while shorthanded.  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> boasts the USHL’s most efficient penalty kill (87.3 percent) and has 18 shorthanded goals- one shy of the league record.<o:p></o:p>             <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City>’ Trevor Lewis (27-29-56) ranks second in the league in goals and third in points.  After scoring two shorthanded goals (both of which came last Thursday against the Riders) and picking up four assists last week, Lewis was named USHL/Let’s Play Hockey Offensive Player of the Week.<o:p></o:p> Lewis’s sometime linemate Kyle Okposo (23-28-51) ranks fifth in points.<o:p></o:p> The Ice split a pair of games in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Omaha</st1:place></st1:City> last weekend.  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> won 5-2 last Friday before falling 4-1 the following evening.<o:p></o:p> The Ice is three points behind the Waterloo Black Hawks in the race for the fourth and final East Division playoff berth. <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> does have two games in hand on <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City>.  The Ice has opened up a six point gap over last place <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City> in the east and has played four fewer games that the Steel.<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> has gone 4-5-0 in nine games since Jack Bowkus took over the coaching reins from Dean Grillo on January 25.<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 (23.4 percent).<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe (15-28-43) has taken over the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> team point scoring lead from defenseman Eddie Del Grosso (18-23-41).  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> Thursday, February 16:  <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> After Dustin Cloutier scored the only Rider goal, tying the score at one in the first period, the Buccaneers pulled away with four straight goals.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, February 17:  <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 4<o:p></o:p> Six different RoughRiders scored and Al Stalock made 44 saves in a wild Rider win.  Ted Purcell and Chad Costello led the Rider attack with one goal and two assists apiece.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, February 19: <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 2  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 1 (SO)<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers outscored the Riders 3-2 in the shootout after Al Stalock made 47 saves through regulation and overtime.  Jordan Pietrus scored the Riders’ only goal of regulation late in the second period.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Thursday, February 16:  <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> Trevor Lewis scored two shorthanded goals and added an assist to lead the Bucs.  The Bucs broke open a 1-1 game with second period goals from Kyle Okposo, Aaron Bendickson and Lewis.  Aaron Palushaj also scored for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, February 17:  <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> 4<o:p></o:p> A third period Bucs rally keyed by two Ken Rowe goals came up just short.  The Bucs twice cut the Rider lead to a single goal in the third, but were unable to produce the game tier.  Aaron Bendickson and Shane Sims also scored for the Bucs.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sunday, February 18: <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> Rob Johnson broke a 3-3 tie at 11:28 of the third period.  His goal stood up as the game winner after the Bucs had been unable to hold three earlier leads. <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, February 17: <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Lucas Klimek scored twice as the Ice pulled away with three third period goals.  Mike Hull, Garrett Roe and Jay Sprague also scored for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, Feburary 18:  <st1:City w:st="on">Omaha</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> Alex Laseen scored the only <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> goal as the Ice generated only 20 shots on goal.<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               45         25         35         60<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    42         13         44         57<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     40         21         14         35<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                     45         13         18         31<o:p></o:p> David Strathman           46         10         13         23<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                  44         27         29         56<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo                 44         23         28         51<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock                    45         15         21         36<o:p></o:p> Richard Purslow            46         11         24         35<o:p></o:p> Ken Rowe                     47         16         17         33<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>                         GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe                   40         15         28         43<o:p></o:p> Eddie Del Grosso         45         18         23         41<o:p></o:p> John Kemp                   38         7          30         37<o:p></o:p> Jay Sprague                 43         15         10         25<o:p></o:p> Brian Gifford                 43         11         13         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 (25)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (44)<o:p></o:p> Points- Chad Costello (60)<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 assists and is tied for fifth in goals and power play goals (10) …Purcell leads the league in assists and ranks second in points (57) …Axtell leads the league in power play goals (13), ranks second in penalty minutes (151) and ranks tenth in goals (21)…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 is tied for eighth in points (23)…Kevin Wehrs is tied for ninth among defensemen in assists (16)<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 (27)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Trevor Lewis (29)<o:p></o:p> Points- Trevor Lewis (56)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Kyle Okposo (+28)<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 (6)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lewis leads the league in shorthanded goals, ranks second in goals, ranks third in points, ranks fourth in plus/minus (+21), is tied for eighth in assists (29) and is tied for ninth in power play goals…Okposo leads the league in plus/minus, is tied for third in shorthanded goals (4), ranks fifth in points (51), is tied for seventh in goals (23) and is tied for tenth in assists (27)…Ken Rowe is tied for fifth in plus/minus (+21)…Chase Ryan ranks tenth in plus/minus (+19)…Vock is tied for third shorthanded goals (4)…Hallmark is tied for ninth in penalty minutes…Shane Sims is tied for fifth among defensemen in goals (8)<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> Goals- Eddie Del Grosso (18)<o:p></o:p> Assists- John Kemp (30)<o:p></o:p> Points- Garrett Roe (43)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Garrett Roe (+2)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Eric Gryba (89)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Eddie Del Grosso (12)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Eddie Del Grosso, Mike Hull, Jay Sprague (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Del Grosso ranks second in power play goals and, among defensemen, leads the league in goals, ranks second in points (41) and ranks fourth in assists (23)…Kemp ranks seventh in assists…Roe is tied for tenth in assists (28)<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                  32         1917:06 2.44      20-10-2             3          .932<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  15         878:14              2.87      5-6-3                 1          .911<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock leads the league in saves (1070), ranks second in minutes played, is tied for second in wins and save percentage, is tied for third in shutouts and ranks 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>             29         1727:37 2.57      17-9-3               2          .922<o:p></o:p> Brian Foster                  19         1107:52 2.49      10-6-2               0          .913<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Davenport ranks fourth in save percentage, is tied for fifth in wins, ranks sixth in minutes played and ranks seventh in goals against average…Foster is tied for fifth in save percentage and sixth in goals against average<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>                         GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Cody Reichard              29         1572:18 3.59      12-13-2             2          .883 <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4> Steve Jakiel                  9          457:40              3.15      3-4-1                 0          .902<o:p></o:p>   (TOTALS)                    27         1539:16 3.31      13-10-3             0          .891<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Reichard ranks eighth in minutes played and is tied for tenth in wins…Jakiel is tied for eighth in wins and ranks tenth in minutes played<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: four game point scoring streak ended Sunday (5-4-9)<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last four games<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock: unbeaten in regulation (2-0-1) in his last three games (2.27, .950) while making at least 41 saves in each of <o:p></o:p>             those three games <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: four game points scoring streak (3-4-7)<o:p></o:p> Trevor Lewis: four game point scoring streak (3-5-8)<o:p></o:p> Richard Purslow: five assists in his last five games<o:p></o:p> Shane Sims: four game point scoring streak (1-4-5)<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> Eddie Del Grosso: five points (one goal, four assists) in his last five games…twelve points (four goals, eight assists) in <o:p></o:p>             his last twelve games<o:p></o:p> John Kemp: 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in his last 17 games<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe: four game point scoring streak (3-4-7) ended last Saturday…14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his last<o:p></o:p>             nine games<o:p></o:p> Cody Reichard: has allowed three goals or fewer in each of his last four games and in seven of his last eight<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">Des Moines</st1:City>                  <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Home: 10-11-1               Home: 13-8-2                 Home: 9-12-2<o:p></o:p> Away: 15-5-4                 Away: 14-7-3                 Away: 8-11-3<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> vs. East: 15-9-1             vs. East: 17-6-3             vs. East: 9-15-2             <o:p></o:p> vs. West: 10-7-4            vs. West: 10-9-2            vs. West: 8-8-3<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">Des Moines</st1:City>                  <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.20 (6)         Goals For: 3.51 (2)         Goals For: 3.16 (7)         <o:p></o:p> Goals Against: 2.78 (3)   Goals Against: 2.70 (2)   Goals Against: 3.82 (10) <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5> <o:p> </o:p> <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:       20.9  56/268  (3)            Power Play:       14.7  38/258  (9)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       83.7  34/209  (5)            Penalty Kill:       87.3  35/275  (1)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For: 3                       Shorthanded Goals For: 18<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against:14                Shorthanded Goals Against: 8<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:       23.4  56/239  (1)            <o:p></o:p> Penalty Kill:       81.3  47/251  (7)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Shorthanded Goals For:  11         <o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals Against: 5                 <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            2/16/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 5 at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> 1<o:p></o:p> 11/18/05            at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3 <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 2 (OT)     2/17/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 6 at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> 4<o:p></o:p> 11/19/05            <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 4 at <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 3 (SO)    2/22/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 1/20/06             <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3 at <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> 0<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GP  &nbs