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Weekly Update: March 6, 2006

Weekly Update: March 6, 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> March 6, 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> Tuesday, March 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: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> Friday, March 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> <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> Black Hawks 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, March 11, 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> 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> 28-18-5, 61 points, 2nd 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> 20-24-5, 45 points, tied 4th 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> 19-26-7, 45 points, tied 4th place East Division<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 28-21-4, 60 points, 3rd place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders went 1-2 last week, winning 5-2 in Chicago last Wednesday before dropping back to back decisions in Waterloo (by a score of 6-3) last Saturday and in Sioux Falls yesterday (4-1).  The Riders had won three straight games and gone unbeaten in regulation over five contests (4-0-1) before last weekend’s losses.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders were actually idle when they clinched a sixth straight berth in the Clark Cup playoffs last Friday.  The Riders wrapped up a spot in the postseason thanks to the <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City>’s 6-5 shootout win over <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> Friday evening.  That result guaranteed that the Riders can finish no worse than fourth in the East Division.<o:p></o:p> The Riders are three points behind the first place Des Moines Buccaneers in the East Division.  The Riders are one point ahead of the third place Green Bay Gamblers.  The Riders have one game in hand on the Bucs and have played two fewer games than the Gamblers.<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell tied Jon Grabarek’s RoughRider career points record (129) by assisting on the Riders’ third goal in last Saturday’s 6-3 loss to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place>.  Purcell is also one assist shy of the team single season assists record (47) he set last year.<o:p></o:p> Chad Costello (26-41-67) tied the <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> single season point scoring record established by Purcell last year by assisting on the Riders’ second goal last Saturday in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City>.  Costello is also within one goal of the club single season goal scoring record.<o:p></o:p>             Costello leads the league in points, while Purcell (16-46-62) ranks third in points and leads the way in assists.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders head into Friday’s season series finale against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> having already clinched the i wireless Corridor Cup, the trophy awarded to the winner of the regular season series between the two teams.  With a win Friday, the Black Hawks would finish the season series tied with the Riders in points (eight apiece in that scenario), but the Riders would take the tie breaker by virtue of having more wins in head-to-head meetings between the I-380 rivals.<o:p></o:p>             The Ice has won three straight games for just the second time this season to move into a tie with <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> in the race for the fourth and final East Division playoff spot.  <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> has three games in hand on the Black Hawks.<o:p></o:p>             Last weekend the Ice scored just one goal in 125 minutes of hockey but still managed to sweep a pair of games from the Tri-City Storm in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Kearney</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Nebraska</st1:State></st1:place>.  Steve Jakiel shut out the Storm on consecutive nights as the Ice eked out a 1-0 shootout win last Friday and won 1-0 in regulation one night later.<o:p></o:p>             Jakiel has now gone 140 minutes without allowing a goal.  <o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> has gone 7-6-0 in 13 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 (22.3 percent).<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe (18-29-47) is <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>’s top point scorer.  Eddie Del Grosso (18-26-44) leads USHL defensemen in goals and ranks third among blue liners in points.<o:p></o:p>             The Black Hawks snapped a seven game winless streak with last Saturday’s win over the Riders.  One night earlier, the Hawks earned one point for their shootout loss to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p>             The Black Hawks and Ice will meet just one more time before the end of the regular season- March 19 in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indianapolis</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p>             After breaking loose for 11 goals last weekend, the Black Hawks are no longer the lowest scoring team in the USHL.  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> now ranks ninth in the league in goals per game (2.8).<o:p></o:p>             Mitch Ryan (20-21-41) is <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City>’s top scorer.  <o:p></o:p>             The  Black Hawks face a crucial test tomorrow night when they face the league leading Stampede in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Sioux Falls</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers split a two game series with the Lincoln Stars last weekend in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>.  After suffering a 5-1 loss last Friday, the Gamblers rebounded for a 5-2 win the following evening.<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>’s magic number for clinching its first playoff spot since 2002 is one.  That is, a single point gained by the Gamblers or not collected by the Waterloo Black Hawks will enable the Gamblers to secure a postseason berth.<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> has gone 9-3-1 over the last five weeks to climb into contention for the East Division title.  <o:p></o:p> The Gamblers have recovered superbly from a slow start.  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> has gone 24-11-4 over its last 39 games after going just 4-10 in its first 14 outings.  <o:p></o:p> Kevin Deeth (18-33-51) is the Gamblers’ top point producer and ranks ninth in the league in points.  Brian Roloff (27-14-41) 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> in January, Neville has started 18 of the Gamblers’ last 20 games, going 12-6-0 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.  <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, March 1: <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock made 49 saves including 20 in the first period alone.  First period goals from Andy Miele and Ted Purcell staked the Riders to a 2-0 lead.  After the Steel rallied to tie the game with a pair of second period goals, the Riders bounced back with two of their own later in the second from Steven Kaunisto and Jordan Pietrus.  Gary Steffes’ third period goal gave <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> some additional breathing room.<o:p></o:p>                       <o:p></o:p> Saturday, March 4: <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> The Riders were outscored 6-1 over the final two periods after taking an early lead by scoring on their first two shots of the games.  Andy Miele and Chad Costello staked the Riders to the early 2-0 advantage.  The Black Hawks turned the game around with four second period goals.  Only Phil Axtell (on the power play late in the second) responded for the Riders.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sunday, March 5: Sioux Falls 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> The Riders surrendered three unanswered goals after Gary Steffes scored shorthanded to tie the game late in the first period.<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> Friday, March 3: <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> 1 Tri-City 0 (SO)<o:p></o:p> Steve Jakiel stopped 31 Storm shots in regulation and overtime and turned aside three of four Tri-City penalty shots in the shootout.  Garrett Roe, Todd McIlrath and Eric Olimb converted in the shootout for the Ice.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, March 4: <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 1 Tri-City 0<o:p></o:p> Steve Jakiel made 29 saves and Garrett Roe scored the game’s only goal at 10:34 of the second period.  The Ice won despite generating just 13 shots on net.<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> Friday, March 3: <st1:City w:st="on">Chicago</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> 5 (SO)<o:p></o:p> The Black Hawks were outscored 2-1 in the shootout- only Brett Olson, who had tied the game at five at 11:35 of the third period, found the net in the shootout for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, March 4: <st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 3<o:p></o:p> James Marcou recorded a hat trick as the Black Hawks outscored the Riders 6-1 over the final two periods.  Mitch Ryan scored twice for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City> while Andy Bombach provided the other Hawk goal.<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, March 3: <st1:City w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 1<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers gave up three first period goals and never recovered.  Sean Backman scored <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>’s only goal.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, March 4: <st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> The Gamblers scored the game’s first four goals and never looked back.  Steve Silva, Kevin Deeth, Ryan Little, Shea Walters and Bryan Haczyk provided the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> goals.  Eddie Neville stopped 33 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:place></st1:City> shots.<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               50         26         41         67<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    47         16         46         62<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     43         22         14         36<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                     50         14         18         32<o:p></o:p> David Strathman           50         10         16         26<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place>                         GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe                   44         18         29         47<o:p></o:p> Eddie Del Grosso         49         18         26         44<o:p></o:p> John Kemp                   42         7          36         43<o:p></o:p> Jay Sprague                 46         16         11         27<o:p></o:p> Brian Gifford                 47         11         13         24<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:place></st1:City>                      GP       G          A          PTS Mitch Ryan                        52         20         21         41<o:p></o:p> Cody Chupp                 49         13         20         33<o:p></o:p> Matt Arhontas               47         11         16         27<o:p></o:p> Mike Testwuide              46         16         10         26<o:p></o:p> Zach Bearson                48         11         15         26<o:p></o:p>                                                                         <o:p></o:p> Green Bay                    GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Kevin Deeth                  52         18         33         51<o:p></o:p> Sean Backman              50         24         26         50<o:p></o:p> Sergio Somma              53         20         24         44<o:p></o:p> Brian Roloff                  53         27         14         41<o:p></o:p> Jeremy Dehner              49         8          29         37<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4> 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 (26)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (46)<o:p></o:p> Points- Chad Costello (67)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> Pietrus (+8)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (167)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell (14)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Gary Steffes (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Costello leads the league in points, ranks second in assists, is tied for sixth in goals and is tied for seventh in power play goals (10)…Purcell leads the league in assists and ranks third in points (62) …Axtell is tied for the league lead in power play goals and penalty minutes…Nik Sellers is tied for third in game winning goals (6)…Among defensemen, David Strathman ranks fourth in goals (10) and eighth in points (26)…Kevin Wehrs is tied for ninth among defensemen in assists (17)<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, Garrett Roe (18)<o:p></o:p> Assists- John Kemp (36)<o:p></o:p> Points- Garrett Roe (47)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Garrett Roe, Ryan Scott (+1)<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> Kemp is tied for fifth in assists…Del Grosso is tied for third in power play goals and, among defensemen, leads the league in goals, ranks third in points and ranks fourth in assists…Roe is tied for tenth in power play goals (9)<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- Mitch Ryan (20)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Mitch Ryan (21)<o:p></o:p> Points- Mitch Ryan  (41)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Nick Grasso (+3)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Mitch Ryan (101)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Cody Chupp, James Marcou (6)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Mitch Ryan, Mike Testwuide (1)<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 (27)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Kevin Deeth (33)<o:p></o:p> Points- Kevin Deeth (51)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Brian Roloff (+26)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Eric Gryba (164)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Brian Roloff (12)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Kevin Deeth, Tyler Lehrke (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Deeth is tied for fifth in plus/minus (+22), ranks ninth in points and is tied for ninth in assists…Sean Backman is tied for fifth in plus/minus (+22), tied for ninth in goals (24) and tied for tenth in points (50)…Roloff is tied for third in power play goals, ranks fourth in plus/minus and is tied for fourth in goals…Eric Gryba ranks third in penalty minutes (164)…among defensemen, Jeremy Dehner ranks third in assists (29), ranks fourth in points (37) and is tied for sixth in goals (8)<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                  36         2157:06 2.59      23-11-2             3          .929<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  16         938:14              2.94      5-7-3                 1          .909<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock leads the league in saves (1225), ranks second in wins, ranks third in save percentage and minutes played, is tied for fourth in shutouts and ranks sixth 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              30         1632:18 3.64      12-14-2             2          .881 <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5> Steve Jakiel                  12         645:26              2.60      6-4-1                 2          .915<o:p></o:p>   (TOTALS)                    30         1727:02 3.09      16-10-3             2          .898<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Jakiel ranks eighth in wins and ninth in minutes played<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              36         1874:29 3.10      13-15-4             1          .887 <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section6> Daniel Rosen                6          320:11              3.75      0-3-2                 0          .873<o:p></o:p>   (TOTALS)                    33         1765:03 3.23      9-18-4               0          .898<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Grossman ranks fifth in minutes played and tenth in wins…Rosen ranks eighth in minutes played<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>                    GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT<o:p></o:p> Eddie Neville                 18         1022:14 2.58      12-6-0               3          .919<o:p></o:p>    (TOTALS)                   37         1954:37 2.92      20-14-1             5          .909<o:p></o:p> Max Strang                   18         815:45              2.94      7-1-2                 0          .900<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section7> <o:p> </o:p> Neville ranks second in shutouts, fourth in wins and minutes played, eighth in save percentage and tenth in goals against average<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: 16 points (six goals, ten assists) in his last ten games<o:p></o:p> Andy Miele: ten points (five goals, five assists) in his last seven games<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: thirteen points (four goals, nine assists) in his last nine games<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> John Kemp: eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last six games…<o:p></o:p> Garrett Roe: 18 points (eight goals, ten assists) in his last 13 games<o:p></o:p> Steve Jakiel: back-to-back shutouts…has gone 140 minutes without giving up a goal<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> James Marcou: four goals in his last two games…six points (five goals, one assist) in his last six games<o:p></o:p> Mitch Ryan: 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his last nine games<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> Sean Backman: four game point scoring streak (2-3-5)…17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in his last 13 games<o:p></o:p> Jeremy Dehner: 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in his last 13 games<o:p></o:p> &l