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Weekly Update: April 10, 2006

Weekly Update: April 10, 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">Playoff Update<o:p></o:p></H1> April 10, 2006<o:p></o:p> <H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">                                                            <o:p></o:p></H1> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on">CLARK</st1:place> CUP PLAYOFFS, ROUND TWO<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> Game 1: <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> @ Cedar Rapids, Tuesday, April 11, 7:05PM<o:p></o:p> Game 2: <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> @ Des Moines, Wednesday, April 12, 7:05PM<o:p></o:p> Game 3: <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> @ Cedar Rapids, Friday, April 14, 7:05PM<o:p></o:p> Game 4: <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> @ Des Moines, Saturday, April 15, 7:35PM (if necessary)<o:p></o:p> Game 5: <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> @ Cedar Rapids, Tuesday, April 18, 7:05PM (if necessary)<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> 33-21-6, 72 points, tied 1st 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> 33-21-6, 72 points, tied 1st place East Division<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> ROUND ONE<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> defeated <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> 3-2<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section2> Tuesday, March 28        at <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 4 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 3 (ot)<o:p></o:p> Friday, March 31           at <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 5 <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> 2<o:p></o:p> Saturday, April 1           <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 7 at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Thursday, April 6           <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 2 (ot)<o:p></o:p> Saturday, April 8           <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 6 <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> 2 <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section3> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> defeated <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> 3-0<o:p></o:p> Wednesday, March 29   at <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 4 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> 1<o:p></o:p> Friday, March 31           at <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 6 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City> 0<o:p></o:p> Saturday, April 1           Des Moines 3 at Green Bay 2<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMING IN<o:p></o:p>             The RoughRiders advanced to the East Division finals by defeating the Indiana Ice three games to two in the opening round.  The Riders battled back from a two games to one deficit to win the final two games of the series and eliminate the Ice.  This marks the first time in team history that the Riders have come back from a 2-1 deficit to win a series.<o:p></o:p>             The Riders are now the only USHL team to advance at least as far as the division finals each of the last two years.  Furthermore, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> is also now the only team to reach the league’s final four in four of the last five years. <o:p></o:p>             Ted Purcell  (2-6-8) was the Riders’ top point scorerin the opening round and scored the game winning goal in the fifth and deciding game of that series.<o:p></o:p>             The victory over <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> was the second win of a five-game series in Rider history.  <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> also defeated <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sioux City</st1:place></st1:City> three games to two in last spring’s Clark Cup finals.  <o:p></o:p>             Though the Riders and Bucs finished the regular season with identical records, the Riders have home ice advantage for the division finals by virtue of having won the regular season series between the two clubs.  The Riders won five of their seven games against the Bucs, earning ten points.  The Bucs collected six points from the season series (earning one point each for an overtime loss and a shootout defeat at the hands of the Riders).<o:p></o:p>             The Riders and Bucs have not met since the <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> handed <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> a 7-4 loss in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Urbandale</st1:place></st1:City> on February 22.  This is the first ever post-season meeting between the two clubs.<o:p></o:p>             The Buccaneers swept the Green Bay in the opening round, outscoring the Gamblers 13-3 in the process.<o:p></o:p>             The Bucs will have been idle for nine days by the time the division finals start.<o:p></o:p>             This This marks the first time the Bucs have advanced to the second round of the Clark Cup playoffs since <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> won the title in 1999.  The Bucs have reached the league’s final four this year after finishing last overall last season.<o:p></o:p>             Including a 5-3 win at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:City></st1:place> in their March 29 regular season finale, the Bucs have now won four straight games overall.  That victory over the Black Hawks enabled the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place> to pull into a tie for the division title with the Riders.  <o:p></o:p>             Trevor Lewis (1-5-6) and Kyle Okposo (1-5-6) led the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> attack in the opening round of the playoffs after collecting plenty of regular season hardware.  Lewis (35-40-75) was named USHL Player of the Year and Forward of the Year and was also selected to the All-USHL First Team.  He also won the Curt Hammer Award, which is given to the USHL player who best combines gentlemanly play, determination and effectiveness.  Okposo (27-31-58) was named USHL Rookie of the Year and also made the All-USHL First Team.<o:p></o:p>             The winner of the Cedar Rapids-Des Moines series will face the survivor of the West Division finals match-up between the Sioux Falls Stampede and Lincoln Stars.<o:p></o:p>             <o:p></o:p> ROUND ONE<o:p></o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> vs. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p> Tuesday, March 28: <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 3 (OT)<o:p></o:p> Todd McIlrath capped off a natural hat trick by scoring the game winner at 10:10 of overtime.  McIlrath sparked an <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> rally after the Riders jumped out to a 3-1 first period lead on two goals from David Strathman and one from Steven Kaunisto.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friday, March 31: <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 5  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Jordan Pietrus and Brett Dickinson scored 22 seconds apart late in the second period to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 Rider lead.  Third period goals from Ted Purcell and Gary Steffes enabled the Riders to put <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State> away.  Phil Axtell scored the other <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> goal.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, April 1: <st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State> 7  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Jay Sprague recorded a natural hat trick as the Ice broke the game open with a four goal second period.  Gary Steffes scored both <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> Thursday, April 6: <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 2 (OT)<o:p></o:p> Gary Steffes scored his second goal of the night at 3:27 of overtime to give the Riders the win.  Al Stalock earned the win in the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> net by making 37 saves, including 18 in the third period alone.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Saturday, April 8: <st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell broke a 2-2 tie just over seven minutes into the third period with the first of four unanswered <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:place></st1:City> goals.  Ray Kaunisto extended the Rider lead to 4-2 just over two minutes later.  Chad Costello’s empty net goal made it 5-2 with 1:03 remaining.  Evan Stevens scored with just 44 seconds left to cap off the win.  Rider goaltender Al Stalock made 44 saves.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> vs. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Wedsday, March 29: <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 4  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 1 <o:p></o:p> The Bucs built a 3-0 lead on the way to a comfortable win.  Ben Ryan, Aaron Palushaj, Jeff Petry and Ken Rowe scored the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> goals.<o:p></o:p>                                                                    <o:p></o:p> Friday, March 31: <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 6  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 0<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock notched a hat trick, while linemates Trevor Lewis (one goal, three assists) and Kyle Okposo (four assists) collected four points apiece in a one-sided <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City> win.  The Bucs broke the game open with four second period goals.  Troy Davenport needed to make only 17 saves in order to shut out <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> Saturday, April 1: <st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City> 3  <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> 2<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo and Ken Rowe scored just over two minutes apart early in the third period to stake Des Moines to a 3-1 lead and the Bucs held on for a one-goal win.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> TOP PLAYOFF POINT SCORERS<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section4> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place>               GP       G          A          PTS<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    5          2          6          8<o:p></o:p> Gary Steffes                 5          5          1          6<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     5          3          3          6<o:p></o:p> David Strathman           5          2          3          5<o:p></o:p> (two players tied with two points)<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> Kyle Okposo                 3          1          5          6<o:p></o:p> John Kemp                   3          1          5          6<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock                    3          3          2          5<o:p></o:p> (five players tied with three points)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section5> TOP POINT REGULAR SEASON POINT SCORERS<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section6> <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               59         31         45         76<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell                    55         19         52         71<o:p></o:p> Nik Sellers                     59         15         26         41<o:p></o:p> Phil Axtell                     47         22         15         37<o:p></o:p> David Strathman           58         13         19         32<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> Trevor Lewis                  56         35         40         75<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo                 50         27         31         58<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock                    57         25         31         56<o:p></o:p> (three players tied with 37 points)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV class=Section7> PLAYOFF 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> Goals- Gary Steffes (5)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (6)<o:p></o:p> Points- Ted Purcell (8)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Evan Stephens (+4)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Gary Steffes (12)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell, David Strathman (2)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- none<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> REGULAR SEASON 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 (31)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Ted Purcell (52)<o:p></o:p> Points- Chad Costello (76)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Sergei Kolosov (+9)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Phil Axtell (192)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Phil Axtell (14)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Gary Steffes, Ray Kaunisto (2)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Costello finished tied for the league lead in points, third in assists, tied for third in goals and tied for fifth in power play goals (12)…Purcell led the league in assists and finished fourth in point scoring (70) …Axtell finished second in power play goals and in penalty minutes…David Strathman finished tied for tenth in power play goals (10) and, among defensemen, ranked fourth in goals (13), ranked fiffth in points (32) and was tied for ninth in assists (19)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> PLAYOFF LEADERS<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals- Colin Vock (3)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Trevor Lewis, Kyle Okposo (5)<o:p></o:p> Points- Trevor Lewis, Kyle Okposo (6)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Jeff Petry, Shane Sims (+5)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Donnie Hallmark (22)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Trevor Lewis, Jeff Petry, Shane Sims (1)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- none<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> REGULAR SEASON LEADERS<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p> Goals- Trevor Lewis (35)<o:p></o:p> Assists- Trevor Lewis (40)<o:p></o:p> Points- Trevor Lewis (75)<o:p></o:p> Plus/Minus- Kyle Okposo (+28)<o:p></o:p> Penalty Minutes- Donnie Hallmark (115)<o:p></o:p> Power Play Goals- Trevor Lewis (13)<o:p></o:p> Shorthanded Goals- Colin Vock (7)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lewis ranked second in points and goals, was tied for second in shorthanded goals (6), was tied for third in power play goals, ranked fourth in plus/minus (+25) and ranked seventh in assists (40) …Okposo ranked second in plus/minus, was tied for fourth in shorthanded goals (4), ranked sixth in points (58) and was tied for tenth in goals (27)…Vock led the league in shorthanded goals (7) and was tied for eighth in points (56)…Shane Sims ranked fifth among defensemen in goals (10)<o:p></o:p>                                                                                                                 <o:p></o:p> PLAYOFF GOALTENDING<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place>               GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT   <o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock                  5          293:08              3.07      3-2-0                 0          .916<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  1          18:37                3.22      0-0-0                 0          .900<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> REGULAR SEASON GOALTENDING<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cedar Rapids</st1:City></st1:place>               GP       MIN                  GAA     W-L-SOL           SO       SPCT   <o:p></o:p> Alex Stalock                  44         2641:21 2.54      28-13-3             4          .931<o:p></o:p> Pat McGann                  17         998:14              2.95      5-8-3                 1          .910<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Stalock led the league in wins, save percentage and saves (1511), ranked second in minutes played, was tied for third in shutouts and ranked sixth in goals against average<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> PLAYOFF GOALTENDING<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place>                  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>             3          180                   1.00      3-0-0                 1          .955<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> REGULAR SEASON GOALTENDING                 <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:City></st1:place>                  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>             36         2104:04 2.62      21-12-3             2          .917<o:p></o:p> Brian Foster                  26         1516:12 2.81      12-9-3               0          .903<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Davenport ranked fifth in save percentage, ranked seventh in goals against average, was tied for seventh in wins, and ranked eighth in minutes played…Foster ranked eighth in goals against average and tenth in save percentage<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> Phil Axtell: six points (three goals, three assists) in round one<o:p></o:p> Ted Purcell: seven game (regular season and playoffs combined) point scoring streak (3-7-10)<o:p></o:p> Gary Steffes: four game point scoring streak (5-1-6)<o:p></o:p> David Strathman: five points (two goals, three assists) in round one<o:p></o:p> Al Stalock: stopped 81 of 85 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place> shots in final two games of round one<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 (regular season and playoffs combined) point scoring streak (2-2-4)<o:p></o:p> Trevor Lewis: six points (one goal, five assists) in three games in round one<o:p></o:p> Kyle Okposo: six points (one goal, five assists) in three games in round one…13 points (five goals, eight assists) in his<o:p></o:p>             last eight games (regular season and playoffs combined)<o:p></o:p> Ben Ryan: five points (four goals, one assist) in his last five games (regular season and playoffs combined)<o:p></o:p> Colin Vock: five points (three goals, two assists) in his last two games…nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last<o:p></o:p>             four games (regular season and playoffs combined)…26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in his last 16 games<o:p></o:p>             (regular season and playoffs combined)<o:p></o:p> Troy <st1:City w:st="on">Davenport</st1:City>: stopped 84 of 87 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Green Bay</st1:City></st1:place> shots in round one…has given up three goals or fewer in nine straight<o:p></o:p>             starts (regular season and playoffs combined)<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"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Home: 15-13-2               Home: 18-10-2               <o:p></o:p> Away: 18-8-4                 Away: 15-11-4   <o:p></o:p>             <o:p></o:p> vs. East: 23-11-1           vs. East: 22-9-4                                     <o:p></o:p> vs. West: 10-10-5          vs. West: 11-12-2                      <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"><st1:place w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> Goals For: 3.27 (3)         Goals For: 3.47 (2)                     <o:p></o:p> <SPAN style