June 8, 2006- The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have set a preliminary 30-player roster for the 2006-07 season in the wake of the club’s four day tryout camp last weekend.

“We’re very excited about the way this club is shaping up,” said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. “I think we have a great mix of returnees and a lot of quality newcomers.”

The RoughRiders’ corps of veterans consists of forwards Jacob Cepis, Sean Dolan, Andy Miele and Ian Slater; defensemen Brett Dickinson, Sergei Kolosov (who did not travel from his native Belarus for the camp), Evan Stephens, Kevin Wehrs and Scott Wietecha; and goaltender Pat McGann.

The Riders next season will do without the services of forwards Dan Barczuck, Dustin Cloutier and Ray Kaunisto, all of whom played for the team in 2005-06. Kaunisto will begin his college career at Northern Michigan in the fall.

13 players selected by the RoughRiders in last month’s United States Hockey League draft made the roster: forwards Aaron Bogosian, Rob Bordson, Pat Cannone, David Grun, Mike Seidel, Dan Sexton, Steve Sperry and Casey Wellman; defensemen Tyler Kieffer, Scott Mathis and Matt Tomassoni; and goaltenders Mike Mosher and Pat Nagle.

Forward Tommy Wingels, who spent last season with the Team Illinois midget program after being selected by the Riders in last August’s United States Hockey League Futures Draft, also earned a roster spot.

Forwards David Boehm, Robin Bergman, Doug Jones, Tomi Stahlhammar, Tyler Thompson and Paul Zanette staked their claims to roster spots with strong play at camp this weekend.

Boehm, 17, scored 32 goals and totaled 81 points for the Boston Junior Bruins of the Empire Junior (B) Hockey League last season. The Naples, Florida, product earned First Team All-Conference honors for his efforts.

Bergman, 17, last season played junior hockey in his native Sweden for Hammarby IF, for whom he scored five goals and notched 15 points in 37 games.

Jones, 19, played prep school hockey at Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut last season. The Marietta, Georgia, native recorded ten goals and 24 points in 17 games last year.

Stahlhammar, an 18-year old Finn, spent last season skating in his homeland for the Espoo Blues. He also represented his country at the Under-18 World Cup in Piestany, Slovakia and Breclav, Czech Republic last August.

Thompson, 17, is coming off a hugely successful campaign at Benilde-St. Margaret High School in Minnesota. The Wayzata, Minnesota, native rang up 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points last season.

Zanette, an 18-year old Ontario native, scored 35 goals and totaled 60 points in 48 games with the North York Rangers of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League last season.

Per USHL rules, the RoughRiders can carry 30 players on their protected list until July 1, when they are required to reduce their roster to 25 players.

The two-time defending East Division Champion RoughRiders will open their eighth season in Cedar Rapids this fall. 2006-07 season tickets are currently available through the RoughRiders’ business office (247-0340). Fans who pay for season tickets in full before August 15 will receive a significant discount in addition to a host of other benefits available exclusively to season ticket holders.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Roster