Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Weekly Update
October 9, 2006
THIS WEEK
Friday, October 13, 7:35PM @ Edge Ice Arena, Bensenville, Illinois
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders vs. Chicago Steel
Saturday, October 14, 7:05PM @ Cedar Rapids Ice Arena
Chicago Steel vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
RECORDS
Cedar Rapids
0-1-0, 0 points, tied 5th place East Division
Chicago
0-1-0, 0 points, tied 5th place East Division
COMING IN
The RoughRiders opened the season with a 4-2 loss at home to Green Bay last Saturday.
The Riders had won five straight season openers before last Saturday’s defeat. Cedar Rapids is 6-2 all-time in openers.
The Riders have never lost the first two games of a season.
The Riders enter Friday’s game 5-2 all time in road openers. Cedar Rapids has won its first road game of each of the last three seasons.
The Riders scored twice in the opener after scoring at least five goals in each of their last four preseason games.
The Riders and Steel last met on the final night of the 2005-06 regular season when the Steel, who had already eliminated from playoff contention, defeated the Riders 3-2 to keep Cedar Rapids from winning the East Division title outright. The Riders instead finished tied for the top spot in the division with Des Moines.
The Steel lost its opener 2-1 in Indiana last Saturday.
The Riders and Steel are the only two East Division teams who did not pick up at least one point on the opening weekend.
Both the Riders and Steel lost despite outshooting their opponents last Saturday. The Riders threw 39 shots at the Green Bay net while allowing 31. The Steel outshot Indiana 33-20.
Rob Madore, who suited up briefly for the RoughRiders last season, took the loss in goal for the Steel last Saturday. Richard Bachman, the number one overall pick in May’s United States Hockey League draft, backed up Madore.
The Steel have brought back ten players from last year’s team and three more- forwards Sean Dolan (Cedar Rapids and Indiana), Nathan Lawrence (Indiana) and Chris Spicer (Sioux City)- who played elsewhere in the USHL last season.
Brandon Coccimiglio (14-16-30) and Brian Keane (6-23-29) are Chicago’s top returning point producers.
LAST WEEK
Cedar Rapids
Saturday, October 7: Green Bay 4 Cedar Rapids 2
The Riders surrendered three third period goals after taking a 2-1 lead thanks to first period goals from Jacob Cepis and David Boehm.
Chicago
Saturday, October 7: Indiana 2 Chicago 1
The Ice built a 2-0 lead before Ben Beaudoin scored the only Chicago goal at 11:29 of the third period. The Steel fell despite outshooting Indiana 33-20.
TOP POINT SCORERS
Cedar Rapids GP G A PTS
Jacob Cepis 1 1 1 2
David Boehm 1 1 0 1
Evan Stephens 1 0 1 1
(several players tied with zero points)
Chicago GP G A PTS
Ben Beaudoin 1 1 0 1
Dan Lawson 1 0 1 1
Dan Ryan 1 0 1 1
(several players tied with zero points)
LEADERS
Cedar Rapids
Goals- David Boehm, Jacob Cepis (1)
Assists- Jacob Cepis, Evan Stephens (1)
Points- Jacob Cepis (2)
Plus/Minus- Scott Mathis (+1)
Penalty Minutes- Andy Miele (5)
Power Play Goals- David Boehm (1)
Shorthanded Goals- none
Chicago
Goals- Ben Beaudoin (1)
Assists- Dan Lawson, Dan Ryan (1)
Points- Ben Beaudoin, Dan Lawson, Dan Ryan (1)
Plus/Minus- Ben Beaudoin, Dan Ryan, Chris Spicer (1)
Penalty Minutes- Sean Dolan, Scott Kozlak, Dan Otto, Chris Spicer (2)
Power Play Goals- none
Shorthanded Goals- none
GOALTENDERS
Cedar Rapids GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT
Pat McGann 1 59:59 3.00 0-1-0 0 .900
Chicago GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT
Rob Madore 1 58:31 2.05 0-1-0 0 .900
WIN-LOSS
Cedar Rapids Chicago
Home: 0-1-0 Home: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0 Away: 0-1-0
vs. East: 0-1-0 vs. East: 0-1-0
vs. West: 0-0-0 vs. West: 0-0-0
GOALS
Cedar Rapids Chicago
Goals For: 2.00 Goals For: 1.00
Goals Against: 4.00 Goals Against: 2.00
SPECIAL TEAMS
Cedar Rapids Chicago
Power Play: 11.1 1/9 (9) Power Play: 0.0 0/9 (11)
Penalty Kill: 80.0 1/5 (7) Penalty Kill: 50.0 1/2 (12)
Shorthanded Goals For: 0 Shorthanded Goals For: 0
Shorthanded Goals Against: 1 Shorthanded Goals Against: 1
SERIES
vs. Chicago
10/13/06 Cedar Rapids at Chicago 1/12/07 Chicago at Cedar Rapids
10/14/06 Chicago at Cedar Rapids 1/20/07 Green Bay at Cedar Rapids
12/2/06 Chicago at Cedar Rapids 3/20/07 Cedar Rapids at Chicago
1/9/07 Cedar Rapids at Chicago
GP W-L-SOL PTS H A OPP REC OPP PTS
2005-06 7 4-3-0 8 2-2-0 2-1-0 3-4-0 6
All-Time 39 25-12-2 52 13-7-0 12-5-2 14-23-2 30
Top Point Scorers/Season Series (2005-06)
Cedar Rapids GP G A PTS
Chad Costello 7 3 4 7
(three players tied with six points)
Chicago GP G A PTS
Eric Lampe 5 3 2 5
Chris Clackson 6 2 2 4
Nathan Perkovich 7 2 2 4
Top Goaltenders/Season Series (2005-06)
Cedar Rapids GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT
Alex Stalock 5 298:22 2.01 4-1-0 2 .944
Pat McGann 2 119:13 3.02 0-2-0 0 .893
Chicago GP MIN GAA W-L-SOL SO SPCT
Shaun Williams 2 118:25 3.55 1-1-0 0 .899
Jared Demichiel 2 83:29 2.87 1-1-0 0 .895
Eric Pfligler 4 213:58 3.08 1-2-0 0 .913
COACHES
Cedar Rapids
Mark Carlson, 8th year (218-160-38)
Mark Carlson has been the RoughRiders’ coach since the team arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1999. In 2005-06 he guided the Riders to their second straight East Division title.
He has also piloted the Riders to six straight winning seasons and six straight Clark Cup playoff berths. The Riders are one of just two USHL teams to have reached the postseason each of the last six years.
The Riders are the only team to have advanced at least as far as the Clark Cup semi-finals/East Division finals each of the last two springs and four of the last five years. On December 3, 2005 Carlson picked up his two hundredth career coaching win as the Riders defeated Omaha 2-1 in a shootout.
The high point of Carlson’s tenure came when he led the RoughRiders to the first Clark Cup (playoff) title in team history along with a share of the Anderson Cup regular season title and the East Division title in 2004-05. The Riders went 42-13-5 during the regular season- the best record in club history- and swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs before defeating Sioux City three games to two in the finals. For his efforts, Carlson was named the 2004-05 USHL Coach of the Year.
Carlson, a native of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing. Also while at Lowell, Carlson skated in the Hockey East wars for the River Hawks’ hockey team. His on-ice talent was recognized even before he arrived in Lowell- he was selected in the 1987 National Hockey League draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After graduating from UML, Carlson spent one season as an assistant coach at Lawrenceville School before returning to Lowell to serve as an assistant to head coach Bruce Crowder. After helping the River Hawks to a berth in the 1996 NCAA tournament, Carlson spent another three seasons beside Crowder as an assistant at Northeastern University in Boston. He earned a master’s degree in education from N.U.
During his time at N.U. Carlson also acted as recruiting coordinator. Among those he recruited for the Huskies were Jim Fahey, who now skates for the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks, and Mike Ryan, who would later be the top draft pick of the NHL’s Dallas Stars.
Chicago
Chris Imes, 2nd year (18-37-6)
Chris Imes took over behind the Chicago bench last year after spending one season as an assistant with the Sioux Falls Stampede. He was previously head coach of the North American Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Forge and an assistant coach with the Tri-City Storm.
Imes enjoyed a stellar playing career. He played for Team USA at the 1994 Olympics and was a four year standout at the University of Maine. In 1994-95, as a Black Bear senior, he was the USA Hockey College Player of the Year, a Hobey Baker Award finalist, a First Team All-America and Hockey East Player of the Year.
A 1993 draft choice of the Florida Panthers, Imes played professionally for two seasons with the Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League.
HISTORY
Last Saturday’s loss ended the RoughRiders’ streak of wins in five straight season openers. The defeat at the hands of the Gamblers was the Riders’ first opening night setback since a 9-1 drubbing at the hands of the Omaha Lancers on September 23, 2000 in Cedar Rapids.
Last season was the Riders’ third straight 30-win campaign and also the fifth time in the last six years that the Riders have picked up at least 30 victories.
The Riders went 42-13-5 on the road over the last two seasons combined. The Riders’ away record was superior to their home record both last season and in 2004-05.
The Riders have won back-to-back East Division titles (sharing the top spot with Des Moines last season). The Riders won both the Clark Cup (playoff) title and Anderson Cup (regular season) title in 2004-05.
The Riders are, along with the Omaha Lancers, one of just two teams who have reached the playoffs each of the last six years. As all 12 USHL teams will qualify for the postseason this year, that streak will stretch to seven consecutive playoff berths in April.
The Riders are the only USHL team to advance at least as far as the division finals each of the last two years. Furthermore, Cedar Rapids is also the only team to reach the league’s final four in four of the last five years. Only one team (Sioux City) has even reached the second round three times in the last five years.
This is the Steel’s sixth season in Chicago. The club moved from North Dakota in 2000 after spending four years as the Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks.
The Steel finished last overall last season and in so doing missed the playoffs after having reached the preseason each of the prior two years.
COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
Cedar Rapids
Jacob Cepis (Bowling Green), David Grun (Minnesota-Duluth), Doug Jones (Princeton), Andy Miele (Miami of Ohio), Matt Tommassoni (Miami of Ohio), Kevin Wehrs (Minnesota), Tommy Wingels (Miami of Ohio)
Chicago
Richard Bachman (Colorado College), Brandon Coccimiglio (Mercyhurst), Brian Keane (Massachusetts)
NHL DRAFT PICKS
Cedar Rapids Year Round Overall Team
Sergei Kolosov 2004 5th 151 Detroit
Pat McGann 2005 7th 223 Dallas
Chicago Year Round Overall Team
Richard Bachman 2006 4th 120 Dallas
ROUGHRIDER ALUMNI
Division I GP G A PTS
James Brannigan (Colorado College/junior) 2 0 1 1
Ray Eichenlaub (Miami of Ohio/sophomore) 2 0 1 1
Ray Kaunisto (Northern Michigan/freshman) 2 0 0 0
Alec Martinez (Miami of Ohio/sophomore) 2 0 1 1
Zach Miskovic (St. Lawrence/sophomore) 2 2 1 3
Matt Olinger (Wisconsin/senior) 2 0 0 0
Derek Peltier (Minnesota/junior) 1 0 0 0
Ted Purcell (Maine/freshman) 2 1 0 1
Gary Steffes (Miami of Ohio/freshman) 2 0 0 0
GP W-L-T GAA SV% SO
Joe Fallon (Vermont/junior) 2 2-0-0 0.50 .982 1
Professional GP G A PTS +/-
Dave Moss (Omaha/AHL) 2 3 2 5 --
Highlights
Joe Fallon backstopped Vermont to the championship of the Ice Breaker tournament in Oxford, Ohio, stopping 54 of 55 shots in Catamount wins over Colgate and Miami of Ohio…Zach Miskovic scored twice in St. Lawrence’s 4-3 loss to Niagara last Saturday. He finished the weekend with three points…Maine’s Ted Purcell scored in his collegiate debut as the Black Bears defeated Minnesota 3-1 Friday night…Dave Moss of the Omaha Aksarben Knights broke loose for three goals and five points in the first two games of the American Hockey League season last weekend.
UPCOMING EVENTS
This Saturday is Mascot Night. Mascots from all over eastern Iowa will join the Riders’ mascot, Ricochet, for an evening of shenanigans as the Riders take on Chicago. The game starts at 7:05PM.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics, Wolverine of the X-Men will bring his super powers to the ice arena as the RoughRiders collide with Tri-City at 7:05PM on Saturday, October 21. After the game, season ticket holders will have the chance to take to the ice themselves and skate with the RoughRiders.
Saturday, October 28, is ‘80’s Night at the ice arena. So break out your leather tie or leg warmers- and most importantly, don’t forget your mullet- when the Riders collide with Des Moines at 7:05PM.
TICKETS
2006-07 season tickets are still available through the RoughRiders’ business office (247-0340). In addition to their seats, season ticket holders also receive a host of exclusive benefits.
The RoughRiders are again this season offering the Flex Plan, which enables fans to purchase books of ten ticket vouchers that can be redeemed in any quantity for any regular season home game during normal box office hours. Fans who purchase the flex plan receive a significant discount ($21 off game day ticket prices) by investing in bulk tickets and can still enjoy the games of their choice in the seats they want.
Single game tickets are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office, over the phone at (319) 261-4625 or on line at www.roughridershockey.com. The ticket office is open from noon to 5:00PM on weekdays and from noon through the end of the second period on game days. Ticket prices range from $7 to $17 in advance and from $8 to $18 on game days.
ON THE AIR/ON LINE
RoughRiders regular season and playoff games will again this season be broadcast on AM-1360 The Fan in Cedar Rapids. Courtesy of B2 Networks, free audio webcasts of Riders games will also be available at www.roughridershockey.com. Brian Lavelle provides play-by-play.
The RoughRiders and B2 have also teamed up to offer pay-per-view video webcasts of all RoughRiders games. Fans can click on the “Watch RoughRiders’ Games Live” icon at www.roughridershockey.com to watch and listen to the game. The broadcast is available to fans with a high speed DSL or cable modem internet connection. The charge for video webcasts is $6 per game.
Real time updates of all USHL games are available on line at www.pointstreak.com/prostats.