Former Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Dave Moss scored the game winning goal in his National Hockey League debut last night as the Calgary Flames defeated the host Los Angeles Kings 5-3.

Moss, who turns 26 next Thursday, is the first RoughRider alumnus to play in the NHL. The Dearborn, Michigan, native scored at 17:16 of the second period last night to give the Flames a 4-2 lead. Moss drove hard to the net to steer a Dustin Boyd centering pass past Kings goaltender Dan Cloutier.

Moss skated for the RoughRiders in 2000-01, scoring 20 goals and adding 18 assists for 38 points in 51 games. He also helped Cedar Rapids to the first playoff berth in team history. The Riders acquired Moss early in the 2000-01 campaign in a trade with the St. Louis Sting of the North American Hockey League.

In June of 2001 Moss became the first RoughRider ever selected in the NHL draft as he was tabbed by the Flames in the seventh round with the two hundred twentieth overall pick.

Prior to being recalled by the Flames yesterday, Moss had skated for the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, Calgary’s American Hockey League affiliate, since the start of last season. Moss scored seven goals and totaled 19 points in 27 games with Omaha this season after scoring 21 times and producing 48 points last year.

Moss turned pro after four standout years at the University of Michigan. He scored 36 goals and collected 94 points in 162 career collegiate games.

Moss is just one of dozens of RoughRider alumni who are currently enjoying successful college and professional playing careers. He was also the first of nine Riders selected in the NHL draft over the last five years.

This year’s edition of the RoughRiders (13-9-1, 27 points) has entered the United States Hockey League’s holiday break in second place in the USHL’s East Division, four points behind the division-leading Waterloo Black Hawks.

The Riders return to action on Friday night, December 29, at 7:05 when they host the Green Bay Gamblers. The Riders and Gamblers will collide at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena again the following evening at 7:35. The Riders will play their third game in as many nights when they visit the Black Hawks on New Year’s Eve.

Tickets for all remaining Rider regular season home games- including the December 29 and December 30 contests- are now on sale. Tickets are available for purchase 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.