The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have set a preliminary 30-player roster for the 2007-08 season in the wake of the club’s tryout camp. The camp concluded yesterday.

“It was a very good, highly competitive camp and I think we have put together a very strong group,” said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson.

The RoughRiders’ corps of veterans consists of forwards David Boehm, Doug Jones, Mike Seidel, Ian Slater, Tyler Thompson and Casey Wellman; defensemen Scott Mathis and Matt Tomassoni; and goaltender Kent Patterson.

13 players selected by the RoughRiders in last month’s United States Hockey League Draft made the roster: forwards Derek Arnold, Gustav Bengtson, Jesse Brown, Justin Bruckel, Kyle Flanagan, Vince Mihalek and Jeff Vellecca; defensemen Bryce Aneloski, Sean Coughlin, Matt Donovan, Dan Ford and Paul Phillips; and goaltender Michael Johnson.

Forward Dean Chelios- the son of National Hockey League great Chris Chelios- defensemen Chris Wideman and goaltender Brady Hjelle earned roster spots after being selected by the Riders’ in last October’s United States Hockey League Futures Draft.

Forwards Ben Lynch, Nick Oddo, Stefan Salturo and Garrett Vermeersch and defenseman Doug Leaverton staked their claims to roster spots with strong play at camp this weekend.

Lynch, 18, scored 23 goals and totaled 58 points in 29 games for Blaine (Minnesota) High School last season. Lynch earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-State honors for his efforts.

Oddo, 17, played midget hockey in the Kansas City area for the Russell Stover program last year. The Omaha native scored 27 goals and notched 55 points in 66 games last season.

Vermeersch, 17-year old Macomb, Michigan native, played midget hockey in his home state for Little Caesar’s last year.

Salituro, a 17-year old product of Willowdale, Ontario, was productive in limited action with the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League’s Vaughn Vipers last season. Salituro scored three times and recorded eight points in just seven games with the Vipers.

Per USHL rules, the RoughRiders are required to reduce their roster to 25 players on July 1.

The RoughRiders will open their ninth season in Cedar Rapids this fall. 2007-08 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.