This Week

Friday, October 12, 7:05PM

Resch Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders vs. Green Bay Gamblers

Last Week

Friday, October 5

Cedar Rapids 7 Chicago 2

Saturday, October 6

Cedar Rapids 3 Indiana 1

Headlines

Double Your Fun: The RoughRiders have opened the season with back-to-back wins for just the second time in the last six years. The last time the Riders won their first two games (2004-05) they went on to win the Clark Cup.

Offensive Opener: The RoughRiders last Friday night broke a team record for most goals (7) scored in a season opener, snapping the old mark set in a 6-4 opening night win over the St. Louis Hearltland Eagles on September 26, 2003.

Dynamite Debuts: Five different Riders- Matt Donovan, Kyle Flanagan, Bryce Aneloski and Garrett Vermeersch on Friday night and Justin Bruckel on Saturday evening- scored in their USHL debuts last weekend.

O from D: Defenseman Donovan (2-1-3) is the RoughRiders’ top point scorer and, along with Tyler Thompson, is one of two Riders who scored twice over the opening weekend. Defensemen have accounted for four of the ten goals scored by the Riders.

Spread the Wealth: 15 of the 20 Rider skaters who played at least one game last weekend also recorded at least one point.

Power Play Pick Me Up: The RoughRiders went 6-for-19 on the power play over the weekend and lead the league in power play goals and success rate (31.6 percent).

Peanut Butter and…: First year goaltender Brady Hjelle allowed just three goals while making 60 saves on the way to two wins last weekend. Hjelle stopped 35 shots in last Friday’s win at Chicago and another 25 one night later against Indiana. He has taken the early league lead in goals against average (1.5) and save percentage (.952) and was one of just two goaltenders to pick up a pair of wins over the opening weekend.

5-on-5 Equals Zero: Hjelle and the RoughRiders did not give up an even strength goal in their first two games. Chicago scored once on the power play and once shorthanded last Friday; last Saturday Indiana scored its only goal on the power play.

Century for Slater: Third year forward Ian Slater played his one hundredth game as a RoughRider last Friday against Chicago. Slater celebrated by notching an assist in the win over the Steel.

Saturday Night Fever: The RoughRiders will be idle this Saturday- their only Saturday night off all season. This is also the only weekend of the season that will not see the Riders play at least two games.

Ins and Outs: Slater (hand) missed last Saturday’s night’s game against Indiana.

Alumni Spotlight: Ted Purcell (2004-2006) picked up an assist while making his professional debut last Saturday night for the American Hockey League’s Manchester Monarchs in a 2-1 season opening loss to the Providence Bruins. Purcell also played in the Monarchs’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Springfield Falcons yesterday. Purcell signed with the Los Angeles Kings, the Monarchs’ parent club, in April after a standout freshman season at the University of Maine.

Scouting Report

Green Bay: The Gamblers suffered a pair of home losses to the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets last weekend. Green Bay did earn one point for a 5-4 shootout loss Friday before suffering a 6-3 regulation defeat last Saturday evening…The Gamblers rallied from a 4-0 deficit to force overtime last Friday and then came back from 4-1 down to narrow Ohio’s lead to 4-3 Saturday evening before the Blue Jackets pulled away with two late goals…First year forward Phil Ginand scored the tying goal with just 35 seconds left in regulation last Friday and scored again Saturday night…Justin Filzen (1-1-2), C.J. Lee (1-1-2), Joe Schiller (0-2-2) and Ryan Little (0-2-2) all also collected two points for the Gamblers last weekend…Green Bay went 11-for-11 on the penalty kill last weekend…The Gamblers bring back just six players from last year’s squad. Mike Borisenok (12-12-24 in 2006-07) is Green Bay’s top returning scorer…The RoughRiders went 6-1-0 against the Gamblers last year; Green Bay posted a 1-4-2 record against Cedar Rapids. All-time the Riders have gone 32-16-3 against Green Bay. The Riders are unbeaten in regulation (4-0-1) in their last five games in Green Bay and have gone 8-1-1 in their last ten trips to the Resch Center…Rider forward David Boehm recorded five points (three goals, two assists) in five games against Green Bay last season…Rider goaltender Kent Patterson went 4-0-0 against the Gamblers last year with a 2.01 goals against average, a .921 save percentage and one shutout.

Promotions

Pink Game: The Riders will meet the Des Moines Buccaneers in the “Pink Game” presented by St. Luke’s Hospital to benefit St. Luke’s Spirit Fund on Saturday, October 20. The Spirit Fund provides financial assistance to women diagnosed with breast cancer. The fund provides assistance for non-medical services in support of breast cancer patients’ ongoing care. The RoughRiders’ goaltenders and the game officials will wear pink during the October 20 contest. Those jerseys, as well a number of autographed pink RoughRider replica jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Spirit Fund. Pink ribbons will also be painted in the ice for that game. The evening will be capped off by a special pink fireworks show outside the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena after the game.

Community

America Reads Day: The RoughRiders will take part in America Reads Day on Thursday, October 18. RoughRiders players will read to students at Bowman Woods and Wilkins Elementary Schools.

Devil’s Dash: Riders players will lend a hand at the Halloween-themed Devil’s Dash road race on Sunday, October 28 at Usher’s Ferry.

Watch/Listen

That’s The Ticket!: RoughRiders single game 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.

Be Flexible: 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) and can still enjoy the games of their choice in the seats they want.

On the Air: RoughRiders regular season and playoff games will again this season be broadcast on AM-1360 The Fan in Cedar Rapids. Brian Lavelle provides play-by-play.

Online: Courtesy of B2 Networks, free audio webcasts of Riders games are available at www.roughridershockey.com. The RoughRiders and B2 also 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 catch the action. 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.