Former Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman Alec Martinez, now a junior at Miami of Ohio, has been named Central Collegiate Hockey Association Defensive Player of the Week, while Miami freshman Tommy Wingels- a former Rider forward- has been named CCHA Rookie of the Week.
Martinez, 20, scored one goal and picked up two assists while posting a plus/minus rating of +2 as second-ranked Miami swept a home-and-home series with Ohio State last weekend. The Rochester, Michigan, native collected a pair of assists in last Friday’s 5-1 win in Columbus. Martinez scored Sunday afternoon as the Red Hawks returned home for another 5-1 victory over the Buckeyes.
On the season, Martinez has two goals and two assists in four games. Last year he scored nine goals and totaled 24 points in 42 games to help Miami to the CCHA regular season title and an NCAA tournament berth.
Martinez won the United States Hockey League Clark Cup title with the RoughRiders in 2004-05. He scored ten goals and collected 21 points in 58 games in what was his only season in Cedar Rapids.
In June Martinez was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the National Hockey League Draft with the one hundred thirteenth pick.
Wingels, 19, scored three goals, added one assist and was a +5 in the two games against OSU. The Wilmette, Illinois, native scored one goal and assisted on another last Friday night. Two days later Wingels scored a pair and was named the game’s first star as the Red Hawks completed the sweep.
Four games into his first collegiate season Wingels is tied for the team lead in goals (4) and points (5). Wingels arrived at M.U. after scoring ten goals and totaling 28 points in 47 games with the RoughRiders last year.
Martinez and Wingels are just two of the six former RoughRiders who have helped propel Miami to a 4-0-0 start. Fellow Rider alumni Pat Cannone, Ray Eichenlaub, Billy Loupee and Gary Steffes also skate for the Red Hawks. In addition, current Rider defensemen Matt Tomassoni and Chris Wideman will both play their college hockey at M.U.
The RoughRiders (4-1-0, 8 points) are in first place in the USHL’s East Division heading into a home-and-home series with the Lincoln Stars this weekend. The Riders will visit Lincoln Friday night before returning home to take on the Stars Saturday evening at 7:05.
Tickets for all remaining RoughRider regular season home games- including Saturday’s- 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.