This Week
Tuesday, October 30, 7:35PM
Edge Ice Arena, Bensenville, Illinois
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders vs. Chicago Steel
Friday, November 2, 7:05PM
Cedar Rapids Ice Arena
Waterloo Black Hawks vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Saturday, November 3, 7:05PM
Cedar Rapids Ice Arena
Chicago Steel vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Last Week
Friday, October 26
Lincoln 5 Cedar Rapids 4
Saturday, October 27
Cedar Rapids 3 Lincoln 1
At a Glance
Cedar Rapids
5-2-0, 10 points
1st place East Division
Coach/GM: Mark Carlson
Chicago
3-4-0, 6 points
5th place East Division
Coach: Steve Poapst
Waterloo
4-3-1, 9 points
2nd place East Division
Coach/GM: P.K. O’Handley
Headlines
Splitsville: The Riders split a home-and-home series with the Lincoln Stars last weekend, rebounding from a 5-4 loss Friday night in Lincoln with a 3-1 win one night later at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. The Riders have lost on the road on Friday but come back to win at home on Saturday each of the last two weekends.
When It Rains It Pours: The Riders and goaltender Brady Hjelle have surrendered 12 goals in their two losses while giving up a total of just five goals in their five wins.
Last Laugh: In both of their losses the RoughRiders have given up four goals in the third period after leading by two goals heading into the third. They fell last Friday after leading 3-1 at the end of two (and stretching the lead to 4-1 early in the third period); they dropped a 7-5 decision October 19 at Indiana after taking a 5-3 lead into the third.
Spreading Hjelle: Hjelle has played each of the Riders’ first seven games. He made a total of 84 saves over two games last weekend. The first year netminder made a season high 45 saves last Friday and stopped 38 more shots the following evening. Hjelle leads the league in wins (5), save percentage (.934), shutouts (1) and minutes played (419:18) and ranks fourth in goals against average (2.43).
Home Sweet Home: The RoughRiders have won their first three home games of the season. They have outscored opponents 13-3 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
Bumps in the Road: The Riders have lost their last two road games (October 19 at Indiana and last Friday at Lincoln) after winning their first two away from home (October 5 at Chicago and October 12 at Green Bay).
Terrific Thompson: Last Saturday night Tyler Thompson (6-4-10) was held without a point for the first time this season. Thompson recorded at least one point in each of the Riders’ first six games. The second year forward is tied for fourth in the league in goals and points.
One Way Traffic: The RoughRiders have scored nearly twice as many goals (33) as they have given up (17). They average 4.7 goals per game, most in the league. Only the Omaha Lancers have allowed fewer goals than the Riders.
Extra Special: The RoughRiders rank second in the league on the power play (24.4 percent) and third on the penalty kill (87.0 percent).
Fabulous Firsts: Chris Wideman scored his first career USHL goal last Friday night. Dean Chelios notched the first of his USHL career one night later.
Ins and Outs: Rider goaltender Kent Patterson had sport hernia surgery last Tuesday and has been placed on the 45-day injured reserve list. The Riders have acquired Erick Cinotti from the New Jersey Rockets of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League to fill Patterson’s roster spot. Cinotti did not arrive in Cedar Rapids until Saturday; last Friday Hjelle was backed up by Cedar Rapids Mustangs goaltender Dustin Buchanan.
Alumni Spotlight: Minnesota-Duluth sophomore goaltender Alex Stalock (2004-06) made 43 saves to shutout sixth ranked Denver on the road Saturday night. UMD won 3-0 despite being outshot 43-13.
Scouting Report
Chicago: The Steel fell 4-2 last Saturday night in Green Bay. That defeat was Chicago’s only game of the weekend…The Steel has suffered back-to-back losses and has dropped three of its last four…Brian O’Neill (7-7-14) and former Rider Andy Miele (9-3-12) have formed a formidable offensive duo for Chicago. The pair ranks one-two in the league in point scoring; Miele leads the way in goals, while O’Neill ranks third; O’Neill is also tied for the league lead in assists…The Steel have scored 30 goals this season. Only the Riders and Lancers have scored more…Chicago has given up more goals (34) than any other team in the league. The Steel has surrendered at least four goals in each of its first seven games…The Steel also ranks last in the league in penalty killing (72.4 percent)…The Riders defeated the Steel 7-2 in the October 5 season opener between the two teams in Bensenville… All-time the Riders have gone 32-12-3 against Chicago. The Steel have not beaten the Riders in regulation since scoring a 3-2 win over Cedar Rapids on March 25, 2006 in Bensenville. The Riders have gone 7-0-1 against Chicago since then…The Steel will sandwich a visit to Omaha Friday night between their two meetings with the Riders this week.
Waterloo: The Black Hawks scored back-to-back 3-2 shootout wins over the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets last weekend in Columbus. The Hawks won the opener of the two-game set last Friday night and made it a four point weekend with a second victory Saturday afternoon…Waterloo had gone winless in three games (0-2-1) before last weekend…First year forward Brock Montpetit (3-4-7) is the Hawks’ top point producer…Second year goaltender Matthew DiGirolamo (3-1-1, 2.7, .873) has seen the majority of the action between the pipes for Waterloo…The Hawks have posted a winning record despite having been outscored 27-24 on the season…Friday’s game marks the beginning of this season’s battle for the i wireless Corridor Cup, the trophy awarded to the winner of the regular season series between the Riders and Hawks. Waterloo took home the Corridor Cup last season after winning five of the eight regular season meetings between the two teams…The Hawks also won the Anderson Cup (regular season title) for the first time last season and reached the Clark Cup playoff final, where they fell to the Sioux Falls Stampede…All-time the RoughRiders have gone 26-24-4 against the Hawks and have posted an 11-15-2 record in Waterloo. The Hawks knocked the Riders out of last spring’s playoffs by defeating Cedar Rapids 6-0 in a second round round robin game in Waterloo.
Promotions
Collins Community Credit Union Hockey Pen Night: The first 1,000 fans through the doors for the Riders’ game against the Waterloo Black Hawks Friday night will receive a free hockey stick pen compliments of Collins Community Credit Union.
Faith and Fun Night Featuring All But Screaming: Cedar Rapids-area band All But Screaming will perform after the RoughRiders’ game against the Chicago Steel on Saturday to cap off the Riders’ annual Faith and Fun Night. All But Screaming’s brand new EP Electric Lights is now available at www.allbutscreaming.com. All But Screaming is composed of David Lunsford (lead vocals, guitar), Shane Lunsford (bass, vocals), Josh Misener (lead guitar, vocals) and Jake Niederhauser (drums).
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 online 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: All RoughRiders regular season and playoff games are 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.