Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Doug Jones has committed to Dartmouth, the RoughRiders announced today. Jones will begin his college career next season.
“We’re very happy for Doug, who has worked very hard to improve himself as a player since he arrived here last year,” said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. “He has also done a good job of assuming a leadership role for us this season.”
Jones, 20, leads the RoughRiders in assists (14) and points (19) and is tied for fifth in the United States Hockey League in assists. The Marietta, Georgia, native also serves as one of the Riders’ assistant captains.
Last year Jones scored 11 goals and totaled 29 points in 58 games with the Riders. Jones arrived in Cedar Rapids last season after previously skating for the Taft School in Connecticut.
Jones will join former Rider teammate Evan Stephens at Dartmouth. Stephens is a freshman defenseman for the Big Green. Dartmouth (4-4-1 overall, 2-4-1 conference) is currently tied for ninth place in the ECAC Hockey League.
Jones joins David Boehm (Massachusetts), Matt Donovan (Denver), Brady Hjelle (Minnesota-Duluth), Vince Mihalek (Cornell), Paul Phillips (Denver), Ian Slater (Western Michigan), Matt Tomassoni (Miami) and Chris Wideman (Miami) as the ninth member of the 2007-08 RoughRiders to make a college commitment.
The RoughRiders (12-5-1, 25 points) are currently in second place in the USHL’s East Division. The Riders return to action with a pair of home games this weekend. The Riders will host the Sioux Falls Stampede Friday night and the Waterloo Black Hawks Saturday evening. Both games face off at 7:05PM.
Tickets for all remaining RoughRiders regular season home games- including this weekend’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.