Former Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Ted Purcell of the American Hockey League’s Manchester Monarchs has been named AHL Rookie of the Year and an AHL First Team All-Star.

Purcell, 22, ranks third in the AHL in points (83) and fourth in assists (58). The St. John’s Newfoundland, native was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team last week. Purcell also played ten games with the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings this season, scoring one goal and picking up two assists.

Purcell signed with the Kings last April after a standout freshman season at the University of Maine that saw him help the Black Bears to a berth in the NCAA Frozen Four. Purcell was named Hockey East Rookie of the Year after scoring 16 goals and totaling 43 points in 40 games with Maine last season. He led Hockey East freshmen in goals, assists and points. Overall, Purcell finished tied for second in the conference in assists, tied for seventh in points and tied for ninth in goals.

Before heading to Maine, Purcell enjoyed a record-breaking two-year run with the RoughRiders. He owns team records for most career points (138), most career assists (99) most assists in one season (52 in 2005-06), most points in one playoff season (14 in 2005) and most assists in one playoff season (9 in 2005). Purcell scored 20 goals and totaled 67 points to help the Riders to both the Anderson Cup (regular season) title and Clark Cup (playoff) title in 2004-05. The following season he scored 19 goals to go along with his league-leading 52 assists for a total of 71 points as the Riders won a second straight East Division title. Purcell was named to the All-United States Hockey League Second Team each of his two seasons in the league.

The RoughRiders (33-22-5, 71 points) finished the regular season in third place in the USHL’s East Division and will open the best-of-five opening round of the Clark Cup playoffs Friday night in Waterloo against the Black Hawks. Game two will be played Saturday night in Waterloo. The series will shift to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena for game three on Wednesday April 16 and, if necessary, game four on Friday, April 18. If a fifth and deciding game is required, it will be played in Waterloo on Saturday, April 19. All games in the series will face off at 7:05PM.

RoughRiders playoff 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. Playoff ticket prices range from $8 to $18.