Doug Jones has been voted the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders’ 2007-08 Most Valuable Player by his teammates, the RoughRiders announced today.

Riders players also voted on five other awards: team captain Ian Slater won the RoughRider award and was also named the team’s Most Dedicated player, Matt Donovan was named Rookie of the Year, Dean Chelios won the Progress Award and Doug Leaverton was named Most Spirited.

Jones, who will play at Dartmouth next season, led the Riders in points (57) and finished fourth in the United States Hockey League in assists (40). Slater, who is bound for Western Michigan, completed his third season in Cedar Rapids with 14 goals and 34 points and finished his Rider career ranked fifth in team history in games played (158). Defenseman Donovan scored 12 goals and totaled 30 points and led the Riders in plus/minus rating (+19). Like Chelios (6-12-18) and Leaverton (1-2-3), Donovan is eligible to return to the Riders next season.

The RoughRiders’ ninth season ended Wednesday night when the Riders fell to the Waterloo Back Hawks 5-2 in game three of the best-of-five opening round of the USHL Clark Cup playoffs. With that win the Black Hawks took the series three games to none. The Riders have enjoyed eight straight winning seasons and have also reached the playoffs each of the last eight years.