RoughRiders win 9th straight

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Mitch Reinke, Jiri Fronk and Cal Burke scored as the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders won their ninth consecutive game Sunday afternoon, 3-1, over the Bloomington Thunder.

Goaltender Ben Blacker came within 11 seconds of a shutout, making 28 saves as Cedar Rapids swept a grueling weekend set that also saw them win Friday night at Sioux Falls and Saturday night at home against Fargo. The RoughRiders have a United States Hockey League-best 12-1-0 record and lead the league in goals scored (55) and fewest goals allowed (27).

Reinke put the Riders on top at the 9:08 mark of the second period, with a goal assisted by Charlie Curti and Erik Foley. Fronk scored his eighth of the season (tied for team high with Foley) at 8:57 of the third, with an assist by Andrew Oglevie.

Cedar Rapids put the game away on Burke's short-handed goal into an empty net with 27 seconds remaining. Logan Lambdin ended Blacker's shutout bid 11 seconds later.

The RoughRiders host Tri-City this coming Friday night and Dubuque the following night.