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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
RoughRiders begin what they hope is long playoff run
Apr. 15, 2012 4:57 pm, Updated: Apr. 11, 2023 12:04 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS - Every one was a thriller.
The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and Youngstown Phantoms played four times in the USHL's regular season. Each game was decided by a goal, three in either overtime or shootout.
Assuming the RoughRiders don't develop a case of bus legs, you'd think this best-of-3 first-round playoff series will be a doozy. Game 1 is Monday night at 6:15 at Youngstown's Covelli Center, with Games 2 and 3, if needed, Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It's going to come down to the little things, like blocking shots and winning faceoffs,” said RoughRiders goaltender Jake Hildebrand. “It's going to come down to special teams. Our power play has been great lately, and our penalty kill is coming together.”
And this series could come down to Hildebrand and goaltending counterpart Matthew O'Connor of Youngstown. As everyone knows, a hot goalie can take a club a long way in the postseason.
A Michigan State recruit, Hildebrand has established himself as the Riders' true No. 1 guy in net late in the regular season, winning nine of his last 14 starts. Three of his five losses were in a shootout.
There are no shootouts in the playoffs.
“Absolutely,” he said, when asked if he feels he can carry the RoughRiders in the playoffs. “I've had multiple talks with Coach about that. If I'm hot, I think I'm going to keep going.”
“I just think he's continued to grow and mature,” said Riders Coach Mark Carlson. “He's just going out and playing. That sounds so simple, but it's not easy to do. I couldn't be happier with the way he's playing. I couldn't be happier for him.
Youngstown's top two scorers are forwards Mike Ambrosia (18 goals, 65 points) and Austin Cangelosi (29 goals, 59 points). The Phantoms finished in the middle of the league in power-play efficiency and penalty killing, but had a USHL-high 19 short-handed goals, something for the RoughRiders to be aware of.
Nick Saracino led Cedar Rapids in points in the regular season (48 in 47 games), despite missing 13 games with a concussion. Gerry Mayhew was the top goal scorer with 20.
The RoughRiders won five of six to end the regular season. Youngstown lost six of eight.
Here are the final regular-season individual statistics for the RoughRiders:
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders' Jake Hildebrand (1, left) and Nick Saracino (26) fall while defending the goal as Muskegon Lumberjacks' Mark Yanis (14) chases the puck in the first period of their game at Cedar Rapids Ice Arena on Friday, April 13, 2012, in Cedar Rapids. (Liz Martin/The Gazette-KCRG)
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