Prime time Poturalski

CEDAR RAPIDS - According to his coach, he is the poster boy for what the United States Hockey League is all about.

Andrew Poturalski could have gone to college this season but decided a second year of junior hockey with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders was the prudent move. Turns out he was 100 percent correct.

'I know I made the right decision to come back,” said Poturalski, whose RoughRiders begin a best-of-five, first-round USHL playoff series against Dubuque tonight at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena (7:05 opening faceoff). 'I had a great off-season and worked hard. I've just matured and developed so much as a player under Coach (Mark) Carlson.”

Poturalski scored 27 goals and had 64 points in the regular season, the former ranking ninth in the USHL and the latter sixth. His goal total is the most for a RoughRider since Jayson Megna had 30 in 2010-11.

He's with the Pittsburgh Penguins now, and Carlson sees a definite correlation between Megna and Poturalski. Megna played one season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, then turned professional.

Poturalski is headed to New Hampshire next season.

'People need to understand this,” Carlson said. 'Because this kid stayed for a second year, he has given himself a chance to play pro hockey and make a lot of money. Because he stayed, he has the opportunity to go into Hockey East (Conference) and be an all-Rookie team type of kid. That's what it's about, that's what this league is about.

'Smart kid, smart parents, smart agent, smart school. Everyone was in favor of it. UNH gets a way better player, a way better player because he played here a second year.”

Poturalski, 20, finished the regular season with a flourish, scoring 14 goals in his final 13 games. He picked up at least a point in 15 of his final 16.

Continued production from the Williamsville, N.Y., resident will be a key for the RoughRiders if they want to make a deep Clark Cup run. Game 2 is Saturday night at the Ice Arena, with the series shifting to Dubuque next week.

'I don't know what it is, really,” Poturalski said of his late surge. 'I just kind of got another edge, I guess. Just work hard and keep going for the rest of this stretch. All of these guys mean a lot of me, and we want to make a good run in the playoffs. We're excited.”

'I'm going to steal from Coach (John) Calipari at Kentucky,” Carlson said. 'Succeed and proceed, and that is what he has done. It is not easy to succeed in this league, and this year, he has succeeded. He has succeeded because of his last 20 games. Too many guys in this league, they don't succeed. They are average, and they want to move on. And I say that for the good of the player. Potsy did it right. He did it right.”

Poturalski actually got into two games two seasons ago as an emergency call-up from the affiliate list, scoring two goals. He had 12 goals and 33 points in 53 games last season.

He is noticeably bigger physically, which has translated on the ice. Stronger on the puck and able to work through defenders to get off a good shot has made him a serious offensive threat.

'He has made himself into a real hockey player,” Carlson said. 'He is what this league is all about. He works for it, he's dedicated, and he's got a great future. He has led by example since the (holiday) break. I am so, so proud of him and his development.”

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