Shutout win gives Riders perfect weekend

Life on the road never seems to be bad for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Goaltender Brady Hjelle made 29 saves to pick up a 4-0 shutout Saturday night at Sioux City. Peter Sakaris, Tanner Pond, Rasmus Juell and Andy Simpson had goals for the Riders, who improved to 9-2, 18 points, which is good for a first-place tie in the USHL's East Division with Green Bay.

The RoughRiders have two games in hand, however.

Friday night, Sakaris scored a goal in the final four minutes to lift Cedar Rapids past Fargo, 3-2. Jayson Megna scored in the first period, with Peter Maric adding a goal in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.

Hjelle again was the winning netminder.

Cedar Rapids is in a stretch of six consecutive road games and eight of nine away from home. The team also has played four consecutive games without four top players who are representing the United States at the World Junior A Challenge in Canada.

The U.S. plays Canada East for the tournament's gold medal Sunday at 3:30 in Penticton, British Columbia.