Riders start 2nd half with 5-2 win over Waterloo

Don't fret about the guys who aren't around any more. Focus on the guys who are around.

Like Jayson Megna, whose Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight) helped the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders to a 5-2 win over the Waterloo Black Hawks last night before 2,725 fans at The Stable. Like Stu Wilson, a smart, intangibles type of player who had his first two-goal game in the United States Hockey League.

There's still more than enough talent to continue the special season the Riders have going.

“We've got a lot of depth,” said Megna, whose 15 goals is tied for the USHL lead. “Like Coach says, you've got to deal with a lot of adversity during a season. But he's built the depth up for this reason. You never know what's going to happen.”

The RoughRiders lost two players over the holiday break when winger Peter Sakaris left to play Major Junior hockey in Quebec and defenseman Steven Hensley was put on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. They are part of a group of five that were second-year players here at the beginning of the season who aren't here now.

You wonder how that affects chemistry, though perhaps you shouldn't. The Riders were plenty good last night in securing the Corridor Cup for the fourth straight year, which goes to the winner of the season series between these rivals.

Cedar Rapids is 4-0-1 against Waterloo and has a USHL-best record (18-4-1) and point total (38).

“I think the only way it really affects us is that you have friendships with those guys,” Wilson said of the departed. “At the same time, you're really comfortable with the other guys, and the chemistry just kind of finds its way throughout the year.”

“We've got a really good group, I think we've got really good leadership,” Riders Coach Mark Carlson said. “All the guys really like each other. We talk to the guys all the time that when you get to this level, even though it's junior hockey, there are situations that occur that are just like pro hockey. That's how we present it to them. There are going to be scenarios where guys leave.”

Ryan McGrath and Nolan Zajac also scored for Cedar Rapids, which played with seven defensemen and 11 forwards because of Sakaris leaving and the absence of fellow forwards Nick Saracino (injury) and Rasmus Juell (World Junior Championships). Newcomer Gage Hough has joined the team from the Russell Stover Midget program in Kansas City and had an assist in his first game.

Brady Hjelle improved to 17-2-1 with the win in net. The Riders host Lincoln on New Year's Eve night.

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