RoughRiders trio wins gold at international tournament

YARMOUTH, Nova Scotia - Forward Andrew Oglevie, defenseman Clark Kuster and goaltender Chris Birsdall of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders were part of a United States team that won the Junior World 'A' Challenge international hockey tournament Sunday.

The U.S. - comprised of players from the United States Hockey League - beat Russia in the gold medal game, 4-1, to win the tournament for the second year in a row and the fifth time in the last eight years.

Kuster assisted on the game's first goal, from Carson Kuhlman of the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Oglevie added a goal midway through the third period that made it a 3-1 game. Birdsall was the backup goalie to Cal Peterson of the Waterloo Black Hawks.

Former RoughRider Dennis Kravchenko also was part of the victorious American club. Nick Schmaltz of the Green Bay Gamblers was voted the tourney's most valuable player after notching a record 12 assists.

Oglevie, Kuster and Birdsall will return to the RoughRiders, who finish a suspended game against Dubuque at home Tuesday night at 7:05. Cedar Rapids leads, 2-0, midway through the second period.