Surprise, these RoughRiders can skate

CEDAR RAPIDS - Speed. Lots of it.

Maybe more than they've ever had?

“It's real early, but I think we're going to be a lot faster of a team,” said defenseman Nolan Zajac, when asked to give a scouting report on the 2011-12 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. “We're going to be able to keep the intensity high. We'll be good offensively, I think. We're a small team, but I think we'll be a lot faster.”

Anyone who has ever watched the Riders knows headcoach/general manager Mark Carlson prefers guys who can skate. He wants his players to get up and down the ice and make plays.

Last season's Anderson Cup champs (for most regular-season points in the United States Hockey League) were considered a quick club, yet Zajac thinks this one's quicker. Kind of scary.

“I think we're similar to last year, in that we have a lot of speed and skill,” said forward Stu Wilson. “But I also think we've got a little more grit.”

“I like our speed,” Carlson said. We've got a couple of goalies that can play. Our team has done a good job so far. Right now guys are competing, battling for spots.”

The Riders won two preseason games last weekend against defending Clark Cup champion Dubuque and host Waterloo Wednesday night at The Stable (7:05 start). The regular-season opener is Oct. 1 at home against Indiana.

There are 10 returning players, including third-year guys Zajac and Wilson. Winger Ryan McGrath (18 goals, 42 points) is the leading returning scorer.

Goaltenders Matt McNeely and Peter Traber have outstanding credentials. McNeely played last season for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, while Traber helped Shattuck-St. Mary's prep school to a Tier I national championship.

Rookie Riley Bourbannais has three goals in Cedar Rapids' first two preseason games. Returning forward Tanner Pond and rookie forward Jack Rowe have not played yet because of injury.

As usual, this team should contend for its division title and more.

“It's kind of a mentality that we have,” Wilson said. “I know when I first came here, we had some older guys that really set the standard. When you come in, you learn it. If you don't, you don't last here.”