Articles Tagged: Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Muskegon scored four goals in the first period, and that’s all it needed to win the deciding Game 3 of a United States Hockey League playoff series against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders lost Game 1 of this United States Hockey League first-round series at Muskegon on a goal with just over a minute remaining Monday night. But they returned the favor Tuesday night in Game 2, as Heath Nelson scored with 59 seconds remaining for a come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

Vaclav Nestrasil scored a goal with 1:08 left as the Muskegon Lumberjacks beat the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2-1, Monday night in Game 1 of their United States Hockey League first-round playoff series.

It took until the regular-season finale for everyone Saturday night to determine who the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders would play in the first round of the United States Hockey League playoffs. It turned out to be the Muskegon Lumberjacks, with the teams meeting Monday, Tuesday and perhaps Wednesday nights in Michigan in a best-of-3 series.

The Iowa Heartlanders clinched a spot in the ECHL playoffs Sunday. Derek Damon has put together a successful team in his fourth season in the Corridor, his third as head coach and general manager. It has been hard work, for certain, but well worth it for the Maine native, whose ultimate goal is being a NHL general manager some day.

It has a whirlwind month for Mason Kraft. The 18-year-old forward won Minnesota’s prestigious Mr. Hockey award and helped Moorhead High School to its first state championship. Now he’s in town for the rest of this season and all of next as a member of the Cedar Rapids RoughRIders.

The Iowa Heartlanders have eight games remaining in the ECHL regular season, including seven at home. The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have seven games left in the USHL regular season. Both clubs look are looking good for qualifying for the playoffs in their respective leagues.

The Iowa Heartlanders are in second place in the ECHL’s Central Division and looking very, very good for getting into the league’s playoffs. This has been the most successful season for the five-year club on the ice, without a doubt. How is has fared in one-goal games is the big reason for that.

Mark Carlson, the only coach the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have had, broke the United States Hockey League record for most regular-season games coached when his team beat Waterloo, 3-0, Saturday night. Carlson is nine away from tying the league record for most USHL regular-season victories.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders head coach/general manager Mark Carlson will tie and break the United States Hockey League record for most regular-season games coached this weekend. Carlson will tie the record Friday night at home against Dubuque and break it Saturday night at ImOn Ice Arena. He’ll be honored pregame Saturday night.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders acquired forward Noel Ohgren in a trade from the USHL’s Fargo Force earlier this season, and the 18-year-old from Sweden has paid big dividends for the club. Ohgren’s brother, Liam, is with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. Their father, Andreas, is a personal trainer who has worked with many NHL players from Sweden over the years.

The Iowa Heartlanders are conducting a Women In Sports Night for their ECHL game Saturday night at Xtream Arena against Kalamazoo. Part of the promotion is a Hockey 101 Class pregame and appearances by players Mellissa Channell-Watkins and Sophie Jacques of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

Guerin Slezak is only 18 years old but is the captain of this Cedar Rapids RoughRiders hockey team. In his second season in the United States Hockey League, he is the quintessential defensive defenseman.

In this edition of Corridor Cross Checks, the discussion is on the Iowa Heartlanders and their five-game in streak. And an down-and-up weekend for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.