Articles Tagged: Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Defenseman Ryan Philbrick was a 12th-round pick of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in last year’s United States Hockey Leaue Phase I Draft. He didn’t make the team, but the Riders liked him so much they drafted him again this past spring in the seventh round.

In the first edition of Corridor Cross Checks for the 2023-24 season, we look back at the first two games of the ECHL season for the Iowa Heartlanders and the first nine games of the USHL season for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Longtime professional coach Barry Smith helped run practice earlier this week for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, a guest of Riders Coach/General Manager Mark Carlson. Smith has seven Stanley Cup championships to his credit, has coached in Russia and Sweden. But the 72-year-old’s goal today is making younger players and coaches better.

See photos as the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders hosted the Green Bay Gamblers in USHL hockey Saturday night at ImOn Ice Arena.

Connor Smith suffered a concussion in a game early last season for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Then in his second practice back, he suffered a severe knee injury that ended his rookie USHL season. He’s back and healthy, hoping to provide offense for a hockey club devoid of experience at the forward position.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders open the home portion of their 2023-24 United States Hockey League season Saturday night against Dubuque. Offseason improvements at ImOn Ice include the replacement of over 3,000 original seats.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders begin the USHL regular season at the Fall Classic in Pittsburgh, with games Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon. The top 13 scorers from last season have departed, meaning there is a lot of unknown surrounding the team.

The National Hockey League Draft was conducted Tuesday night and Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders had three players from this past season’s team drafted, with another pair who the club took in the recent United States Hockey League Draft also taken.

Forward Cade Littler was a first-round Phase I draft pick of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders way back in 2020. Circumstances dictated he play elsewhere for three years, but the Calgary Flames draft pick participated in main tryout camp this weekend and is ready to make a big impact for the Riders in 2023-24.

Eric Pohlkamp of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders was named United States Hockey League Defenseman of the Year on Thursday. The 19-year-old Bemidji State University signee is the second Rider to earn the honor.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders selected 31 players Tuesday and Wednesday in the two phases of the United States Hockey League Draft. That included 9 players from Canada in Wednesday’s Phase II.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders played seven games in 10 days at the end of the season, the final one a 3-1 loss Sunday night at Youngstown that eliminated them from the United States Hockey League playoffs. There’s no rest for Coach Mark Carlson and his staff, with the USHL Draft being conducted Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Youngstown Phantoms scored a mid-third period goal and added an empty net one late for a 3-1 win over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series. Youngstown won Game 1 in double-overtime and swept the series.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders fought back from a 2-0 deficit in their USHL playoff game Friday night, tying the Youngstown Phantoms with a late goal in regulation. Youngstown ended up winning the game in the second overtime, 3-2.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders got a pair of first-period goals from Martins Lavins and beat Team USA, 3-1, Wednesday night in the deciding Game 3 of their USHL first-round playoff series. The Riders now head to Youngstown for a second-round series.