Another tryout camp in the books for C.R. RoughRiders

CEDAR RAPIDS — 'The List' has lost its significance, if it had any to begin with.

A piece of paper is still tacked to one of the locker room walls at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena at the conclusion of summer tryout camp. It contains last names of players head coach/general manager Mark Carlson wants to talk to directly about summer conditioning and things like that.

These kids are survivors for now, meaning the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have interest in them. 'The List' does not mean someone has made the 2017-18 roster.

Far from it.

'I think the guys understand how hard they have to work,' Carlson said. 'The majority of our years, we have been really strict on the conditioning part of it, the testing. Our off-ice testing is going to be very detailed (this summer), and we are going to demand a lot and expect a lot. Our guys know that.'

Another tryout camp was officially put into the books Sunday with a final 'All-Star Game' of 40 of the weekend's top performers. As usual, Carlson generally was tight lipped about those top performers

The RoughRiders do not have to give the United States Hockey League a preliminary summer roster until July. There's a lot of time between then and now, so a lot of things could change.

'You know me, I do not like getting into individuals that much,' Carlson said. 'But I would say Graham Slaggert did a real nice job on the ice and off the ice. That's why we drafted him where we did.'

That was first overall in the 2017 USHL Entry Draft, Phase II. Slaggert, a forward, played last season for the United States National Team Development Program and is a Notre Dame recruit.

C.R.'s second-round pick, defenseman Chase Blackmun, also impressed, Carlson said. He played high school hockey last season in Hudson, Wis.

Affiliate roster forward Harrison Roy also was a guy Carlson wanted to make sure he talked about. The 17-year-old is a University of Maine commit.

'He has really grown as a player and a person,' Carlson said.

Goaltender is a position of need, with the departure of both goalies from last season's team. Cedar Rapids drafted five netminders, and Carlson said he was pleased with what he saw in camp, without being specific.

The RoughRiders have the potential for the return of numerous players this coming season, though, considering they finished last in the USHL, nothing is guaranteed. Two recent subtractions from last year's team included forwards Robert Arrak (playing in Finland) and Bobby Hampton (going to college at Northeastern).

'I'm not big on the whole 'veteran' word,' Carlson said. 'Obviously it is nice when you have second-year players who can impact your team on and off the ice. As everyone knows, in the end, we are going to choose the best players for our team. We expect it to be very competitive all the way up to the end of September.

'I thought it was a good camp overall this year, thought there was a lot of competition. But it's one step in the process. I feel good about it right now, but there's an awful lot of work to do this summer by our staff and our players.'

The RoughRiders are conducting a 'Futures Camp' from July 21-23 at the Ice Arena. Any interested player with a 2002 and 2003 birthdate should contact Riders assistant coach Ben Kinne or Jason Shaner at 319-247-0340 with questions, or email at bkinne@roughridershockey.com & jshaner@roughridershockey.com.

Entry fee is $325.

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