Cade Littler finally makes his way to Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

CEDAR RAPIDS - This was his second camp but his first one in three years.

Cade Littler’s path to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders has been rather unique.

The promising 18-year-old forward took part in Sunday’s “All-Star Game” at ImOn Ice that concluded the RoughRiders’ main tryout camp. He was one of 43 players selected to play in the game.

There were 143 players for the beginning of things Thursday. The RoughRiders will build an initial summer roster from this camp.

“I thought it was good,” Littler said. “It was a physical, strong camp. I thought I played strong, heavy. Thought I had a good camp.”

Littler was C.R.’s first-round pick, third overall, way back in the 2020 United States Hockey League Phase I Draft. The Wenatchee, Wash., resident participated in camp that year.

But the RoughRiders went on a sabbatical the next year after a derecho destroyed their home rink. Littler stayed at home and played for the Wenatchee Wild of the junior British Columbia Hockey League last year and then again this season.

“A really cool experience to play at home in front of your friends every night,” Littler said. “And then obviously living at home, too, that’s just a different experience. Pretty cool to get to play in front of your family every night.”

Littler’s father, Bliss, is general manager for the Wenatchee Wild and a longtime former junior coach there and at other places such as Topeka, Tri-City and Omaha in the USHL. His mom, Gretchen, is director of sales and marketing for the Wild.

After Wenatchee’s season ended, Cade joined the RoughRiders for four playoff games and is expected to play a very large role for the club in the 2023-24 season. The Calgary Flames selected the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and he took part in their development camp late last summer.

He said Calgary helped him with his skating, which he said he needs. They’ve helped him with a lot of things.

“During the season, just going over video with them, they’ve been great that way,” Littler said. “It’s been a really cool experience working with their people. Just like everything, how professional it is and everything. It’s like you definitely see the game differently, for sure. They’ve been amazing.”

Littler isn’t close, yet, to professional hockey. His plan is to play next season in Cedar Rapids, then head to college.

He originally signed with Minnesota State but the NCAA allowed him to rescind his letter of intent when head coach Mike Hastings left the school to take the head coaching job at the University of Wisconsin. Littler said he has a new college but won’t divulge it publicly until Monday.

“Only two months until we come back here,” he said.

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