Cedar Rapids RoughRiders see return USHL season come to end

Muskegon sweeps playoff series with 6-1 win in Game 2

Apr. 26, 2022 8:59 pm, Updated: Apr. 27, 2022 10:27 am

The Roughriders celebrate after Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman Travis Shoudy (25) scores a goal with an assist from Cedar Rapids Roughriders forward Martins Lavins (8) in the first period against Team USA at ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS — All in all, it was a good return season for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. It just didn’t end very well.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks swept this United States Hockey League Eastern Conference opening-round series convincingly, rolling to a 6-1 win Tuesday night in Game 2.

Muskegon won Monday night’s Game 1 by a 6-0 margin. Only Martins Lavins’ goal with 1:24 left prevented an identical outcome here.

The Lumberjacks were the USHL’s second-highest goal-scoring team this season and showed why in this series. They had six different guys hit the net Tuesday, going 3 for 6 on the power play after a 3-for-4 performance in Game 1.

Cedar Rapids, meanwhile, went 0 for 10 with the man advantage in the series. Bruno Bruveris suffered the loss in net in both games, being replaced by Connor Hasley during both games.

The RoughRiders didn’t have a team last season, as ImOn Ice underwent extensive repairs due to damage incurred in August 2020’s derecho. They made the playoffs despite having only four players on their roster with prior USHL experience, none of them goaltenders or defensemen.

The Riders should have a solid base of returning players to build upon going into next season. The club must improve its road record, however.

Cedar Rapids went 6-25-1-1 on the road this season, playoffs included. It was great at ImOn Ice, finishing 23-6-1-1.

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