Corridor Cross Checks: Mark Carlson of C.R. RoughRiders to break USHL games coached record this weekend

CEDAR RAPIDS — If you know, you know. Which is why his answer was so predictable.

Mark Carlson was asked Monday afternoon his thoughts on breaking the United States Hockey League’s record for most games coached.

Carlson will do so Saturday night at ImOn Ice Arena when his Cedar Rapids RoughRiders host Waterloo. Ironically, Carlson will surpass former Black Hawks head coach P.K. O’Handley for the mark.

“The focus is on the games, on our players, on our team,” Carlson said.

It’s never about him, which always has been one of the endearing qualities of “Carly,” and part of the reason why he has enjoyed so much success over the years. Carlson is the only head coach/general manager the RoughRiders have ever had, coming to town for the inaugural 1999-2000 season and staying here.

He has been behind the C.R. bench for 1,475 regular-season games, one fewer than O’Handley. Carlson will tie the record Friday night when the Riders host Dubuque.

RoughRiders owner Tony Sdao and USHL President/Commissioner Glenn Hefferan will be on hand Saturday night and take part in a pregame ceremony honoring Carlson.

The next big record the coach is in line for is all-time USHL regular-season victories. O’Handley has 778, Carlson 767.

“It is an honor,” Carlson said. “Just thankful for all the people, the mentors and players that have helped me along the way.”

Cedar Rapids split a pair of games last week, losing at Dubuque, 3-1, and winning at Green Bay, 4-3, in a shootout. Amine Hajibi won the shootout for the RoughRiders, 3-2, by converting as the ninth skater.

Robert Chlan’s goal with 29 seconds left in regulation sent the game to extra time for C.R., which is 18-20-1-2 for 39 standings points, solidly in possession of sixth place and the final available playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Carlson has remade the roster, acquiring multiple players in trades and signing players (Chlan and Simon Seidl) from Europe. The Riders acquired forward John McNelis last week from Sioux Falls, where he was the team’s second-leading scorer.

“We like our team,” Carlson said. “You’ve got to earn it, you’ve got to earn a win every night. You’ve got to play hard for the entire game, you’ve got to play smart. I really like our team. We’ve ended up making a lot of moves, and we really like our team right now. We like our goaltending, we like our D, we like our forwards, we think we’ve got good depth.”

By the way, opening faceoff Friday and Saturday is 7:05 p.m. C.R. also plays Sunday afternoon at Dubuque.

Iowa Heartlanders

It was a 2-1 weekend on the road for the ECHL club.

The Heartlanders got a 25-save shutout last Wednesday at Cincinnati, 2-0. Former RoughRiders defenseman Will Zmolek got his first goal of the season.

Friday night saw Iowa win at Kalamazoo, 4-1. Ryan Miotto scored twice for the Heartlanders, with newcomer Keltie Jeri-Leon also picking up his first Iowa goal.

Kalamazoo beat the Heartlanders on Saturday night, 2-0. Ty Young had the shutout in net for the Wings, making 30 saves.

Iowa has a 25-15-4-3 record for 57 standings points, good for second place in the Central Division. The Heartlanders host Cincinnati at 7 p.m. Wednesday, then first-place Toledo at 7 Friday night and 6 p.m. Saturday.

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