Corridor Cross Checks: NHL defenseman Anthony DeAngelo giving back to Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have developed a long and proud hockey history and are determined to celebrate it and have the past be a part of the present and future.

As part of that “Once A Rider, Always A Rider,” mantra and initiative, “Tony D Saves For The Children” has been established this season.

National Hockey League veteran and RoughRiders alum Anthony DeAngelo is giving back to the community in which his career started by donating $1 for every save Riders goaltenders make this season. The total dollar amount will go to the St. Luke's Center for Women's and Children's Health.

“Over the summer, we were determined to get the alumni more involved in giving back,” said Tammy Carlson, Director of Business/Sales & Community Service for the RoughRiders.

Carlson said she got ideas like the promotion and an alumni newsletter after having a conversation with Bob Bassen, a former NHL player who works with alumni of the Dallas Stars. Bassen’s son, Riley, plays for the RoughRiders.

The first person she reached out to was DeAngelo. He played with Cedar Rapids in the 2010-11 season as a 14- and 15-year-old and has maintained a strong relationship with the Carlson family.

Tammy’s husband, Mark, is Head Coach/General Manager/President of the RoughRiders. DeAngelo always would be at their house the season he played here and has a close bond with their sons, Dustin and Brayton.

“Ant is one of our kids,” Tammy Carlson said. “He never misses a Mother’s Day (phone call). He’s living his dream and giving back to his roots.”

DeAngelo played four seasons of major junior hockey in Canada after Cedar Rapids, was a first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014 and has 302 NHL games under his belt.

He now plays for his hometown Philadelphia Flyers. DeAngelo is from Sewell, N.J., about 15 miles away.

“A lot of people don’t know his heart. He’s got the biggest heart in the world,” Tammy Carlson said. “I called him and said ‘What do you think about doing this, about giving back?’ He said yes right away.”

It was a great week for the RoughRiders, who won three times in as many tries. They smacked USHL Eastern Conference leader Chicago, 7-2, beat Youngstown at home, 4-2, and shellacked Dubuque on the road, 6-1.

Zaccharya Wisdom had two goals and an assist, and Jacob Kraft two goals against Chicago. Colin Grable had his first USHL goal, then Nick Pierre scored twice in a three-goal third period that won the Youngstown game.

Pierre, Kraft, Wisdom, Tyson Gross, Riley Fitzgerald and Riley Walsh had goals against Dubuque. Bruno Bruveris won all three games in net for Cedar Rapids, which is 13-10-2-1 for 29 standings points.

That’s fourth in the USHL’s Eastern Conference, just three points out of second place. The team also announced second-year forward Andy Moore has been named its captain.

The Iowa Heartlanders

Get ‘em the heck out of Independence, Mo., and never make ‘em go back.

The Heartlanders played two games this past weekend against the Kansas City Mavericks and lost them both, 5-2 and 2-1. That came on the heels of back-to-back games the previous week in suburban K.C. that Iowa also lost.

Yikes!

Nolan Orzeck and Jake Durflinger had goals to give Iowa a 2-1 second-period lead in Friday’s game, but Kansas City scored the final four goals of the game. Alec Broetzman had Iowa’s only goal in the Saturday night game, that coming 8:26 into the third period to create a 1-1 tie.

Kansas City won the game with a goal a bit over four minutes later.

The Heartlanders are 6-14-6-1 for 19 standings points, seventh and last in the ECHL’s Central Division. Their points total is tied for second to last in the league overall.

Amazingly, Iowa still has not won a road game this season in 17 tries: 0-11-6 record. Norfolk also has not won on the road this ECHL season, is 0-15-0-1.

This Week

The Indy Fuel spend most of the week in Coralville.

Iowa and Indy play Wednesday night at Xtream Arena, then Friday and Saturday nights. Opening faceoff for all three games is 7:05. Saturday is “Mossy Oak Night” with a bobblehead giveaway to the first 500 patrons through the doors and special camo jerseys worn by the Heartlanders that will be available for purchase by fans.

The RoughRiders have a home-and-home weekend set with the Madison Capitols. Friday night’s game is in Wisconsin, while Saturday night’s (7:05) is at ImOn Ice.

It’s “Guns N’ Hoses Night,” honoring local police officers and firefighters.

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com