Corridor Cross Checks: The Finale

CEDAR RAPIDS - Here is the final Corridor Cross Checks of the season. Hope you enjoyed the weekly updates on the hockey clubs that represent the Corridor: the Iowa Heartlanders and the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

The Heartlanders have concluded their first season in the ECHL. The RoughRiders have one more regular-season week remaining in the United States Hockey League.

THE CEDAR RAPIDS ROUGHRIDERS

If the season ended today, the RoughRiders would be in the playoffs. But there are two games for everyone this weekend.

Cedar Rapids went 1-2 last week, losing at Dubuque (5-2), beat Madison at home (1-0 in overtime) and losing at Madison (4-0). It has a 28-29-2-1 record and 59 standings points, which places it in sixth place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference and in possession of the final available postseason spot in the conference.

Madison is in fifth place with 61 points, Team USA is in seventh with 58. Chicago and Dubuque are two points apart in first and second places, respectively, with Muskegon in third and Youngstown fourth.

The RoughRiders own the tiebreaker over Team USA, which is ROW (regulation and overtime wins). Madison has the tiebreaker over Cedar Rapids.

The Riders have a home-and-home series this weekend, playing Friday night at Dubuque and hosting the Fighting Saints on Saturday night. Team USA has a home and home with Youngstown, hosting Friday night and visiting Saturday night.

Adam Flammang has been C.R.’s offensive leader all season. He leads the club with 26 goals and 44 points.

Conor Lovett is second on the team with 16 goals, including the game winner in overtime last Friday night against Madison. Defenseman Travis Shoudy had the assist on that goal and leads the RoughRiders in helpers with 25.

Bruno Bruveris has gotten the start in net for Cedar Rapids in its last 10 games.

THE IOWA HEARTLANDERS

Iowa lost two of three last weekend at Allen to conclude its inaugural season. The Heartlanders won last Wednesday (5-1) and lost Saturday (3-2 in overtime) and Sunday (3-2).

Iowa finished with a 29-33-9-1 record, its 68 standings points placing its seventh and last in the Central Division. The nine overtime losses tied for the league lead with Wichita.

Forward Kris Bennett was named Monday the ECHL Rookie of the Year. He tied with Toledo’s Brandon Hawkins for the league lead in goals with 35 and finished fifth in the league in points, with 73 in 50 games.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Bennett next season. The 26-year-old played on an American Hockey League contract this season, but played just 12 games this season for the Iowa Wild, recording one point on a goal.

“For me, it was about trying to improve every single day,” Bennett said. “I was fortunate to have great linemates and coaches and teammates that believed in me, instilled confidence in me and allowed me to get better. It was a great year, and I’m super proud of myself and the teammates and coaches that made this a special year.”

Ryan Kuffner finished second on the team in scoring with 64 in 41 games. Those came on 18 goals 46 assists.

The Heartlanders used a whopping 50 players this season. Coach Gerry Fleming recently was feted for coaching his 900th-career professional game.

The team had individual exit interviews Monday before dispersing. Unlike this season, the Heartlanders should have at least a bit of a player base to build upon next season.

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