Costello OK, should play for Riders this weekend

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders winger Jeff Costello has been practicing with the club and should play this weekend, head coach Mark Carlson said Thursday. The Riders are at Sioux Falls on Friday night and host Waterloo on Saturday night.

Costello, who has 10 goals and 18 points in 18 games this season, had to be helped off the ice after incurring a knee-to-knee hit by Reed Seckel in a 2-1 shootout loss to Green Bay on Sunday afternoon. The Notre Dame recruit and Ottawa Senators draft pick said the team doctor told him it was an LCL (lateral collateral ligament) injury.

Costello said the knee felt much better Monday. He practiced fully with the RoughRiders on Thursday, with no visible issues.

It is thought Seckel could be suspended by the

United States Hockey League for the hit on Costello, which was called a five-minute tripping penalty and game misconduct by game officials.