Healed Master gets ready for big 2014-15 season

CEDAR RAPIDS – Over four months later, and he still hasn't seen the video replay.

Here's a word of advice to you, Nick Master. Please don't watch it.

'I've wanted to, but, no, I haven't seen it,” the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward said. 'I heard it looked bad.”

Yes, it did. Master was hooked to the ice by an opponent in a mid-January game at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, falling awkwardly with his left leg pinned beneath him. It was a season-ending broken fibula.

The 19-year-old Pennsylvanian's first official game action since the injury came this weekend during the Riders' annual tryout camp at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. The camp concluded Sunday afternoon with an 'All Star Game” of 40 of the weekend's top players, as selected by Coach/General Manager Mark Carlson, including Master.

'I'm still working towards everything a little bit,” Master said. 'I'd probably give myself about 75 percent (health) right now. Just my push off (skating) and everything is a little different. I don't really have full strength back in my ankle, yet. But other than that, it feels pretty good.”

Master was Cedar Rapids' top pick in Phase Two of the 2013 United States Hockey League Draft. He had four goals and nine assists in 27 games and was just beginning to come into his own when he went down.

A half-season of missed development time is huge, though he hopes to make up for it with a good 2014-15 season.

'It's been hard,” the Massachusetts-Lowell commit said. 'Just watching the team, especially in the playoffs, was hard. It has been a big learning experience for me. I've learned a lot. It's good that something like this happened early (in his career), though. When I was younger. I'm just ready to get back into it. Start it up again.

'I guess I just wanted to prove myself this weekened. Prove that I'm worth being on the team. Prove my spot. I know I missed half the season, so I want to get right back in there and play well, hopefully bring the Clark Cup here. Help with that.”

Fourteen guys who played games last season for the RoughRiders took part in all-star games Saturday night and Sunday. A 15th possible returnee, Kevin Shand, injured his back during camp and spent one night in the hospital.

Others taking part included Phase Two 2014 top draft pick Georgy Gorodetsky (a forward) and 2014 tenders Hugh McGing (forward) and Derek Daschke (defense). The club has to make decisions on a 30-man initial roster and affiliate roster of younger players by later this month.

In other RoughRiders news, defenseman Nate Widman recently announced his commitment to play college hockey at St. Cloud State. Widman, 21, returned to town this past season, serving as a transfer year from Brown University.

The RoughRiders also have hired Shane Connelly as assistant coach. A former USHL goaltender for the Chicago Steel and University of Wisconsin, Connelly has been director of hockey operations for Bowling Green State.

Former Riders assistant coach Travis Winter has been hired as an assistant coach at Bemidji State, his alma mater. Former Riders assistant Francis Anzalone has been tabbed as Winter's replacement as head coach of Aberdeen of the NAHL.

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