The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have played terrific hockey on the road this USHL season, accumulating 21 of a possible 32 standings points. But they’ve won just three times at home in 18 games, tied for the fewest in the league.
Drew DeRidder signed with the Iowa Heartlanders in the offseason despite knowing he’d begin the ECHL season as the club’s third goaltender. He finally is getting an opportunity to play and is making the most of it.
Defenseman Colin Grable is the captain of this season’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders team. He will turn 21 next week, making him the oldest player on the team and one of the oldest in the United States Hockey League.
Hunter Lellig is from Waterloo, played junior hockey for his hometown Waterloo Black Hawks. After five years of college hockey, he is playing professionally back home with the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL.
Forward Jack Larrigan has played over 140 regular-season games in the USHL. He has played for three teams, the latest the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, where he has excelled.
As the new year rapidly approaches, it seems the perfect time to reflect on the the Corridor’s two hockey clubs have done so far this season. Here’s a look at how the Iowa Heartlanders and Cedar Rapids RoughRIders have fared and what their goals should be heading into 2024.
Iowa forward has degree in kinesology, but wants to keep hockey option open, too
The Toledo Walleye are the best team in the ECHL’s Central Division right now, which was evident this weekend as they swept three games from the Iowa Heartlanders at Xtream Arena. But Iowa got a standings point in a 5-4 overtime loss Sunday, and the Heartlanders are right in the middle of a six-team pack right behind the Walleye in the division.
Forward Amine Hajibi has been productive for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders since being acquired in an early season trade from the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. Born in Montreal, the 18-year-old forward spends time each summer in Morocco, where his parents are from and where he lived as a youth.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels announced Friday that the 2024 Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan will make a stop in town January 23. The event will be at The Annex hitting facility adjacent to Veterans Memorial Stadium and will feature appearances by Twins players Willi Castro and Caleb Thielbar, as well as longtime Twins radio broadcaster and former Twins outfielder Dan Gladden.
The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have picked up just one win at home so far this United States Hockey League season. The club has a chance to right that ship with two home games this weekend. The Iowa Heartlanders secured one win last weekend on a three-for-three road trip.
The Iowa Heartlanders played four ECHL games in five days last week, in three different cities. But they beat Kalamazoo and Wheeling and lost to Fort Wayne in a shootout, picking up five of a possible eight standings points. Meanwhile, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders lost twice in their annual Thanksgiving home and home against Waterloo, one in overtime.
Former NHL player Adam Johnson died in late October when his throat was accidentally slashed by the skate of an opposing player in a professional hockey game in England. Since that tragedy, whether players of all ages should wear protective neck guards has become a hot topic.
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