RoughRiders cut 2 more; Berisha, Champagne to NAHL

CEDAR RAPIDS - Head coach/general manager Mark Carlson confirmed Tuesday that defensemen Cody Champagne and Avni Berisha have been cut from the team and will play this season for the Topeka RoadRunners of the lower-level North American Hockey League.

Berisha spent all of last season with the RoughRiders, but a myriad of injuries limited him to just eight pointless games. He played in four preseason games this year, recording a goal.

(Here is a link to a story The Gazette did on Berisha's health woes in 2012-13: http://thegazette.com/2013/06/02/season-of-misery-over-berisha-hopes-he-still-has-roughriders-future/).

Champagne had a goal in three preaseason games. He joined the Riders from a Connecticut prep school.

The RoughRiders are believed to be down to 24 players in camp, one over maximum for the regular season. There is the possibility, however, these 24 will remain in town, as Carlson has the opportunity to flip a younger player to the club's affiliate list, where he can continue to practice and play in a limited amount of regular-season games.