RoughRiders' Robinson is a true big shot

CEDAR RAPIDS - The champ was talking to a reporter about his big victory when Jeff Dwyer walked into the players area of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders locker room to ask him something.

“Sorry to interrupt,” the assistant coach said.

“Coach, come on. Can't you see his tape recorder is on?” said the champ, teasing.

The champ, also known as winger Eric Robinson, was jokingly asked if he instead wanted to comment on Dwyer's performance in Wednesday's fastest-shot competition. Not too far removed from his days as a professional defenseman, Dwyer was “outshot” by nearly every RoughRider, including goaltending coach Scott Meyer.

“I'd love to comment on that, actually,” Robinson said with a smile, looking at Dwyer.

For the fastest-shot competition, The Gazette borrowed a radar gun from Perfect Game USA Baseball Club and clocked each RoughRiders' slap shot. Everyone was given three attempts and could skate into the puck (which sat in the slot) from as far away as desired.

Dwyer and Meyer took their turns, as did equipment manager Matt Degel. Even goaltenders Troy Grosenick and Cody Campbell took whacks with their goalie sticks.

Coach Mark Carlson didn't participate, claiming he didn't have a good enough stick. Defenseman Jared Beers and forward Nick Lappin sat out because of injuries.

“I would have won it,” Beers claimed. “Robby's a lightweight.”

Well, not really, considering he let go with a pair of blasts clocked at 94 miles per hour. Michael Parks was second at 93 mph, followed by Jordan DiGiando (91) and Bryce Aneloski (90).

Poor DiGiando, nicknamed “Woody” because he's the only player on the team to use a wooden stick, broke his twig in half on his second try, then mishit his third attempt after borrowing a teammate's composite stick.

“If he had had sticks that actually lasted, he might have been in the mid-90s,” said teammate Jeff Costello.

Neither Costello nor Carlson was surprised at Robinson's winning.

“He was my favorite to win it. Hands down,” said Costello, whose fastest shot was 89 miles per hour.

Unsatisfied with their performances, Costello, defenseman Tommy Fallen and forward Stu Wilson asked if they could continue shooting after the competition. They all became increasingly frustrated at an inability to break 90.

That was child's play for Robinson, who will play next season at Dartmouth.

“Liberating. All the pressure's off my back now,” he said. “I can't talk like I'm an expert about it or anything. It's a combination of form and strength. Pretty much everything. I mean, there are stronger guys in the NHL who don't have big slap shots, then there are smaller guys who do. You've got to have the right combination.

“Like Zdeno Chara. He's got good form and strength.”

The 6-foot-8 Chara, who plays for the Boston Bruins, fired a shot clocked at 105.3 mph at last year's NHL skills competition. Now that's something to shoot for, champ.

Here's a list of every player's (and coach's) shot attempts, in order of when they competed. Video of the event is on the end.

Zach Lehrke: 84 miles per hour, 86, 79.

Jeff Costello: 89, 88, 83.

Cason Hohmann: 74, 73, 76.

Mac Bennett: 86, 85, 88.

Peter Sakaris: 76, 86, 85.

Jordan DiGiando: 91, 71 (broken stick), 49 (mishit shot).

Steven Hensley: 83, 88, 84.

Tommy Fallen: 89, 87, 86.

David Boehm: 80, 85, 84.

Eric Robinson: 91, 94, 94.

Stephen Collins: 88, 87, 88.

Jayson Megna: 87, 57 (mishit), 83.

Andy Simpson: 79, 81, 81.

Stu Wilson: 81, 83, 82.

Bryce Aneloski: 90, 89, 82.

Michael Parks: 89, 90, 93.

Sam Warning: 82, 83, 83.

Derek DeBlois: 86, 85, 85.

Nolan Zajac: 84, 84, 79.

Cody Campbell: 48 (with goalie stick).

Troy Grosenick: 50 (with goalie stick).

Jeff Dwyer: 82, 79.

Scott Meyer: 83, 83.