RoughRiders’ Carlson picked to coach in prospects game

CHICAGO - The United States Hockey League announced Tuesday that Mark Carlson of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders will be one of the head coaches in next week's USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Dubuque.

Carlson and Sioux City's Jay Varady will lead the teams, comprised of 40 of the top 2015 NHL draft-eligible players in the USHL. Cedar Rapids will have six representatives in goalies Ryan Larkin and Ben Blacker, forwards Erik Foley, Adam Gaudette and Jiri Fronk and defenseman Bryce Hatten.

Carlson has led the RoughRiders to a USHL-best 22-8 record and 44 standings points. He won his 500th-career USHL game earlier in the season.

Dubuque's Matt Shaw will be the assistant coach for Carlson on Team East. Cary Eades of Sioux Falls will be the Team West assistant for Varady.

The game will be televised live next Tuesday at 7 p.m. on KCRG-9.2.