Season opener a smashing success for RoughRiders

CEDAR RAPIDS – USA Hockey Magazine is sponsoring power rankings for the United States Hockey League this season. Eleven media members who follow the league vote on where they think the teams belong, one through 17.

The Omaha Lancers were ranked first in the initial rankings released last week. The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders checked in at a modest number nine.

That might be too low because it was a powerful performance Saturday night by the Riders in a season-opening 6-2 win over Dubuque at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

'We came out well tonight and capitalized,” said RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson. 'I thought we had a lot of guys that played well. We've got to clean up a lot of things, a lot of things we need to improve on. But it was a good start for us.”

Adam Gaudette and Jiri Fronk scored twice each and goaltender Ben Blacker was very good in his first USHL start. Add markers from Zach Court and Ross Colton, and that's a lot of production from the rookies.

Dubuque, by the way, was fourth in the first power rankings. The Fighting Saints went 6-0-1 in the preseason to C.R.'s 2-5-1, which shows you how much the results of those games mean.

'We just played together as a team,” Gaudette said. 'Everyone contributed.”

'Unbelievable,” Blacker said. 'You always hear how a crowd plays a part in you having success. I never really believed it until I came here. I know we had a rough start in the preseason, but we came out flying tonight. It was just such a great experience. We all played together.”

Cedar Rapids put this one on ice, pun intended, with four goals in a span of eight minutes in the first period. Fronk scored at 3:21 on a nifty backhand setup in front from Andrew Oglevie.

Gaudette got his first one off a rebound of a point shot by defenseman Derek Daschke. Court made it 3-0, converting a terrific rush and back pass from defenseman Mitch Reinke.

A minute later, Gaudette scored on a rebound to end Dubuque goalie Kevin Reich's night. Reich was brilliant as his team ousted the RoughRiders from last season's playoffs but allowed four goals on eight shots in his 2014-15 regular-season debut.

'Our whole team is based on getting around the net,” Gaudette said. 'My linemates helped me out. It really was contributions from everyone.”

Fronk's second of the game came early in the second period on another deft pass from Oglevie. They appear to have the makings of a deadly feed-finish combo.

Colton finished off a wild goal-mouth scramble early in the third. That was the Riders' second power-play goal of the night, which meant special teams were pretty good, too.

Blacker, a 17-year-old from Canada, has been thrust into the top goalie role with the abrupt departure to college of intended No. 1 guy Danny Tirone. You wondered how he would handle his first game but was pretty much rock solid, making 39 stops.

'It's definitely been a big change,” Blacker said. 'Danny was a great mentor. When he left early, it came as a surprise. I was actually fairly disappointed when he left, having someone there to look up to and show me the ropes ... But after this week, the coaches have done a great job of getting me to prepare. Then having my teammates there to support, that's helped me so much.”

Dubuque's goals came from defensemen Wyatt Ege on the power play early in the first period and Blake Hillman in the final two minutes. The RoughRiders host Muskegon for a pair of games Friday and Saturday.

FIRST STAR – Adam Gaudette (RoughRiders): Two goals in a four-goal first period for his team.

SECOND STAR - Jiri Fronk (RoughRiders): Pair of goals for the Czech import.

THIRD STAR – Ben Blacker (RoughRiders): Handled his first USHL start in net well. Had 39 saves.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@sourcemedia.net