CHICAGO, Ill – The United States Hockey League has begun its regular season this week. Pro Hockey News is taking this opportunity to present the teams by divisional breakdown and a quick review of the clubs and focus on a few players.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
The RoughRiders had their 10th straight winning season in 2009-10 after compiling 38 victories. The team has qualified for the playoffs every season during the decade under Head Coach Mark Carlson who is third among active USHL coaches with 364 wins.
There are plenty of big shoes to fill with the departure of the team’s top four scorers to the collegiate ranks, including All-USHL defenseman Bryce Aneloski, but several players return to the mix for the RoughRiders. Forward Cason Hohmann was third on the team with 27 assists during his rookie campaign and had a busy summer leading the U.S. Under-18 Select Team in scoring as they captured silver at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Michael Parks returns fresh off being selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Defensemen Thomas Fallen and Nolan Zajac also return to patrol the blueline while goaltender Cody Campbell is back after posting a 10-4-1 record and a 1.90 GAA in 17 appearances with the team in 2009-10.
Chicago Steel
In his fifth season with the organization, but first as head coach, Jon Waibel leads the team into their 11th year following the departure of Steve Poapst to an AHL coaching position. Chicago seeks to reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season.
The club welcomes many new faces but will rely on the experience of returning forwards Cole Gunner and Alex Carpenter, as well as Jay Camper who was the only member of the Steel to play all 60 games a season ago. Forward Theo DiPauli also got some international experience this summer with the U.S. squad at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Goaltender Connor Wilson mans the crease after posting 14 wins for the club last season. Ian Young and Peter Hand are the only two returners for a young defense corps. Newcomer Adam Krause, who was the first overall pick in the 2010 USHL Entry Draft, will be looked upon to add some scoring punch.
Green Bay Gamblers
It was a banner year in 2009-10 for the organization with a team record 45 victories and Anderson Cup and Clark Cup titles. The 2010-11 edition of the Gamblers brings change as Jon Cooper has moved on to a head coaching position in the AHL. New head coach Eric Rud who has both previously played and coached in the USHL takes over after spending the last five seasons coaching at the collegiate level.
Gone are several key players who took home hardware after a magical 2009-10 season, but returning is a core of players ready to keep the momentum going in Green Bay. Forwards Robert Francis and Ludwig Karlsson are the top returning scorers from last season. On defense, key returners include Matt Stewart who was third on the club last year with a plus-33 rating, and fellow blueliners Aaron Harstad, Max Hartner, and Brian O’Rourke. Austin Czarnik who played in the USHL last season for Team USA adds scoring depth up front. Between the pipes, Ryan McKay is back after having the second best GAA (2.20) among all USHL goaltenders a season ago.
Indiana Ice
After 72 victories over two seasons, Jeff Blashill has moved on to become head coach at Western Michigan University. A familiar face will be behind the bench in 2010-11 as Charlie Skjodt returns to a place where led the Ice to a team record 39 wins during the 2007-08 season.
The top eight scorers from last season have moved on, but returning forwards Blake Coleman, Alex Wideman, David Johnstone, and Brian Ferlin combined for nearly 90 points in 2009-10. All-Star defenseman Nick Mattson returns after being selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Newcomer Daniil Tarasov showed plenty of offensive flare in the preseason, including a five-point game during the USHL Fall Classic. Goaltender Casey DeSmith is back in net after winning 11 games for the team last year. Forward Adam Erne (4/20/1995) will be the youngest player in the USHL when the season opens.
Muskegon Lumberjacks
One of two new USHL teams this season, the Lumberjacks play in a city rich in hockey tradition and in a state this is one of the nation’s hotbeds for hockey talent. Kevin Patrick leads the team as they enter their inaugural season after spending the last five seasons on the coaching staff at the University of Wisconsin.
The Lumberjacks will have a lot of new faces to the USHL, but also a handful of players with prior experience in the League. Forward Brendan Woods missed a large chunk of last season due to injury but played in 34 games for the Chicago Steel in 2009-10 while Alexx Privitera played in the USHL last season with Team USA. Forward John Parker has championship experience capturing the Clark Cup with the Indiana Ice in 2008-09 and defenseman Kevin Albers did the same last year with Green Bay. USHL rookie forward Casey Thrush is an offensive weapon after collecting 117 points (50g, 67a) in 72 games last year playing midget major hockey.
Team USA
Made up of two squads, but counting as one in the standings, the National Team Development Program begins their second full season in the USHL. This season’s Under-18 team has a full year of USHL experience after playing as the Under-17 team in 2009-10. Ron Rolston continues to coach this group as he begins his seventh season with the program. Forward Rocco Grimaldi is a top returning scorer after posting 20 points (11g, 9a) in 32 USHL games. Defenseman Robbie Russo also provides plenty of offense as he put up 20 points (3g, 17a) in 34 games in the League last year. Travis Boyd will be looked upon to add some offense for a team that will play 24 USHL games in 2010-11 in addition to their schedule mixed with collegiate programs and international competition.
The Under-17 team will be coached by Danton Cole who has spent the last three seasons leading the University of Alabama-Huntsville program. Playing 36 USHL games this season, the Under-17 team boasts some of the top 1994 birth year players in the nation, including forwards Miles Koules and Henrik Samuelsson along with defensemen Dakota Mermis and Seth Jones.
Waterloo Black Hawks
A total of five 20-plus goal scorers have advanced to the collegiate ranks, but the team plans to continue the winning tradition of four consecutive seasons of 30-plus wins and playoff appearances. P.K. O’Handley, entering his ninth season behind the Waterloo bench, is the active wins leader among USHL coaches and only one of five in League history to reach 400 victories.
Defenseman Zach Palmquist is a leader on the blueline and a major contributor on offense posting 36 points (9g, 27a) in 53 games in 2009-10. Goaltender C.J. Motte is steady presence in goal after earning 21 victories a season ago. The Black Hawks will count on returning forwards Jamie Hill and Tyler Zepeda as well as veteran defensemen Andrew Panzarella and Blake Thompson. Incoming forward Alex Guptill, a third-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, will bolster the forward lines for the young team.
Youngstown Phantoms
After a baptism into USHL hockey in 2009-10 in which the expansion team won 20 games, the Phantoms look towards their sophomore campaign in the League under Curtis Carr who begins his first full season as head coach of the team.
Forward Adam Berkle, the newly named team captain, is back after tying for the team lead in goals (17) in 2009-10 and was only one of two Phantoms players to appear in all 60 games. Forwards Cody Strang, Stuart Higgins, Jiri Sekac, and Andrew Lamont are experienced USHL forwards who combined for nearly 200 games played in 2009-10. Standing 6-4, 2011 NHL Draft prospect Scott Mayfield is a big presence on defense after appearing in all but one of the 60 games last year and posting 22 points (10g, 12a). The goaltending tandem includes first-year player Matthew O’Connor and Matt Green who played 31 USHL games last year in Lincoln.
Contact Comment@prohockeynews.com Interested in reporting on the USHL? Contact us at Comment@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.