Saturday, April 9, 2011

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Win Anderson Cup

Press Release

They had already clinched a share of it, but the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders earned a 2-1 shootout victory on Friday night to claim the Anderson Cup as the USHL team with best overall regular season record. It is the second such title in team history for the RoughRiders.

Sam Warning was a big part of the offense as he scored 10 minutes into the contest for Cedar Rapids. However just 50 seconds later, Warning inadvertently knocked the puck past his own goaltender, giving the Dubuque Fighting Saints a goal. There would be no scoring the rest of the way and through a five-minute overtime. With the RoughRiders up 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth shootout round, Warning was at center stage and got some redemption as he converted his shootout attempt to seal a 2-1 victory and begin the Anderson Cup celebration.

Goaltender Brady Hjelle made 36 saves and then stopped all four Dubuque shootout attempts to win his 40th game of the season. He had already set the USHL single season record for goaltender wins at 37.

With one game remaining on the schedule, the RoughRiders have a 41-12-6 record (88 points) and have locked in the top overall seed, and home ice advantage, throughout the Clark Cup Playoffs. The 41 victories are one shy of tying the team record of 42 they earned during the 2004-05 season when they won their first Anderson Cup title. That season, they shared the award with the Omaha Lancers, but this season the trophy will only be in the hands of the RoughRiders.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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