Warnig to Minnesota

Press Release

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Sam Warning has committed to play hockey at the University of Minnesota following his USHL career.

The native of Chesterfield, Missouri is in his first USHL season after being selected by the RoughRiders in the 14th round of the 2009 USHL Entry Draft. Warning scored a goal on his first shot in the League during the season opener for Cedar Rapids, a 7-4 win at Des Moines. The 17-year-old also scored a goal in his second game of the season, which was a 3-1 victory at Sioux City. He has four points (2g, 2a) in seven games played during the 2009-10 campaign.

"As an organization, the RoughRiders are very happy for Sam and supportive of his decision," said Mark Carlson, RoughRiders Head Coach and General Manager. "We look forward to having him on the team for another season, and are confident that he will be a valuable asset to the Gophers when he joins them in 2011."

Warning also gained some international experience this past summer while playing for the United States Under-18 Select Team that competed at the 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia and finished fourth.

Seven other current USHL players are committed to the University of Minnesota; Ryan Walters (Des Moines Buccaneers), Nate Condon (Fargo Force), Nate Schmidt (Fargo Force), Seth Ambroz (Omaha Lancers), Erik Haula (Omaha Lancers), Justin Holl (Omaha Lancers), and Travis Boyd (Team USA).

The University of Minnesota Gophers are members of the WCHA and currently have 14 former USHL players on their roster; Kevin Wehrs (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Seth Helgeson (Sioux City Musketeers), Patrick White (Tri-City Storm), Taylor Matson (Des Moines Buccaneers), Tony Lucia (Omaha Lancers), Nico Sacchetti (Omaha Lancers), Joe Miller (Sioux City Musketeers), Jacob Cepis (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Nick Larson (Omaha Lancers), Jake Hansen (Sioux Falls Stampede), Josh Birkholz (Fargo Force), Jay Barriball (Sioux Falls Stampede), Alex Kangas (Indiana Ice), and Kent Patterson (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders).

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)