RoughRiders Fall to Lancers in Shootout

The RoughRiders battled the Western conference leader Lancers, losing 4-3 in a shootout.

Austin Ortega (4) sends a shot into former teammate Nolan Zajac (11)

Former RoughRider Nolan Zajac.  Sorry Sioux fans.  He's committed to Denver.

Tanner Pond gets up close and personal with the glass

Ryan McGrath took a lot of beatings on the night

Riley Bourbonnais scored a hat trick. All three goals were scored in the 2nd.

Barnstorming and a Hat Trick

It has been a tumultuous season for the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, even more so on the road. Plagued with injuries, the team found themselves with a 19-18-8 overall record, 6-14-3 on the road, headed into their game last night in Lincoln. After ending the regular season on top last year, it is difficult to stomach being buried in 5th in the league. Yet something lit these guys on fire last night as they took on the 27-14-4 Lincoln Stars at the Ice Box, led by 19 year old forward Davey Middleton, in what can only be called an exhibition of well-executed play.

Gerald Mayhew led the attack with a goal in the 1st period that was answered in the second by Stars forward Markus McCrea. It was Davey Middleton who came out swinging in the third, kicking it off with an early goal. When Stars forward and Grand Forks native Luke Johnson responded in kind, Davey lit it up two more times to complete his hat trick, rounding out his night with an assist to Ryan McGrath on an empty net goal.

Middleton started his season with the Tri-City Storm having an almost silent single goal and single assist record in his 10 games played. Since coming to the RoughRiders, Davey has played 23 games scoring 7 goals and 7 assists. He has been a quiet, but effective force for the RoughRiders to date. He does not have an announced college commitment.