USHL 2000-2001 East Division Preview by Trevor Grimm

It sounds like a familiar refrain by now, but once again, the Green Bay Gamblers are favored in the USHL's East Division. For previews of the six East Division teams, click on the link.

1. GREEN BAY GAMBLERS
Six years after entering the USHL, the Green Bay Gamblers have become accustomed to life at the top. The defending Clark Cup champions won the trophy in 1999-2000 for the second time, to go along with two national championships and two Anderson Cups. In total, Green Bay has six championships in the past six years, a feat topped only by Des Moines' seven titles in the same time period.

The bad news for the rest of the league is that Green Bay once again looks to compete with the league's top teams. Playing in the traditionally weaker East Division, the Gamblers should, as usual, be the division's dominant squad.

The Gamblers again feature a balanced lineup with an assortment of returnees at each position. The key to Green Bay's success might be between the pipes, where Slovenian Jure Penko returns for his second season. Penko is one of two veteran goaltenders in the USHL who posted a goals against under 3.00 last season (2.81), and will see the majority of playing time for the Gamblers.

On the blueline, Dan Calzada leads a list of four USHL veterans. The 6'1", 200-pound offensive-minded defenseman posted 11 goals and 37 points last season. Calzada is joined by returning defensemen Matt Jones (1-4-5) and Ben Lindell (1-2-3). Jesse Baraniuk, who played for the Thunder Bay Flyers last season, was acquired in the Thunder Bay dispersal draft.

Up front, the Gamblers are led by Luke Stauffacher. The 5'8", 150-pound Stauffacher posted 17 goals and 38 points last season and will lead the Gamblers' offense this season. However, he will have plenty of help from veterans Alan Swanson (12-16-28), Ryan Moderson (8-12-20), Max Seel (4-10-14), Brett Hammond (3-5-8), and John Hartman (4-1-5).

ANALYSIS: Critics have long claimed that Green Bay benefits from playing in the weaker part of the USHL. While the divisions have changed annually in recent seasons, the Gamblers always seem to end up in the weaker division. With a relatively balanced schedule this season, divisional alignment should not be a major factor, but it could give Green Bay a boost of momentum in the Anderson Cup race. Still, while the Gamblers are a top tier team, they are a long shot to take home the Anderson Cup. Green Bay will have another solid season and will almost certainly have home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

2. WATERLOO BLACK HAWKS
Winning has never come easy for the Waterloo Black Hawks. Last season's 28-26-4 record gave the Hawks their second winning season since 1980, and if shootout losses are factored in as losses, even 1999-2000 becomes a sub-.500 season.

So why is there again so much optimism in Waterloo? After all, the Hawks often enter the season with high hopes, only to have injuries, scheduling, or some other unforeseen factor go against them.

Once again, the 2000-01 season could go either way. The Black Hawks have the potential to be a USHL power if all goes right, but questions on the blueline could make it another average season in Waterloo.

The Hawks are in good shape at forward, as returnees Luke Fulghum (28-19-47), John Grubb (17-19-36), and Brian Canady (20-13-33) lead the way. The talented trio, all of whom stand shorter than 6', should ensure that offense will not be a problem for Waterloo. If they need any help, however, they will find it from veterans Billy Crumm (3-13-16) and Craig Falite (7-9-16).

A trio of talented rookies will make an immediate impact as well. Cole Baron scored 37 goals and totaled 86 points with the junior B national champion Ventura Mariners last season. Ryan Langenbrunner totaled 20 goals and 57 points in the short high school season with Cloquet (Minn.) High School last year, while Ryan Connelly tallied 17 goals and 36 points with White Bear Lake (Minn.) High School last season.

The situation in goal should once again be secure, despite the departure of Darren Gastrock. Returnee Adam Hanna and newcomer Kyle Nixon will battle for the majority of playing time between the pipes.

While the forward and goaltending situations appear set, the defense is somewhat more uncertain. The only two USHL veterans on the blueline are 6'4", 205-pound Andrew Alberts (2-2-4) and Justin Kahle (2-1-3), who played for Cedar Rapids last season. If the defense develops as it could, Waterloo has the potential to be a formidable team.

ANALYSIS: Once again, the Hawks look solid on paper. Unfortunately for Waterloo, this hasn't always translated into on-ice success. The Hawks will have no trouble scoring goals, but keeping the puck out of their own net might be a problem. The Hawks have enough talent up front to make the race for the East Division title interesting, but the defense will need to develop if the Hawks hope to contend. Still, the Hawks should make a return trip to the USHL playoffs, and could even make some noise once they get there. For a franchise that has struggled for much of the past 20 years, that could be an important next step.

3. CEDAR RAPIDS ROUGHRIDERS
One year ago, the Roughriders entered the season with a new coach, a new city to call home, and a new season ticket base after moving from Mason City to Cedar Rapids.

The one thing they did not have was a new arena. At least, not until after Christmas. While Santa brought the Roughriders one thing they wanted - a completed arena that ended what was certainly the longest road trip in USHL history - he failed to bring enough wins to put Cedar Rapids in the playoffs.

That could change in year two. Cedar Rapids, buoyed by strong season ticket sales and the likelihood of sellouts in virtually all home games, enters the 2000-01 season with high expectations. Oh, and a finished arena as well.

Eleven returnees give the Roughriders reason to believe this season will be significantly better than the last. Leading the way up front are returning forwards Corey Carlson (15-18-33), Gerry Hickey (19-13-32), Dave Carpentier (10-8-18), Mike Patton (11-10-21), and Anthony Selder (3-2-5).

The five returnees will be joined by a trio of players from perennial midget powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary's. Sean Vinz, Tony Gill, and Ryan Mayhew step in with considerably more experience than most USHL rookies, as Shattuck played a tough schedule that included games against each member of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, a junior A league in Manitoba.

The Roughriders tapped another midget powerhouse when they added forward Ted O'Leary from Vail. The Colorado native scored 57 goals and 131 points in 62 games last season in Vail.

Four defensemen return for Cedar Rapids, including Chris Pedota (5-10-15), Derrick Johnson (2-3-5), Chris Snavely (1-4-5), and Brett MacKinnon (9-5-14). Newcomer Judd Welliver spent last season with AWHL power Billings.

In goal, returnee Matt Kelly will be challenged by Rob Miller. The 6'4" Miller spent last season with the North American Hockey League champion Danville Wings.

ANALYSIS: A three-month road trip to start the season cost Cedar Rapids any chance at a playoff berth a year ago. However, the Roughriders posted a 15-13-4 record on home ice once their arena was finally completed. Even more impressive, despite being out of the playoff race by the time the home opener rolled around, the Roughriders drew an average of 3,371 fans, good for fourth in the USHL. With home ice from day one and even larger crowds expected this season, there is plenty of reason for optimism in Cedar Rapids. A trip to the playoffs looks like a good possibility for the Roughriders, and if that happens, the city of Cedar Rapids will only get more hockey-crazy than it already is.

4. CHICAGO STEEL
While the Tri-City Storm have relocated to the USHL's smallest market, the former Fargo-Moorhead franchise has shifted to, by far, the USHL's largest market.

However, those who predict the USHL will fail in Chicago the same way it did in the Twin Cities are overlooking several key facts.

First, Chicago has a tradition of supporting minor league and junior hockey, unlike the Twin Cities. The IHL's Chicago Wolves regularly draw league-leading crowds to their home games, while the Minnesota Moose lasted just two years in St. Paul. The Chicago Freeze have drawn well in the NAHL, and the NHL's Blackhawks draw large crowds regardless of the team's record.

Second, the Steel will not be competing against local high schools as the Vulcans did. The USHL can be a controversial league in Minnesota, as some Minnesotans feel that developing players by moving them up to the USHL does not make up for the loss of the local high school team's star players that comes as a result. Illinois, on the other hand, has long developed players through the midget and junior programs, so the same element of competition is not there.

Third, the Steel have done everything right so far. Their arena, The Edge, is the practice home of the Blackhawks and Wolves, and features top-notch facilities in every way. The sightlines are as good as any in the league, and the building's low ceiling should create a noisy home-ice advantage.

The only thing left to do is create a winning team on the ice. Using a combination of returnees from last year's Ice Sharks and some key rookies, the Steel should be competitive their first year in Chicago.

Gus Groslie will be looked upon to lead the team offensively. Groslie posted 14 goals and 36 points in Fargo-Moorhead last season. Other returning forwards include Cory McLean (8-15-23) and Josh Anderson (1-2-3).

One key newcomer will be 5'4" Topher Scott. The 15-year-old Scott was a scoring machine with the Chicago Young Americans midget squad last season and has looked impressive in preseason. At the other size extreme is 6'7" forward Cody Marks, who joins the Steel from South St. Paul (Minn.) High School.

Chicago's defense will be anchored by a trio of veterans in Ryan Swanson (5-9-14), Nate Wright (3-7-10) and Brett Lebda, who played with the USA Under 18 team last season.

Veteran Kevin Ackley is likely to get the nod in goal, with Mike DiLorenzo seeing the rest of the action.

ANALYSIS: Entering the Chicago market is an exciting opportunity for the USHL, as it places the league in a major media market. The presence of the Steel can only help recruiting in the hockey-rich Chicagoland area. In the short term, the Steel will ice a competitive squad, and could make the playoff race interesting. Realistically, the Steel face an uphill battle to make the playoffs in what should be an extremely competitive league, but if some of the young players develop, it certainly could happen.

5. DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS
The late 1990s were not kind to the Dubuque Fighting Saints. After winning a national title in 1993, the Saints made the playoffs just three times the rest of the decade and have not posted a winning season since 1994-95.

The Saints are unlikely to challenge for any kind of championship this season, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel in Dubuque. The only question is whether that light will soon be shut off.

Rumors persist that the Saints will be headed south to Tulsa following the season. These rumors have never been confirmed, but the future of the team could be a distraction at times this season.

If the Saints continue their tenacious play of the preseason, however, they have a chance to be competitive. Dubuque was the only team to defeat Lincoln in the Buc Bowl, and they did not do it with mirrors. The Saints were physical, fought for loose pucks, and played a solid fundamental game.

Dubuque essentially starts from scratch at forward. After Chad Damerow (7-19-26), and Mike Bry (5-3-8) virtually all of the forwards are rookies. One player to watch is 20-year-old Lubos Taragel, who hails from Bratislava, Slovakia, the hometown of Peter Sejna.

The Saints are in better shape on the blueline, where they are led by a trio of USHL veterans. Nick Larson (2-4-6, 6'4", 200) and Jim Scatchell (0-4-4, 6'0", 200) return from last year's squad and should receive plenty of ice time. They are joined by former Thunder Bay Flyer Kody Mintenko (4-9-13), who was acquired in the Thunder Bay dispersal draft.

Dan Weinreib and Noah Ruden will split the goaltending duties for the Saints. Weinreib is a 20-year-old from Eggertsville, N.Y., while Ruden is a 18-year-old from Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

ANALYSIS: Things have not gone well in Dubuque in recent years, on or off the ice. The team averaged just 733 fans last year and rumors persist that the team's days in Dubuque are numbered. Still, this is a team that has a chance to be competitive. Dubuque is not going to score a plethora of goals, but a tenacious defensive style could give the Saints one of their more competitive squads in recent years. A trip to the playoffs is unlikely, but in a year with so many question marks, it isn't out of the realm of possibility. However, being competitive every night is a more realistic goal for the Saints.

6. ROCHESTER MUSTANGS
After a while, one cannot help but wonder what will happen next to the Rochester Mustangs.

Once one of the USHL's proud franchises, the Mustangs did a gradual slide through the 1990s, and things aren't getting any better.

A revolving coaching door in the last half of the decade has led to an instability that still prevails around the Rochester Recreation Center. Instability is not the only thing that prevails at The Rec, however. Empty seats also prevail. Officially, the Mustangs averaged 2,164 fans per game in the 2,500-seat arena last year, but if those numbers are accurate, Rochester is the only team in the league to have more than half of its fans come disguised as empty seats.

To top everything off, the Mustangs have not made the playoffs since 1996-97. All of this has come at a time when Rochester has produced many stellar goaltenders, including Dean Weasler, Marc Ranfranz, and Adam Coole. Still, the Mustangs have been unable to turn this into success on the ice.

With no heir apparent to those three goaltenders obvious this season, Rochester could be in for a long year on and off the ice.

The Mustangs will be led offensively by veterans Joe Ulweilling (10-10-20 with Sioux Falls), Chase Watson (3-16-19), Tom Erickson (8-4-12), Jay Dardis (4-4-8), and Phillip Larson (2-4-6).

On the blueline, Rochester features two USHL veterans. Mike Salmela tallied 2 goals and 12 points with Waterloo last season, while Gary Meyer joins the Mustangs after a season with the Sioux Falls Stampede. Rookie Tim Conboy led Brainerd (Minn.) High School with 20 goals and 46 points last season and should receive significant ice time in Rochester.

In goal, Latvian Aivars Ziedins, returnee John Daigneau, and Dan Kehler will compete for ice time. The trio will have big shoes to fill, as the departed Adam Coole was one of the league's top goaltenders despite often having little defensive help.

ANALYSIS: The problems in Rochester run deeper than the standings indicate. Community support is at an all-time low, and many are questioning whether the USHL has a future in Rochester. In reality, the Rochester market can probably support even a moderately successful USHL team, but that is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Arena renovations or a new arena would help, but that is not the only issue. The Mustangs have to regain the support of the community, and once that happens, recruiting success and wins are likely to follow. In the meantime, Rochester is likely to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

By Trevor Grimm