Make no mistake about it, the 1998-99 season was not an easy one for the North Iowa Huskies.

The Huskies struggled on the ice, finishing last in the Central Division with an 18-36-2 record. They struggled at the box office, averaging just 487 fans per game. Then to top it off, it was announced in mid-season that the Huskies would move to Cedar Rapids for the 1999-2000 season, where they would be known as the Roughriders.

Perhaps the choice of names does not fit, as it's been anything but a rough ride on the ice for Cedar Rapids so far. The Roughriders cruised through the preseason, capturing championships at the Buc Bowl and the Hayward Tournament. And although their arena will not be ready until Dec. 31, forcing Cedar Rapids to play the first half of their schedule on the road, the large number of late-season home games should work to their advantage.

Following are team capsules for the seven East Division teams, in order of predicted finish.

1. CEDAR RAPIDS
The name has changed. The city has changed. The coach has changed. The colors have changed.

And the position in the standings will also change.

One year after missing the playoffs in their final season as the North Iowa Huskies, the Roughriders are primed to win the East Division title in their first season in Cedar Rapids.

Well, at least their first half season in Cedar Rapids. The Riders are awaiting the completion of a new arena in Cedar Rapids, but a late construction start means the Huskies won't play a home game until Dec. 31.

The schedule could work one of two ways for the Riders. If the team struggles on the road early, Cedar Rapids could find itself in a deep hole before Christmas. Based on the team's preseason performance, which includes championships at the Buc Bowl and the Hayward Tournament, that's not likely. More likely, the Riders will continue to gel away from home, then win a high percentage of the 26 home games after Christmas.

New coach Mark Carlson should have plenty of talent in his first season at the helm. Leading the way up front for the Riders will be Josh Schlipp and Micah Wouters. Schlipp notched 22 goals and added 10 assists for the Huskies last season, and should receive plenty of time on the first line this year. Wouters scored 28 points (13-15-28) with Dubuque in 1998-99. Tom Stone returns for the Riders after scoring 19 points (11-8-19) last year. Forward Matt Hoppe scored 7 points (2-5-7) with North Iowa last year, but should receive considerably more playing time this season.

Two imports should have an immediate impact for Cedar Rapids. Forward Roman Macoszck from Zvolen, Slovakia, and defenseman Robert Johannesson from Gothenburg, Sweden, have been impressive during the preseason. Other key players joining Johannesson on the blueline are veteran Tim Horst and newcomer Erik Eaton.

Rob Silvia, a 20-year-old from Old Bridge, N.J., and Bryan Smith, an 18-year-old from Madison, Wis., will likely handle the goaltending duties.

If the Riders can survive a brutal early season road schedule, they will put themselves in excellent shape to capture the East Division title.

2. USA UNDER 18
The refrain is starting to sound familiar by now. Because of the nature of the National Team Development Program (NDTP), the Under 18s are generally loaded with many of the country's best 17-year-old players.

While the squad is, as a result, the youngest team in the USHL, there's never a lack of talent. Playing out of Ann Arbor, Mich., the Under 18s have a brutal travel schedule that can take its toll by the end of the season, but they remain one of the league's teams to beat.

The majority of players on the Under 18s change from year to year, with only a handful of players who played on the squad as 16-year-olds the previous season returning. Several players saw limited action with the Under 18s, as they were called up from the NAHL's Under 17 team that the NDTP also maintains.

Two returning regulars are forward Todd Jackson and goaltender Rob Bonk. Jackson posted 20 points (11-9-20) in 53 USHL games last season. The 6'4" Bonk appeared in 11 USHL games, posting a 2.17 goals against average and a 90.2 save percentage.

Forward R.J. Umberger led the Under 17s in scoring last year with 42 points (21-21-42). Jake Fleming (22-16-38) and Cole Bassett (11-20-31) are two more key forwards making the jump from the Under 17s.

Although the travel schedule can take its toll on the Under 18s, they simply have too much talent not to contend for the East Division title.

3. GREEN BAY
Heading into their sixth year of USHL competition, the Gamblers have already built a tradition that makes many teams envious.

Green Bay has won three division titles, two Clark Cups, two Anderson Cups and two national championships in that span of time.

Perhaps that's the real reason they call it Titletown.

Although the Gamblers will be faced with somewhat of a rebuilding season after a strong campaign in 1998-99, they won't fall too far in the standings. With key players back at each position, Green Bay is a contender to repeat as East Division champs.

Up front, Brett Englehardt should lead the Gambler attack. Englehardt posted 30 points (12-18-30) in his first season in Green Bay, and big things are expected from him this year. He'll receive help from Dan Boeser (4-9-13), Dallas Steward (6-8-14) and Christian Olson (5-8-13).

Green Bay features an experienced and explosive defensive corps. Jeff Finger, who has committed to St. Cloud State for the 2000-01 season, returns following a 39 point (11-28-39), 199 penalty minute season. Finger should be one of the league's top defensemen in 1999-2000. Dan Calzada will help to anchor the defense following a year that saw him tally 32 points (7-25-32).

Jason Carey will get the nod in goal. In 12 games last season, Carey tallied an amazing four shutouts while posting a 1.88 goals against and a 92.5 save percentage.

With solid players at every position, the Gamblers will be in the hunt for the East Division title all year. Don't be surprised if Green Bay makes it four division championships in six years.

4. ROCHESTER
With the coaching situation stabilized, the Mustangs can now focus on the on-ice action.

A turbulent summer in the coaching department has seen the Mustangs list three people as head coach since the end of the 1998-99 season. Mike Aikens was released after the season when the Mustangs missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Craig Norwich was named as Aikens' replacement, but a contract dispute led to Norwich leaving the post before he had coached a game.

Enter Todd Huyber. Huyber was a member of the Mustangs' 1987-88 national championship squad and he hopes to lead the Mustangs back to those glory days.

He should have plenty of offensive help in his quest. Forwards Joe Krmpotich, Rheese Carlson and Aaron Gill lead the Mustangs' attack. Krmpotich scored 28 points (13-15-28) in 1998-99, Carlson notched 30 points (12-18-30), and Gill added 30 points (10-20-30).

On the blueline, Rochester native Bryce Lampman will anchor an experienced defensive corps. Lampman scored 11 points (3-8-11) last season, and will log plenty of ice time in 1999-2000. Returners Nate Markus and Jeremy Downs will also see a lot of action for the Mustangs. Joining the three returners is Erik Ste. Marie, acquired in a trade with Green Bay.

With Adam Coole back for a second season, the Mustangs are strong between the pipes. Pressed into the starters role when Marc Ranfranz was traded to Billings in mid-season, Coole posted a 3.41 goals against average and an 89.1 save percentage in 38 games. Look for those numbers to improve this year, as Coole often played better than the stats suggested.

Barring any major injuries, the Mustangs should return to the USHL playoffs after a two-year absence. There's enough firepower up front, defensive experience and solid goaltending for the Mustangs to contend in the East.

5. WATERLOO
With just one winning season since the Black Hawks captured the South Division title in the USHL's first year as a junior league (1979-80), Waterloo is hoping to turn things around in a big way this season.

Judging from the talent on the Hawks' roster, they have a chance to do just that.

The Hawks are coming off a disappointing 16-37-3 season that saw them finish 12th overall in the 13-team league. There are some reasons for optimism in the Cedar Valley, however.

Two of the biggest reasons for optimism come to Waterloo from Bratislava, Slovakia. Forwards Michal Hudec and Michal Ferancik join the Hawks from Slovan Bratislava, and could have the same type of impact that countrymen Peter Sejna and Peter Smrek had last year with Des Moines. Hudec was a key element in Slovakia's bronze medal-winning squad at last season's World Junior Hockey Championships. Hudec's teammates on that squad included Sejna, Smrek and Cedar Rapids' Maczoszek.

Key returners up front include Brian Knaeble (6-21-27), John Grubb (11-8-19) and Luke Fulghum (17-13-30). Joe Zuccaro (3-7-10) joins the Black Hawks after playing 51 games with North Iowa last season.

The Hawks will have an experienced defense with four returners. Mike Salmela (7-14-21), Tom Galvin (4-20-24), Nate Wright (2-3-5) and Joe Dardis (0-0-0) will anchor the blueline for Waterloo.

Darren Gastrock will see the majority of action in goal. Gastrock, who played for Lincoln last season, was acquired in a trade with Sioux Falls after the Stampede selected him in the expansion draft. In 24 games with the Stars, Gastrock posted a 3.08 goals against and a 91.1 save percentage.

For the first time in memory, the Black Hawks will not feature a primarily black road jersey. The new design utilizes red as the primary color, and is similar to the design used by the Canadian national teams.

If everything falls into place for Waterloo, the Hawks could move up several spots in the standings. The talent is certainly in place for the Hawks to have one of their best seasons in recent memory.

6. THUNDER BAY
The Flyers hope that the theory of addition by subtraction works for them this season.

Not that it has anything to do with the play on the ice one year after the Flyers finished second in the Central Division with a 19-30-7 record. Instead, the Flyers hope that the departure of the United League's Thundercats means attendance will increase in the 1999-2000 season.

Going head-to-head against the minor pro team hurt the Flyers at the box office. Thunder Bay averaged just 1,100 fans last season, a far cry from the sellout crowds that filled the 3,100 seat Fort William Gardens in the Flyers' glory days of the late 80s and early 90s.

One year after Sioux City Musketeers' owner Ted Carlson purchased the franchise, the Flyers tapped into the Muskies' coaching staff to find a new coach. Todd Jones becomes Thunder Bay's head coach after a successful tenure as assistant coach in Sioux City.

The Flyers always face a brutal travel schedule, and this year will be no different. Because Thunder Bay is located far from most USHL cities, the Flyers play many three game road weekends to cut down on the amount of travel. As a result, Thunder Bay's road record tends to suffer. Last season, the Flyers were 12-12-3 at home but just 7-18-4 on the road.

Thunder Bay's physical style of play keeps them in many games and makes them a crowd favorite in many USHL cities. With Jones as coach, the Flyers will pull off several upsets this year and could once again sneak higher than expected in the standings.

7. DUBUQUE
Following a season that saw the Fighting Saints make the playoffs as the sixth seed (22-32-2), there would seem to be much reason for optimism in Dubuque.

However, the task that lies ahead for coach Brian Gallagher and the Saints is not an easy one. Dubuque features just seven USHL veterans who combined for a total of 35 goals last season. As a result, the Saints will be in a rebuilding mode this year.

Leading the way up front for Dubuque will be Nick Anderson. The 6'1, 200-pound Anderson scored 30 points (6-24--30) for North Iowa last season, and will likely play on Dubuque's first line this year. Joining Anderson up front are veterans Billy Consalvo (5-9
--14) and Chad Kolar (8-10--18).

Dubuque should be solid on the blueline with four USHL veterans. Ken Scuderi (8-5--13), David Sell (4-5--9) and Jim Scatchell (0-0--0) skated with the Saints last season. Journeyman Jackson Duckworth joins his third USHL team in three seasons after playing with Lincoln and Fargo-Moorhead the past two years.

The Saints will go with three first year goaltenders in Joe Reese, Michael Ayers and Robbie Miller. Miller's imposing 6'4", 205-pound frame makes him one of the USHL's tallest goaltenders.

The Saints will be hard pressed to repeat last year's success with so few players returning. A return trip to the playoffs isn't likely for Dubuque.