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Cedar Rapids RoughRiders to Host Stanley Cup
Wednesday October 10, 2012
Alec Martinez became the first RoughRiders alum to have his name etched on the Stanley Cup when he helped the Los Angeles Kings win the NHL championship last season. USHL alumni Matt Greene (left) and Trevor Lewis (right) were also on the team. (photo by Getty Images)
Historic trophy makes visit to USHL arena on Saturday
The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders are playing host to the most historic trophy in sports when the Stanley Cup comes to town for a visit on Saturday, October 13th.
The Stanley Cup will be on display prior to the RoughRiders game against the Green Bay Gamblers and throughout the first period. Accompanying the trophy will be former RoughRiders assistant coach Mark Mullen, a scout for the Los Angeles Kings and part of the team’s Stanley Cup championship last season.
Another RoughRiders connection to the Kings’ first-ever Stanley Cup title was defenseman Alec Martinez who became the first RoughRiders alum to have his name etched on the NHL championship trophy. He also became just one of four players to have won both the Stanley Cup and USHL Clark Cup during their careers. Martinez was part of the 2004-05 Clark Cup championship team in Cedar Rapids.
Ironically, a teammate for Martinez with the Kings is Matt Greene who played in the USHL for the Green Bay Gamblers (2001-02), the opponent for Cedar Rapids on Saturday when the Stanley Cup is in town.
Trevor Lewis (Des Moines Buccaneers, 2004-06) was also part of the Kings title run last season and became one of the four USHL alumni to have won both the Stanley Cup and Clark Cup as he helped the Des Moines Buccaneers win the USHL title in 2006. Although he played just nine games during the 2011-12 NHL regular season, Davis Drewiske (Des Moines Buccaneers, 2003-04) had his name engraved on the Cup after receving special consideration by the Kings.
The quartet of Martinez, Greene, Lewis, and Drewiske made it the first time in history that four USHL alumni were teammates on the Stanley Cup winner. They also extended the streak to nine consecutive seasons that at least one former USHL player was on the NHL championship team and brought the total to 20 USHL alumni who have their name etched on the trophy.
USHL players who have won the Stanley Cup
Matt Greene (Green Bay Gamblers, 2001-02) – Los Angeles Kings (2012)
Trevor Lewis (Des Moines Buccaneers, 2004-06)** – Los Angeles Kings (2012)
Alec Martinez (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2004-05)** – Los Angeles Kings (2012)
Davis Drewiske (Des Moines Buccaneers, 2003-04) - Los Angeles Kings (2012)
Steven Kampfer (Sioux City Musketeers, 2004-06) – Boston Bruins (2011)
Adam Burish (Thunder Bay Flyers, 1998-2000) – Chicago Blackhawks (2010)
Patrick Sharp (Green Bay Gamblers, 2001-02– Chicago Blackhawks (2010)
Mark Eaton (Waterloo Black Hawks, 1995-97) – Pittsburgh Penguins (2009)
Ruslan Fedotenko (Sioux City Musketeers, 1998-99) – Pittsburgh Penguins (2009), Tampa Bay Lightning (2004)
Alex Goligoski (Sioux Falls Stampede, 2003-04 and Omaha Lancers, 2002-03) – Pittsburgh Penguins (2009)
Brian Rafalski (Madison Capitols, 1990-91) – Detroit Red Wings (2008), New Jersey Devils (2000, 2003)
Ryan Carter (Green Bay Gamblers, 2002-04) – Anaheim Ducks (2007)
Drew Miller (Omaha Lancers, 2002-03) – Anaheim Ducks (2007)
Joe Motzko (Omaha Lancers, 1998-99) – Anaheim Ducks (2007)
Erik Cole (Des Moines Buccaneers, 1996-97) – Carolina Hurricanes (2006)
Chad LaRose (Sioux Falls Stampede, 1999-2001) – Carolina Hurricanes (2006)
John Grahame (Sioux City Musketeers, 1993-94) – Tampa Bay Lightning (2004)
Shjon Podein (Rochester Mustangs, 1986-87)** – Colorado Avalanche (2001)
Derek Plante (Madison Capitols, 1988-89) – Dallas Stars (1999)
Gary Suter (Dubuque Fighting Saints, 1981-83)** – Calgary Flames (1989)
**won Clark Cup in the USHL
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 11th season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2012-13. With 18 NHL Draft picks on team rosters and over 200 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools this season, the USHL has emerged as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com or visit the League’s social media platforms, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/ushlhockey), twitter (www.twitter.com/ushl), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/ushlinteractive). Fans can also watch USHL action all season long, live or on-demand via FASTHockey (ushl.fasthockey.com).
It’s not just hockey. It’s the USHL.
