Men's Ice Hockey | 3/25/2026 10:00:00 AM
The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders signed Blake Wilichoski of Milton Academy to a tender agreement for the 2026-27 season.
Wilichoski had seven goals and 11 assists as a forward in 24 games this season at Milton Academy, while also playing for the Minutemen Flames AAA. Last season, the 5’11,” 165-pound, Danvers, Mass. native had 44 goals and 28 assists in 31 games at Hillside School.
"Our scouting staff has been following Blake for a few seasons, and we were very impressed with the impact he made for both the Minuteman Flames and the Milton Academy Mustangs this season," said Cedar Rapids Head Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. "Blake is a strong skater that plays with an edge and can impact the game offensively with his shot as well as his passing ability.”
The USHL tender process allows teams to sign up to two 2010 birth-year players in exchange for their first and second-round picks in the 2026 USHL Phase I Draft. As a result of their tender signings this year, the RoughRiders forfeited their first-round and second-round picks in the Phase I USHL Draft. Each tendered player will join their respective team's roster the next season and play at least 55% of the team's regular-season games.
"The RoughRiders organization is excited to welcome Blake and his family to Ridertown USA and The Stable,” said Carlson. “We look forward to helping Blake with his development on and off the ice over the next few seasons."
"It's been my dream to play in the USHL my whole life," said Wilichoski. "Talking to the staff these past few months has given my family and I a great understanding of the organization I will be playing for next season. Seeing all the great players Coach Carlson has produced out of Cedar Rapids in past years, I think it's a no brainer to become a RoughRider! I'm so fired up and honored to join such a great organization!"
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).
Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 90% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).