Shorthanded Riders blanked by Waterloo
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson hates excuses, but facts are facts.
Five RoughRiders who have played in 60 games this season did not dress for Cedar Rapids Friday night in its USHL game against the Waterloo Black Hawks, including four forwards and several of their top scorers.
Their absence undoubtedly contributed to the RoughRiders absorbing their first shutout of the year, 3-0, before 2,648 fans who were hoping for a better result.
"We're missing those guys, but the other guys that were playing had a tremendous opportunity tonight to get out and prove some things," said Carlson. "Did we miss those guys? For sure. But the guys we were playing have to work hard and just didn't get the job done."