Tier 1 Elite Hockey League Standings

As of October 24, 2011, the latest standings for the U18 Tier 1 Elite Hockey League are listed below. The U18 T1EHL is made up of two divisions split into three conferences each, representing the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the northern US border to the southern US border. The Eastern Division consists of the Atlantic, Great Lakes and Mid-East Conferences. The Western Division consists of the Mid-West, Pacific and Rocky Mountain Conferences. Each conference is made up of four teams. Each Division has twelve teams. The U18 T1EHL consists of a total of 24 teams.

The U18 Rocky Mountain RoughRiders compete in the Rocky Mountain Conference of the Western Division of the T1EHL. The other three teams that make up the conference are Russell Stover (Kansas City), the Colorado Rampage and the Colorado Thunderbirds.

Rocky Mountain RoughRiders U18 Video Highlights

The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders U18 team have been fortunate to have Kevin Simpson along with his video expertise over the last three seasons. Kevin has captured highlight after highlight for the team from the days of the Team Rocky Mountain U16 squad through this season's U18 RoughRiders. Every player, coach and parent should be extremely thankful for the time and energy he has put in. This will certainly provide a way to relive all of these moments for years to come.

The clip below includes highlights from October 9, 2011 through October 23, 2011. The opponents are the Colorado Rampage, Dallas Alliance and Russell Stover.

Also, stop by the the RoughRiders U18 youtube page for video clips from this season and last season (2010-2011). The link to the webpage is http://www.youtube.com/user/RoughRidersU18Blog.

Rocky Mountain RoughRiders U18 Video Highlights - October 9, 2011 - October 23, 2011

The youtube link to the clip is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW1sHLgdx9s

RoughRiders U18 top Russell Stover 5-0

Westminster, CO - The U18 Rocky Mountain RoughRiders topped Russell Stover 5-0 earning a split in their weekend series. The RoughRiders fought off four first period penalties and out shot Russell Stover 11-7. After a scoreless first period, the RoughRiders found the back of the net three times out shooting their opponents 17-7 in the second period. The RoughRiders scored twice more in the third period giving them a 5-0 victory in T1EHL play.

The RoughRiders out shot Russell Stover on the day, 39-23. Goalie Jonathan Loeffler stopped all 23 shots he faced.

Official Gamesheet

RoughRiders Scoring Summary
Second Period
1. Goal - Joseph Marchese. Assists - Andrew Bradford and Rudy Junda.
2. Goal (PP) - Rudy Junda. Assists - Evan Ritt and Erik Ouelette.
3. Goal (PP) - John Nitchen. Assist - George Gruber.
Third Period
4. Goal - Robert Salvato. Assists - Rudy Junda and Matt Anders.
5. Goal - Rudy Junda.

Official Gamesheet

U18 RoughRiders Overall Record - 8-4-1.
Tier 1 Elite Hockey League Record - 4-4-0.
CAHA League Record - 1-1-0.
Non-League Games - 4-0-1.

RoughRiders U18 Fall to Unbeaten Russell Stover

Denver, CO - The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders U18 team fell 3-1 at Big Bear Ice Arena on Friday night to unbeaten Russell Stover in Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL) action. The RoughRiders struggled to take shots throughout the game. Russell Stover out shot the RMRR 35-21. In the first period, Russell Stover scored on its first powerplay opportunity followed by a RoughRiders powerplay goal. Russell Stover added a second power play goal in the second period and an empty net goal late in the third period.

The RoughRiders and Russell Stover face off again Sunday morning at the Ice Centre at Promenade in Westminster (RoughRiders home ice).

RoughRiders Scoring Summary
Second Period
1. Goal (PP) - George Gruber. Assists - Erik Ouelette and Evan Ritt.

Official Gamesheet

U18 RoughRiders Overall Record - 7-4-1.
Tier 1 Elite Hockey League Record - 3-4-0.
CAHA League Record - 1-1-0.
Non-League Games - 4-0-1.

U18 RoughRiders Head Coach - Nick Larson

Nick Larson - U18 Head Coach

Nick Larson played 15 years of hockey in Moorhead, Minnesota and continued to develop his hockey skills playing USHL Junior A for the Dubuque Fighting Saints where, as team captain, he was voted the Best Defenseman in 2001.

Larson was recruited and played for four years for the Men’s NCAA Division I University of Denver Pioneers where he was a contributing member for the back to back National Championship teams in 2004 and 2005.  In 2005, he served as the a Captain and was voted as the Most Inspirational Player by his peers.

Larson served as head coach for the Arvada Hockey Association Midget Major AA team where, under his direction, they were State Champions in 2007 and 2009 and Rocky Mountain District Runners Up in 2009.

Most recently, Larson served as the Denver Pioneers Men’s Ice Hockey Color Radio Analyst and the Director of Sports Performance at Total Hockey Academy. Nick’s passion for the game of hockey continues in training and coaching future hockey stars in the state of Colorado. Nick has his Level 4 certification with USA Hockey.  Nick is currently the Director of Sports Performance at Total Hockey Academy in Westminster, CO.

Rocky Mountain RoughRiders U18: Stepping up to the Challenge

The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders U18 team has eleven games under its belt through October 16 and is stepping up to the challenge this young hockey season. With an overall record of 7-3-1, the RoughRiders record consists of games played in two leagues as well as non-league games.

This season marks their first in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL). By joining the league the RoughRiders are now members of the top Tier I (AAA) league in the country. This will provide plenty of exposure for the players throughout the 2011-12 season.  The U18 team will play their T1EHL games in Kansas City, Detroit, St, Louis, Boston, Denver, Los Angeles and Chicago. They will also play league games in Colorado against Russell Stover, the Colorado Rampage and the Colorado Thunderbirds. The games played against the Rampage and Thunderbirds will also count for CAHA League play.

The RoughRiders opened T1EHL play in Kansas City and finished up with a 2-2-0 record. Despite losing a handful of players to various injuries the team battled through and came away with wins over the Madison Capitals and the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals. The RoughRiders split their first two games against the Rampage to bring their league mark to 3-3-0. Russell Stover will travel to Colorado for two T1EHL games on October 21 and 23. The U18’s will close out October with two games against the Thunderbirds on the 28^th and 29^th.

Congratulations to Matt Anders for being called up by the New Mexico Mustangs of the NAHL for the weekend of October 15-16. Matt is an outstanding forward for the RoughRiders. This is great opportunity to show his skills at the next level. Hopefully, this will be this first of several opportunities for our U18 players to play in NAHL or USHL this season.

Also, a big thank you goes out to the coaching staff, Nick Larson, Derek Robinson and Jason Grahame for their hard work preparing the players for this season and for the opportunities they may have at the next level. The coaches devote an incredible amount of time working with the players both on and off the ice. They work hard to help prepare each player to step up to all the challenges they may face this hockey season.