CEDAR RAPIDS ROUGHRIDERS:  After the U18s closed out their USHL schedule last weekend in Chicago, the U.S. National Under-17 Team will take the rest of league play for Team USA beginning this weekend with a pair of games against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Cedar Rapids enters the weekend tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference and in the final playoff position.

The U17s and RoughRiders have split each of the previous two series' on the season, one apiece at ImOn Ice and USA Hockey Arena.

Cedar Rapids forward Ryan Walsh has been one of the league's best scorers throughout the season and his 72 points (28g-44a) ranks second among all USHL skaters. Dylan Hryckowian has been nearly as productive as he's put up 61 points (25g-36a) in 54 games and Zaccharya Wisdom has added 28 goals, tied with Walsh for the team lead.

On the blue line, Eric Pohlkamp leads all USHL defensemen in scoring with 46 total points (15g-31a), while Brendan Fitzgerald has added 23 points (2g-21a) in 40 games.

Bruno Bruveris is the lead of the RoughRiders' goaltending tandem as he's seen action in 39 games, producing a 21-12-3-2 record, 2.75 GAA and .891 SV%. Sam Scopa has 20 appearances with a 3.47 goals-against average and .869 SV%.