Riders' Holland celebrates first USHL goal

CEDAR RAPIDS - Michael Holland couldn't remember the previous time he had scored a goal that counted.

“Probably not since prep school,” the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman said. “I mean, I've scored in summer hockey and stuff. But nothing in a game that really matters.”

That made what he did last Saturday night in a 3-2 win over Waterloo extra, extra special. Holland alertly and aggressively jumped into the play, took a nice feed from teammate Anders Schultz and buried one from between the top of the circles through the pads of Waterloo goalie Eamon McAdam.

It was the Atkinson, N.H., resident's first United States Hockey League goal in 57 regular-season games over two years. That doesn't include eight goal-less playoff games last spring for the RoughRiders.

Very nice.

“In prep school, I scored quite a few,” Holland said. “I was always kind of an offensive guy.”

But the 19-year-old has been the stereotypical defensive defenseman since entering junior hockey. At a solid 6-foot-1 and 197 pounds, he has the size and strength to battle guys in front of his own net and in the corners of his own zone.

Holland played 22 games last season for the USHL's Chicago Steel, recording one assist, before being picked up at the trade deadline by Cedar Rapids. He had three assists and was a plus-six in 21 games for the Riders and has two points in 14 games this season.

But his game isn't really about points.

“He is improving,” said RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson. “He is a real character guy. He's a team-first guy.”

And apparently a popular guy in the Riders locker room. Sitting with his fellow rearguards, awaiting the arrival of Carlson to watch video following Wednesday's practice, Holland was summoned for a brief interview.

“Who do you want?” one of his teammates said to a reporter. “Holland? Really? Don't you mean (Preston) Hodge?”

They only kid you if they like you. Then again, everyone likes a goal scorer.

Rider ramblings

- The RoughRiders will likely continue to dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards for their three games this weekend: Friday night against Dubuque, Saturday at Dubuque and Sunday at home against Team USA. Those have been the lone healthy skaters for the club, which has had a plethora of early season injuries.

Forward Ryan McGrath and defenseman Chris Dienes are on injured reserve with broken wrists, forward Davey Middleton has a broken hand and forwards Jared Linnell and Thomas Forgione are out with undisclosed ailments.

- Omaha surprisingly fired head coach/general manager Bliss Littler on Wednesday. Littler was in his third season with the Lancers after a stint with Tri-City. Omaha was 9-8-2, just five points behind first-place Lincoln in the USHL's Western Conference.