January 8, 2008
Doug Jones is an assistant captain for Cedar Rapids and was recently named a 2008 USHL All-Star.
In 2007-08, the USHL will give you, the fans, the opportunity to ask questions directly to USHL players. Submit your questions to the league and the chosen player will answer them. This installment, we chat with Cedar Rapids forward Doug Jones.
Nick - Iowa
Hey Doug. I'm a big Rider fan and I was wondering, when you and the team are done with practice, do you guys all hang out, you know kind of a team bonding type thing?
Nick, we do try to spend as much time together as possible. The entire team doesn't get together every day but you are almost always with at least one of your teammates.
Melissa - Iowa
Hi Doug. It seems like you practice non-stop and then are playing almost every weekend. I was just wondering what you do in your spare time?
Melissa, when we do have spare time, we try to catch up on our rest. For the high school guys, they might try to catch up on their homework. I am almost always with one of my teammates seeing a movie, going out to eat, or just relaxing at one of our houses.
Scott - Michigan
I was wondering if you have scored more goals on your forehand or backhand? I remember one of your one-time backhand goals, it was sick! Good luck the rest of the year.
Scott, thank you for the compliment on my backhand goal. I think half of my goals last year were on the backhand but I have scored more goals on my forehand throughout my lifetime.
Terry - Iowa
What was the driving force in your decision to play hockey and what facilities were available in Marietta Ga. for you to hone your skills? Keep up the great work; we think you guys are the greatest. Go Riders!!!
Hockey was in my family, so I tried it as a young kid and loved it ever since. I'm pretty sure there are less than ten ice hockey rinks in the state of Georgia, but I played at a couple of rinks. The Marietta Ice Center and The Cooler provided the ice for my travel teams' practices and games.
Bobby - Massachusetts
If you had the choice to play pro hockey for any NHL team, who would you play for and why?
If I was given a choice to play for any NHL team, I would have to pick the Atlanta Thrashers because I have lived in Atlanta for the last 14 years and watched that team turn into a playoff contender. However, I would be extremely excited to have the opportunity to play for any team in the NHL.
Mark - Iowa
I'm new to the Cedar Rapids area and came out to a few games last year and immediately got hooked on RoughRiders hockey. What is it like playing in front of a packed house at "The Stable?"
It's an awesome experience. The Cedar Rapids fans are very supportive and they really know how to get loud. There is nothing better than saluting the crowd after a win on a Friday or Saturday night.
Ashley - Iowa
Why is the Waterloo Arena so tough for you guys to win in when you can beat them easily at home?
Ashley, I would have to say that there is a bit of a home ice advantage for both Waterloo and Cedar Rapids because both cities have such supportive fans. It is such an awesome rivalry and in my time in Cedar Rapids every game with Waterloo has been an exciting, challenging one, whether at home or in Waterloo.
Jason - Quebec
Congratulations to a fine start in the USHL this year. Growing up through the hockey ranks, you must have come to the realization that at anytime you may be released or traded in the USHL. How do you deal with this reality, and does it affect the way you play at times? Good luck the rest of the way.
Thank you Jason. The possibility of being traded or released is very real as we see transactions being made on our team and others. It brings a little bit of a professional aspect to our league and it makes it that much more competitive. Just like the guys in the NHL are competing for spots and trying to make a living, players in the USHL are competing for their roster spots on a daily basis.
Cindy - Iowa
We love watching you play in Cedar Rapids! I have a ten-year-old who is playing on the travel team this year. I was wondering if you had any advice for me as a mom on what I can do to make things easier for him as he grows up playing hockey. Thanks!
Cindy, be supportive and give him every opportunity that is possible for your family. I am also a believer of young kids playing other sports. I think it helps kids develop athletically and does not cause them to be burnt out by one sport at a young age.
Dave - Georgia
What advice would you give to young players (14-16 years old) who are looking to play college hockey someday?
Work as hard as you can athletically and academically. Do something to make yourself better everyday and get good grades so when the opportunity to play college hockey does arrive, college coaches can consider you a legitimate candidate for their hockey program and their school.
Charles - Florida
I currently play hockey down in Florida for the Ellington Eels and I was wondering how you made it to the USHL being from a southern state like I am?
I played midget hockey in Atlanta until I was sixteen and then I left for a prep school in Connecticut called Taft. A lot of kids from Georgia and Florida are taking the prep school route these days. From Taft, my coach there and some of the colleges I was talking to helped me narrow down my options and eventually pick Cedar Rapids.
Chad - Michigan
I see that you verbally committed to Dartmouth. What other Division I schools showed interest in you? Thanks and best of luck at Dartmouth.
Thank you Chad. Some other schools that showed interest in me were Notre Dame, St. Lawrence, Cornell, Colorado College, Quinnipiac, and Western Michigan.
Jennifer - Iowa
How does it feel to be "The Man" in Cedar Rapids?
Well Jennifer I wouldn't exactly say I'm the man in Cedar Rapids, but our team does get great fan support and it is a fun experience that I will never forget.
Paul - Illinois
How often do you tape your stick?
Paul, I probably tape my stick every other day during the week for practice but my teammate, Paul Phillips, tapes my stick in between every period during games because it is a little ritual that we have started.
Drew - Georgia
As my favorite player in the USHL, I would like to know a little more about your background. Growing up in Atlanta I was a little curious about the hockey there and who were some of your favorite teammates? Thanks Doug.
Drew I am honored to be your favorite player in the USHL. I played for the Atlanta Flames, Atlanta Knights, and Atlanta Fire from age six to sixteen. A couple of my favorite teammates were Drew Klipp and Andrew Wiese.
Alex - Wisconsin
Hey Doug. I was just wondering who your favorite person to play hockey with is? Good luck this season.
Thank you Alex. I can't say that I have one person who is my favorite to play hockey with. I have enjoyed playing hockey with a lot of people throughout my lifetime and I enjoy playing with my team here in Cedar Rapids.
Kevin - Connecticut
What are the significant differences between Taft, a New England Prep School, and the USHL?
The biggest difference is the length of the season. At Taft, I played about 25 games per season versus around eighty games here including preseason and playoffs.
Tiffany - Iowa
How do you like playing for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders?
Tiffany, playing for the Roughriders is an awesome experience. Some RoughRider alumni have told me they miss living in Cedar Rapids and playing for the RoughRiders and I know I will miss it too when I move on to college.
Paul - Iowa
Every year, the RoughRiders are at the top of the East Division. I don't think this is an accident. I've always wondered what Coach Carlson's methods are. Is he a very strict coach, demanding a lot from the players, or is he a relaxed coach? Give me a sense of how his methods relate to the team's success every year. Good luck with rest of the season Doug. It's sure nice having you here.
Paul, it is definitely not an accident that the RoughRiders are at the top of the East Division every year. Coach Carlson finds a good balance between being strict with his players and letting them have fun. He does demand a lot from us and he has an unbelievable desire to win. He expects that same desire from his players.
Dave - Iowa
How have you liked playing against the Omaha Lancers so far this season and are you looking forward to coming to the Mid-America Center?
In my season and a half in the league, Omaha has had two very talented, hard-working teams. It is always a fun, challenging game with the Lancers and I do look forward to our next trip to the Mid-America Center.
Kathy - Iowa
Education is obviously important to you. Do you have any advice for younger players on how to balance their hockey dreams with academic achievement?
Sometimes it can be tough to balance hockey and schoolwork but it is worth it when you have the opportunity to play college hockey. My advice would be do everything possible to miss the least amount of school and use time off to do make up work or do some extra studying.
Ryan - Iowa
Being form Waterloo, we all know about the heated rivalry between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. But not counting any of the current RoughRiders players, who in the USHL would you have playing on your starting line?
Ryan to be honest that is a very difficult question to answer. With the amount of talent and high level of competition in this league, I really don't think I could narrow it down to a starting line up.
Sarah - Iowa
What is your favorite arena to play in besides Cedar Rapids? What is the toughest arena you have played at?
My favorite arena to play in besides Cedar Rapids is Lincoln's arena because they have an awesome pre-game light show and the fans always get loud. The toughest arena I have played at is Waterloo's Young Arena because the low ceiling keeps the noise in and those fans are always ready for a game against Cedar Rapids.
Jamie - Iowa
What are your thoughts on the Hawks/Riders rivalry?
Jamie, the Blackhawks/RoughRiders rivalry is one of my favorite aspects of this league. Each year both sides would obviously like to end up the winners of the Corridor Cup and every game is very exciting. I have spoken with both RoughRider and Blackhawk alumnus who say those games are something they will always miss.
Matt - Iowa
What's up Doug? I am a huge RoughRiders fan. You guys are having an awesome season. My question is how hard is it to play in the USHL? I mean this year you had those three games in three days, in three different cities. How grueling was that on your body to play that kind of a schedule? Thanks.
Matt, playing three games in three different cities does take a toll on your body. It is grueling but there is nothing any of us would rather be doing. The schedule is part of the reason why this league is so successful at preparing players for the next level.
Lisa - Connecticut
Doug, first off congratulations on your commitment to Dartmouth! You are a very talented player, a true leader, and an excellent student, so you will be terrific there!
We enjoyed watching you play spectacular hockey at Taft and now in the USHL. It seems to be a common trend these days that more players each year from prep hockey are heading to juniors for a year or two before college. What do you think are the biggest advantages of playing junior hockey, and specifically in the USHL, after playing prep hockey? Also, what have been the difference makers in your USHL rookie season last year and this year, now that you are a veteran?
Thank you Lisa. Playing a year or two of junior hockey before college has never been a bad choice. I always hear about the difference between players who play juniors versus players who go right to college from prep school. Playing juniors, especially in the USHL, allows players to grow physically and mentally. The biggest difference makers between my rookie season and my second season are experience, confidence, and work ethic. I am much more confident this year and I had a much better idea of which aspects of my game I needed to improve for this year.
Jennifer - Georgia
What has been your favorite memory in the league so far?
Jennifer, it is pretty hard to narrow it down to one memory but I can say some of my favorite experiences have been just spending time with and talking to my teammates, whether it be in the locker room, on the bus, or in the hotel on an away trip.
Craig - Georgia
Dougie, first off all of us here in Atlanta are very proud off you. Congratulations on Dartmouth. You worked your tail off to get to a great school. Two part question. What can we do here in Atlanta to turn out more kids like you and direct them to the USHL? Do you think a USHL team could operate out of Atlanta? Best of luck.
Thank you very much Craig. Considering what has been available and the popularity of hockey in the Atlanta area, I'd say the hockey programs in Atlanta have done a pretty good job of helping kids move on to the next level, whether it be prep school, juniors, or college. As of right now, I don't think a USHL team could operate out of Atlanta due to the distance teams would have to travel. However, if hockey keeps growing the way it has been in Atlanta, I think a high level junior team will be a possibility and higher numbers of kids will move on to the USHL.
Previous Chats
Blake Kessel - Waterloo
Alex Hudson - Tri-City
