In his first four games with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, East Greenwich’s Derek Deblois is living up to his reputation as a scorer.

Deblois was tied for seventh in scoring in the United States Hockey League with two goals and four assists for six points in four games, heading into this weekend. Deblois was also plus-seven, best in the league.

Cedar Rapids was 4-0 and in first place in the East Division before Saturday night’s home opener against the Chicago Steel.

“We’ve got a great team,” Deblois said Friday afternoon. “Everyone’s clicking.”

Deblois and fellow Rhode Islander Mac Bennett are spending this season in the USHL to get ready to play at the University of Michigan next season.

Deblois, 18, says the USHL is everything he hoped it would be.

“It’s unbelievable, so much faster (than Connecticut prep school hockey at Hotchkiss). The pace of the game is so much better and everyone is bigger and stronger. Everyone’s a good player,” Deblois said.

Seven Cedar Rapids players already are committed to Division I colleges, with more expected to follow. One of Deblois’ linemates, Jeff Costello, is headed to Notre Dame, while the other, Zach Lehrke, is going to Minnesota State University – Mankato.

The game isn’t the only thing that’s different. The USHL lifestyle will never be confused with prep school.

After games in Sioux City and Waterloo, Iowa, last weekend, the RoughRiders headed to Green Bay for a Tuesday night game.

Deblois had a goal and an assist and Bennett notched his first goal of the season in a 5-4 shootout win. Then the team hopped aboard its sleeper bus for the nearly six-hour ride back to Cedar Rapids. Despite the long trip, Deblois was in school bright and early on Wednesday morning.

Deblois is completing his senior year at a public high school not far from the home of his host family. He’s taking math, two English courses, science and government, and is scheduled to finish school in February.

Deblois said he really hasn’t had time to be homesick.

“They keep you pretty busy, but obviously you miss your family and friends,” he said.

His father and grandfather came to Iowa for a weekend, and his mother visited for a week.

Deblois expects to be home for Christmas, which is the only break in the USHL schedule.

Break

Ivy League rules prohibited teams from practicing until Oct. 16, so new Brown coach Brendan Whittet got his first official look at his team on Friday afternoon. “It went great,” Whittet said. “The guys were determined, energetic and passionate. We’re a team that’s extremely hard-working and competitive. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I was pleased with the energy, effort and pride.”

Whittet said his goaltending looks strong and that senior forwards Aaron Volpatti, Jordan Pietrus and Devin Timberlake “are all pretty good players who we’ll look to for offense and leadership.”

Brown will scrimmage Harvard at Meehan Auditorium on Tuesday night at 6. “We’ll see what we have, and what we need to work on,” Whittet said.

Break

Dartmouth alum David Jones of the Colorado Avalanche scored a short-handed goal to help beat the Boston Bruins on Monday. Another former Big Green player, T.J. Gagliardi, is also with the Avalanche. Former Dartmouth assistant Whittet had a hand in recruiting both of them.

“These are the type of players we want (at Brown). Players that want to play in the National Hockey League,” Whittet said.

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After splitting with #7 Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Thursday and Friday night, Tim Army’s Providence College Friars attended Saturday’s Notre Dame-USC football game. “It’s a good team-building event for the kids to see something like that. It will be a lot of fun as well,” Army said last week.

Break

PC is working on trips to Minnesota-Duluth and Alabama-Huntsville next season, Army said. During Christmas break next season, the Friars plan to visit Fredericton, New Brunswick, for two games against last weekend’s opponent, the University of New Brunswick. The following year a trip to Mankato, Minn., is in the works.

Break

Who is the best player in Hockey East? In Army’s opinion, it’s forward Nick Bonino of Boston University –– “I think he’s a great player.”Army’s pick for best defenseman is Lowell’s Maury Edwards –– “He moves the puck so well. He’s terrific.” Army picks Boston College’s Chris Krieder as the best freshman –– “He’ll make a big impact.”

mdivver@projo.com