USHL Update

Published on December 2, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release

Around the League

Waterloo on a Roll

...The Waterloo Black Hawks are riding a season high four-game winning streak and have won their last six games on home ice. During the week, the Black Hawks defeated the League's top team (Omaha Lancers), were victorious against their heated rivals on Thanksgiving (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), and beat the defending champions on Saturday (Indiana Ice). All four of their recent victories have been by a three-goal margin. Goaltender C.J. Motte has made the start in net during all four victories posting a 1.75 GAA and a.945 SV%. Team captain Brock Montpetit had multiple points in all four games (4g, 7a) and has points in five straight. Defenseman Dan Sova has posted multiple points in each of the last three games while recording a plus-eight rating in those three contests. Zach Palmquist equaled a League season high with a plus-five rating in Thursday's win over Cedar Rapids.

Sioux City Shootouts

...With a pair of shootout wins, the Sioux City Musketeers have extended their winning streak to six games, which is the League's longest active streak and second longest this season. Four of the six games during the streak have gone to the shootout. The Musketeers have appeared in five shootouts this season, tying them for the USHL lead with the Sioux Falls Stampede who they met in Thursday's shootout. Forward Stephan Vigier is on a five-game point streak (6g, 2a) and Adam Schmidt has points in four straight (1g, 5a). Ryan Rashid tallied a goal with just 26 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game vs. Tri-City into overtime on Wednesday. Defenseman Danny Wurden converted his shootout attempts in both victories while defenseman Dan Ford leads the USHL with four shootout goals and forward Tommy Olczyk ranks second in the League with three shootout tallies. Matt Skoff made the start in both wins during the week stopping 53 total shots in regulation and 7-of-8 attempts in the shootout.

Four for Fargo

...The Fargo Force opened up a five-game home stand by winning a pair over the Tri-City Storm during the weekend. Fargo is on a four-game winning streak and has won the last four games on home ice. In each of their last five victories, the Force have scored five-or-more goals. Nate Condon scored the winner just 51 seconds into overtime on Friday as the Force have now won all three of their games this season that have gone to overtime. Condon also scored the game-winner the following evening. It was his 10th goal of the season as he has scored eight goals during his current nine-game point streak. Cole Gunner scored two goals in a span of 23 seconds during the second period of Friday's contest extending his point streak to four games. Goaltender Ryan Massa had an impressive USHL debut when he stopped all 22 shots on Saturday to earn his first victory in the 5-0 shutout of Tri-City.

The "O" in Omaha

...Despite having their six-game home winning streak snapped, the Lancers continue to boast the best record in the USHL. Forward Matt White extended his point streak to 16 games after posting consecutive multi-point games. White (2g, 5a) and Erik Haula (3g, 4a) combined for 14 points in Omaha's last two wins, 5-4 vs. Des Moines on Thursday and 5-3 vs. Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The duo also rank first and second overall in the USHL in plus/minus with White at plus-21 and Haula at plus-19. Defenseman C.J. Ludwig tallied a goal in each of the last two games and has scored all three of his goals this season over the past five contests. Seth Ambroz has dished out an assist in five straight games and in addition to scoring Saturday's game-winning goal.

Out on the Road

...The Indiana Ice are currently 2-1-0 on their current seven-game road swing. Waterloo halted Indiana's winning streak at four games on Saturday although defenseman Adam Phillips scored his first USHL goal. Bryon Paulazzo has scored five points (2g, 3a) over his past five games and is tied for the team scoring lead while leading the club with a plus-15 rating. Max Cook is on a four-game point streak and has registered an even-or-better plus/minus in 12 straight games. Only twice in 15 games this season has he finished with a minus rating. Cab Morris has won four straight starts in net for Indiana posting a 1.72 GAA and a.939 SV% over that stretch. He leads all USHL goaltenders with a.930 SV%.

Comeback Stars

...Trailing by two goals late in the third period on Friday, the Lincoln Stars scored two goals over the final three minutes to send the game to overtime vs. the Youngstown Phantoms. Both goals were scored as the Stars pulled the goaltender in favor of the extra attacker, including the tying goal by Ben Lynch with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period. Lincoln completed the comeback when John McCarron scored the deciding shootout goal, the first shootout of the season for the Stars. Brodie Reid scored two goals in the victory, one shorthanded and one on the power play which were his first two goals on special teams this season.

Notes

...Tri-City Storm forward Jaden Schwartz scored two goals, including one power play goal, on Friday. He has six power play goals this season which is second overall in the League to teammate Radoslav Illo who has seven power play tallies...He recorded just two total shots over the weekend, but Youngstown Phantoms forward Nick Czinder made the most of them as he scored a goal on both Friday and Saturday. Four of his last six shots have resulted in goals and he leads the USHL in shooting percentage (.471)...Green Bay Gamblers forward Alex Kubiak has scored all three of his goals this season over the past four games. Two of those goals have been game-winners...Playing in just his second game this season, Chicago Steel forward Ian Young scored his first USHL goal which proved to be the game-winner in Friday's 4-2 over Team USA...Des Moines Buccaneers forward Yassin Cisse scored in consecutive games during the week and has scored a goal in six of his past eight games.

Alumni News

...Andy Taranto was named CCHA Rookie of the Month for November. The University of Alaska freshman ranks first nationally among rookies with 18 points (7g, 11a). He currently is the top scorer during CCHA play with 15 points (6g, 9a) in 10 conference games. Taranto tied for the USHL lead with 34 goals in 2008-09 and was named All-USHL Second Team while leading the Fargo Force to the Clark Cup Finals.

United States Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2009

• Stampede Announce Captains For December & January - Sioux Falls Stampede
• Musketeers Update - Sioux City Musketeers
• U.S. Olympian To Appear At Friday's Lancers Game - Omaha Lancers
• Force take on the Musketeers, look to continue winning streak - Fargo Force
• Phantom Philes: Lessons From A Master - Youngstown Phantoms
• National Team Development Program Weekly Update - U.S. National Team
• USHL Update - USHL
• Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly - Waterloo Black Hawks

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