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USHL Update - Week Five

October 31, 2012 - United States Hockey League (USHL)

Winning Beginnings ...The Dubuque Fighting Saints and Lincoln Stars have both won their first nine games, the best start to a season in team history for both organizations. The nine victories to begin the season are five short of equaling the best USHL start of 14 wins set by the Rochester Mustangs in 1986. Dubuque (12 GA) and Lincoln (14 GA) have excelled defensively, ranking first and second in the League in goals allowed. The Saints have not given up more than two goals in a game all season.

Puck Stops Here ...Dubuque, Lincoln, and the Waterloo Black Hawks have won a combined 27 games and lost just once. Much of that success can be attributed to goaltending as the top six goaltenders in USHL goals-against-average hail from the three clubs. Arthur Brey (1.20 GAA) of Dubuque currently leads the way and Michael Bitzer (1.33) of Lincoln and Cal Petersen (1.33) of Waterloo are tied for second. This trio combined with the stats of Eamon McAdam (Waterloo), Connor Girard (Dubuque), and Jackson Teichroeb (Lincoln), gives the top six goaltenders a cumulative 26-0-0 record with a 1.41 GAA, .947 SV%, and five total shutouts.

Hot Start ...The Waterloo Black Hawks have posted their best record over the first 10 games of the season in team history (9-1-0). They are excelling offensively as they lead the USHL with 47 goals this season and boast three of the four top scorers in the League. Taylor Cammarata and Justin Kloos are tied for the scoring lead after both posted consecutive multi-point games during weekend victories for the Black Hawks. Cammarata scored a USHL season high six points (2g, 4a) in Sunday's 8-3 win over Youngstown. It was also a USHL career high for the second-year forward.

Multi-Pointer ...He has been held scoreless in three games this season, but the other seven games for Brendan Harms of the Fargo Force have been multi-point efforts. The USHL rookie is tied for third in League scoring with 15 points and leads all players with 13 assists. He has a hand in nearly half of the team's goals this season (31).

Homework ...The Sioux Falls Stampede won two more games on home ice to push their record to 6-0-0 in front of their fans this season. It is the best start at home since the 2010-11 season when they won their first seven games at the Sioux Falls Arena. The team record is 11 straight which was accomplished from the beginning of the 2000-01 season. Goals have been plenty at home as they have scored 28 versus just seven goals in four road contests. Dennis Kravchenko has scored a goal in each of the last four home games. The Stampede wrap up a five-game homestand this coming weekend with a pair of games, but play nine of their next 11 in Sioux Falls.

Out on the Road ...The Chicago Steel hit the road and picked up a pair of wins against Western Conference opponents during the weekend, improving their road record this season to 4-0-1. Christian Heil scored two goals in Friday's 4-2 win against Fargo and added a tally in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Sioux City. He has six goals over his last six games and is second overall in the USHL with eight goals this season. That total matches the eight goals Heil scored in 56 games last season. Goaltender Chris Nell picked up his first USHL victory making 45 saves in Saturday's victory.

New Home ...Two days after dropping their home opener at the brand new Ralston Arena, the Omaha Lancers earned their first-ever win in the new building with a 1-0 victory over Des Moines on Sunday. Alex Lyon stopped all 16 shots he faced for his fifth USHL career shutout and Kenny Gillespie scored the first Omaha Lancers goal in the arena, his second game-winner of the season.

Notes ...Tri-City Storm forward Brian Ward recorded consecutive two-goal games, netting two in Friday's 3-0 victory against Omaha and both goals the next evening in the 5-2 loss to Sioux Falls. He now has three multi-goal games this season...Johan Mattsson recorded his first USHL shutout stopping all 17 shots he faced for the Tri-City Storm in Friday's 3-0 win to spoil the home opener for the Omaha Lancers...The Green Bay Gamblers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over Team USA on Sunday. Brendan Lemieux scored his first USHL goal in the victory and Grigory Dikushin netted the game-winner...Brian Morgan scored a pair of goals for the Indiana Ice in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Lincoln and is now tied with teammate Austin Ortega for third in the USHL with seven goals this season...Ben Foster scored two goals for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, including the game-winner, in the 3-2 win against Green Bay on Saturday. He has four goals over his last four games and seven goals over his last eight games...Evan Allen had a USHL career high three points (2g, 1a), including the game-winning goal, in the 6-4 win over Indiana last Tuesday...Youngstown Phantoms forward Austin Cangelosi scored the 35th goal of his USHL career in Sunday's loss to Waterloo...Dominik Shine has scored a goal in three straight games for the Lincoln Stars.

Looking Ahead ...The Dubuque Fighting Saints (9-0-0) and Muskegon Lumberjacks (8-1-1) battle for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a two-game weekend series. The Lincoln Stars (9-0-0) put their unbeaten record on the line with a visit to the Sioux City Musketeers on Friday, where they are 3-1-0 over their last four visits, and the Stars then welcome the Fargo Force on Saturday for their third meeting of the season. The Youngstown Phantoms visit the Green Bay Gamblers for a pair of weekend games where the Gamblers are 7-1-0 vs. the Phantoms all-time during the regular season.

USHL Transactions:

10/31/12 - Preston Hodge, Dubuque - activated from injured reserve

10/30/12 - Matt Mendelson, Muskegon - added to the roster

10/30/12 - Mike McKee, Lincoln - suspended for three (3) games (Rule 635a - spearing)

10/30/12 - Brandon Carlson, Dubuque - suspended for one (1) game (Rule 634b - slashing) (to be served on 12/1/12)

10/29/12 - James Wade, Muskegon - added to the roster

10/29/12 - Reed Whiteside, Sioux Falls - activated from injured reserve

10/29/12 - Chad McDonald, Muskegon - placed on injured reserve

10/27/12 - Jeff Kubiak, Chicago - suspended for three (3) games (Rule 607a - check from behind)

10/27/12 - Dominic Racobaldo, Fargo - suspended for two (2) games (Rule 613g - fighting under five)

10/27/12 - Tanner Karty, Des Moines - suspended for two (2) games (Rule 607a - check from behind)

10/27/12 - Danny Elser, Des Moines - suspended for one (1) game (Rule 635a - spearing)

10/25/12 - Peter Hand, Indiana - placed on injured reserve

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2012


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