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Muskegon Lumberjacks

Tommy Marchin's Hat Trick Carries Lumberjacks to Weekend Sweep

December 6, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan (December 6th) - The Muskegon Lumberjacks took to the L.C. Walker Arena ice surface in game two of their season-long six-game homestand looking to complete the two-game weekend sweep of the USNTDP Under-17 Team. Unlike the previous night, tonight's game featured a close-knit affair as the host Lumberjacks found enough offensive answers during crunch time that included Tommy Marchin's first career USHL hat trick in a 4-2 victory to stretch Muskegon's winning streak overall to three consecutive games while improving to 9-2-0 at home.

The game remained scoreless into the waning moments of the first period when the Lumberjacks (16-6-1, 33 points) used a last-second push to grab the game's first goal while on their first power play of the night as Griffen Molino slid a centering feed to Matej Paulovic in the slot, and the Dallas Stars prospect one-timed his ninth goal of the season past the left pad of Joseph Woll (0-6-0) with a little under four seconds left to make it 1-0 Lumberjacks. Trevor Hamilton also aided on the man advantage tally.

Muskegon outshot the Under-17 Team through the first 20 minutes of regulation by a 14-11 margin as the Under-17's went 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Lumberjacks were a perfect 1-for-1.

Before the midway point of the game, the USNTDP Under-17 Team (7-13-0, 14 points) finally cracked the scoreboard for the weekend tying the game at 1-1 by the 7:54 mark with James Sanchez whipping a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle over the glove of Eric Schierhorn (13-3-1) for his second USHL goal and fourth overall on the season that was helped by Ryan Lindgren.

Later in the middle stanza, the Lumberjacks went back to work on the power play and snagged their second lead of the night at 2-1 with 4:07 to go as Marchin redirected a centering feed in the slot past Woll's left pad for his tenth of the year that was set up by Joseph Cecconi and Paulovic.

Before the second period expired, the Under-17's tallied a power play goal of their own to square the game even at 2-2 with just under 52 seconds left as a point shot by Adam Fox beat Schierhorn on the glove side through traffic for his first USHL goal and second overall on the year that was assisted by Clayton Keller.

The Under-17 squad outshot Muskegon during the second frame by a 15-12 spread that evened the total at 26 aside going into the third.

In the beginning stages of the third period, the home team would go back to work on the power play and strike gold once again as Marchin found a loose puck in the slot and buried his second of the night and 11th of the season with a wrist shot past Woll's glove hand to give the Lumberjacks a 3-2 lead at the 5:44 mark. Paulovic and Hamilton aided on the goal.

The same one goal score held into the final moments of regulation when the Under-17's pulled Woll for the extra attacker with 1:35 to go creating a six-on-five opportunity. Ultimately, the Lumberjacks and Marchin had one more trick up their sleeves as the future Brown Bear intercepted a centering feed between the circles and flew one down the length of the ice and into the back of the net while still in midair to complete the hat trick and raise his goal total to 12 on the season to cap off the home win. Muskegon outshot the Under-17 Team for the game, 39-31.

Eric Schierhorn picks up his 13th victory of the season with 29 saves on the evening, while Joseph Woll takes the road loss stopping 36 of 39 shots. Tommy Marchin's hat trick and Matej Paulovic's goal plus two assists both led Muskegon's offensive push with Trevor Hamilton contributing to the cause with two assists. Marchin becomes the seventh Lumberjack all-time to net a hat trick during USHL play with the last coming from Matheson Iacopelli last season on December 29th at home against the Youngstown Phantoms. Muskegon improves to 3-0-0 against the Under-17's with one regular season meeting left on April 3rd back at the L.C. Walker Arena and 4-2-0 overall against the U.S. National Development Program.

The Lumberjacks continue their six-game homestand next weekend on Friday, December 12th and Saturday, December 13th with a pair of contests against the Western Conference's Sioux Falls Stampede at 7:15 pm, respectively.

Fans can take advantage of our "Rock the Arena" Happy Hour promotion presented by Rock 101.7 FM on Friday. From when the doors open at 6:15 pm until the opening puck drop, any domestic beer, soda, and popcorn will be on sale for only $2.

Saturday's game signals the return of Star Wars Night, where fans can interact with their favorite Star Wars characters and take pictures in the photo booth set up at the Party Deck for only $5. Proceeds from the photo booth to benefit the Muskegon Lumberjacks Charitable Foundation. In addition, fans that come dressed in their favorite Star Wars costume receives a free ticket to any of the remaining December home games. Lastly, fans can enter to win a Star Wars toy.

To purchase tickets to next weekend's pair of home games and take advantage of our discounted advance game day prices, fans can stop by the L.C. Walker Arena Box Office during the normal business hours of 10:00 am - 6:00 pm on Monday - Friday or call (231) 724-5225.

The Lumberjacks are back on the radio waves as Nash Icon 92.5 FM is the team's flagship provider for the 2014-15 season. Tune in as the "Voice of the Lumberjacks" Bryan Fongers delivers the call beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening puck drop. All games can also be listened and watched live online at www.fasthockey.com.

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