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Muskegon Lumberjacks

Slovaks Mily and Sloboda Shine as Lumberjacks Claim Marathon Shootout Winner

January 9, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


BENSENVILLE, Illinois (January 9th) - The Muskegon Lumberjacks took to the L.C. Walker Arena ice for the first time of the 2015 calendar year looking to earn two points in the standings for the first time in a handful of games squaring off against the expansion Madison Capitols. Overall, the Lumberjacks overcame three separate deficits that included being down 4-2 through two periods and were able to not only even the game early in the third, but find a way through an undying 13-round shootout to capture the second point and earning a 5-4 victory over the Capitols to improve their home record to 12-4-1 on the season.

As the fans were getting settled into their seats, the Capitols (14-10-5, 33 points) struck first grabbing a 1-0 lead just 23 seconds in as former Lumberjack Haralds Egle found a centering feed in the slot from Will Johnson and buried his ninth of the season under the left pad of Michael Latorella (6-3-0). Alec Vanko also helped on the Egle tally.

A few minutes later at the 4:58 mark, the Lumberjacks (19-9-3, 41 points) found the equalizer tying the game at 1-1 with a four-on-four marker from Adrian Sloboda firing a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle over the glove hand of Garrett Metcalf (6-5-2) for his first career USHL goal.

Tommy Marchin and Joseph Cecconi assisted on the even strength tally.

As the opening frame entered its final stages, the visiting Capitols snagged their one goal lead back at 2-1 with 4:19 left as a shot from the left point by another former Lumberjack in Daniel Willett was redirected in the low slot by Charlie Gerard and past Latorella for his sixth of the year that was also set up by Marco Richter.

Madison held their single shot lead going into the first intermission while outshooting Muskegon through the first 20 minutes of regulation by a 16-7 margin.

Quickly out the gate in the second, Muskegon knotted the game back even at 2-2 by the 31-second mark as newcomer Max Humitz squeezed a centering feed by Matheson Iacopelli through the five-hole of Metcalf for his first as a Lumberjack and fourth overall on the season that was also aided by Trevor Hamilton.

At the 8:14 mark, Madison regained their one goal lead at 3-2 as Guillaume Leclerc found a rebound in front of Latorella in the low slot and wrapped home his eighth of the year around Latorella's right pad that was assisted by Mason Anderson.

Before the middle frame expired, the visitors doubled its lead to 4-2 with 1:03 to go as a Lumberjacks turnover in the neutral zone while on the power play led to an eventual breakaway shorthanded goal from Johnson for his eighth of the season that went unassisted.

The Capitols took their two-goal spread into the second and final intermission while still claiming the shot battle, 31-17.

As the third period was getting settled in, the Lumberjacks attacked offensively slicing the deficit to 4-3 at the 1:09 mark as Juraj Mily jammed home a loose puck to the right of Metcalf inside the post and in for his first career USHL goal that was helped by Sloboda and Hamilton.

Just 1:39 later, Muskegon potted the game-tying goal once again at 4-4 with Marchin finding a free rebound to Metcalf's left and tucking the puck inside the right post for his team-leading 16th of the season that was set up by Christian Wolanin and Mily.

The remainder of regulation saw no go-ahead goal notched as did the five-minute four-on-four overtime session that included the Lumberjacks having a two-minute four-on-three power play opportunity during the final 2:00 of the extra session. Madison outshot Muskegon for the night, 45-35, as the game leaked into a shootout session.

The first three rounds of the skills competition saw all six shooters net a goal courtesy of Jack Rowe, David Keefer, and Christian Wolanin for Muskegon along with Will Johnson, Haralds Egle, and Tyler Nanne for Madison. During the extra sudden death rounds, the next four frames saw no scoring until Mason Anderson and Juraj Mily scored for their respective sides extending the shootout tied at 4-4 through eight rounds.

Rounds nine and ten saw no goals potted, but Alec Vanko and Will Graber recorded tallies for each side to keep the marathon going into a 12th round. Following an empty 12th round, Tommy Muck had his attempt for Madison stopped by Latorella, and Adrian Sloboda provided the heroic moment for the home team blasting a slapper from between the faceoff circles past Metcalf's glove hand to help cap off the comeback victory and claim the shootout by a 6-5 final.

Michael Latorella picked up the home win with a 41-save effort for Muskegon along with stopping 8 of 13 Madison shooters in the shootout. Garrett Metcalf took the overtime loss for Madison after stopping 31 of 35 shots and 7 of 13 Muskegon shooters during the skills competition. The Capitols were led offensively by Will Johnson with a goal plus one assist, while the Lumberjacks' offensive attack was spearheaded by Tommy Marchin (one goal, one assist), Juraj Mily (one goal, one assist), Adrian Sloboda (one goal, one assist), and Trevor Hamilton (two assists) with two points apiece. Muskegon improves to 2-0-1 against Madison this season with three regular season meetings left between the two Eastern Conference foes.

The Lumberjacks and Capitols clash again tomorrow night back at the L.C. Walker Arena at 7:15 pm that features Lumberjack Night. Fans that come to tomorrow's game dressed as a Lumberjack will receive a free ticket to either tomorrow night's game or any remaining home game for the month of January to use at their discretion.

To purchase tickets to any upcoming home game 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 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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United States Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2015


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