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Muskegon Lumberjacks

Demontis and Humitz Tally Markers as Lumberjacks Drop Narrow Home Decision

February 6, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan (February 6th) - The Muskegon Lumberjacks looked to wrap up their second six-game homestand of the 2014-15 regular season with another victory in the win column in their lone game of the weekend matching up against the visiting Youngstown Phantoms. In another close battle between two Eastern Conference foes, the visiting Phantoms used a pair of early power play goals and timely defense to hold off a furious Lumberjacks charge in the third and come away with a 3-2 victory to end Muskegon's homestand with a 4-2-0 record.

Nearly halfway through the first, the Phantoms (20-13-5, 45 points) cracked the scoreboard first at the 9:29 mark to grab a 1-0 lead taking advantage of their first power play opportunity of the night as James Winkler found a loose puck in the left faceoff circle and roofed his eighth of the season under the crossbar and past Eric Schierhorn (17-9-3) that was set up by Connor Yau and Ryan Lomberg.

The one goal spread held the same going into the f irst intermission with the Phantoms slightly outshooting the Lumberjacks by a 12-11 margin. Youngstown was 1-for-1 on the power play, while Muskegon was 0-for-3.

Early in the second, Youngstown went on to double its lead to 2-0 at the 1:56 mark as Winkler found a loose rebound in the blue paint and powered home his second of the night and ninth of the season with four seconds remaining on their second power play chance of the evening. Taylor Best and Yau aided on the man advantage goal.

Under a minute later at the 2:53 mark, the Lumberjacks (24-13-3, 51 points) cut the deficit in half to 2-1 as Robbie DeMontis stuffed home a loose rebound to the left of Colin DeAugustine (10-7-0) for his fourth of the season that was helped by Tommy Marchin and Mitch Eliot.

The same score held pat until the waning moments of the middle frame when the visitors got their two-goal lead back at 3-1 with just under 41 seconds to go as Lomberg centered a feed to an open Kyle Connor on the backdoor and in the right faceoff circle and buried his 15th of the season into the open net.

Youngstown took their two goal lead into the second and final intermission while still outshooting Muskegon by a 28-24 spread.

As the third period steered towards the midway point, the Lumberjacks once again cut the margin to a single shot game at 3-2 with 10:47 left as Mark Petaccio centered a feed from behind the Phantoms' net to an open Max Humitz between the faceoff circles, and the Lake Superior State commit roofed his fourth as a Lumberjack and seventh of the season over the glove hand of DeAugustine. Trevor Hamilton received the secondary helper on the goal.

As regulation neared its end, Muskegon eventually pulled Schierhorn for the extra attacker with under a minute remaining to create a six-on-five opportunity, but the hosts could not find the back of the net to send the game into an overtime session. Shots for the game ended all square at 35-35.

Colin DeAugustine makes 33 saves between the pipes in the road victory for Youngstown, while Eric Schierhorn stopped 32 shots in net during the home setback for Muskegon. James Winkler (two goals), Connor Yau (two assists), and Ryan Lomberg (two assists) each totaled two points to lead the Phantoms' offensive attack. Six different Lumberjacks recorded a point each on the offensive end. Youngstown ended the game 2-for-6 on the power play, while Muskegon finished 0-for-5. The Lumberjacks fall to 2-2-1 against the Phantoms this season with one regular season meeting left in Youngstown, Ohio on Saturday, April 4th.

The Lumberjacks hit the road for the next five games that begins the next weekend on Friday, February 13th in Waterloo, Iowa against the Western Conference's Black Hawks at 8:05 pm followed by a pair of contests in Bloomington, Illinois against the expansion Thunder on Saturday, February 14th at 8:00 pm and Monday, February 16th at 4:00 pm.

Muskegon's next pair of home contests fall on Friday, February 27th and Saturday, February 28th against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 7:15 pm, respectively.

Friday's game features Faith Night with special guests the Jason Eaton Band performing in the Annex before the game at 6:00 pm and immediately following the game. To see the concerts and partake in the Lumberjacks game, bring a group of ten or more and take advantage of our low group ticket prices of $9 for adults and $6 for youth ages 3-12. Additionally, Friday's game signals the return of our $5 Fridays. For only $5, fans can purchase tickets in the Black Sections (103, 108, 113, 118). Saturday's game features Red Wings Night with additional information on the event to be released in the near future.

To purchase tickets to the February 27th and 28th home games and take advantage of our discounted advance game day prices, fans can stop by the L.C. Walker Arena Box Office over the next two weeks during the normal business hours of 10:00 am - 6:00 pm on Monday - Friday or call (231) 724-5225. In addition, fans take advantage of our new Fantastic Five Special and updated Moose Family Four Pack good for any remaining 2014-15 regular season home game.

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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