Game Tonight Lincoln Stars at Chicago Steel
November 25, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Lincoln Stars (8-8-2) at Chicago Steel (13-3-2)
Friday, November 25, 2016 | 7:05 p.m.
Fox Valley Ice Arena | Chicago, Ill.
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Audio: Lincoln Stars Radio | 93.7 The Ticket
Video: HockeyTV | Live Stats: USHL.com
Scouting Lincoln - The Stars (8-8-2) are fifth in the Western Conference and have won three of their last four games after a pair of third-period comebacks. In the last two games, Lincoln has outscored its opponents 5-1 in the third. Mike Gillespie is tied for second in team scoring with 10 points and has four points in his last two games. Josef Korenar leads the team in net with a USHL-leading .941 save percentage and 1.83 GAA.
Scouting Chicago - The Steel (13-3-2) leads the Eastern Conference after beginning the season on a 10-0-0 run. Chicago has lost only three times in regulation due in large part to the depth of its offense which features eight players with 10 or more points. In net, Ales Stezca and Tommy Nappier have near identical numbers - averaging a 1.92 GAA and a .929 save percentage.
Last Game - The Stars used a three-goal third period to top the Tri-City Storm and take two points in the Ice Box. Lincoln outshot the Storm 40-24, but struggled on special teams going 0/3 on the power play and 2/5 on the penalty kill.
Players to Watch
CHI: Jack Badini - After being acquired from Lincoln in the offseason, Badini has already matched his production from last season. The third-year center has 11 points this year and three points in his last two games.
LIN: Mike Gillespie - The third-year forward has four points in his last two games. The Western Michigan commit leads the team in career points with 59 in 97 games.
Future Teammates
-University of North Dakota: LIN Christian Evers, CHI Matt Kiersted
-Harvard University: LIN Henry Bowlby, CHI Jack Badini, CHI Reilly Walsh, CHI Baker Shore
-University of Michigan: LIN Gustaf Westlund, CHI Alec Regula
-University of Maine: LIN Kyle Kawamura, CHI Eduards Tralmaks
Series History - Friday marks the first meeting between the teams this season. Lincoln won the series last year 2-0-0. The teams will meet for the final time this season on March 4 in the Ice Box.
Nielsen Returns - Jake Nielsen will face his former team for the first time since he joined the Stars in the offseason. Nielsen had 11 points in 64 games as a member of the Steel. He played in Chicago for parts of two seasons.
Gillespie Scores - Mike Gillespie scored his first goal in eight games last Saturday against the Des Moines Buccaneers. The Western Michigan commit now has four points in his last two games and is one point shy of tying the team scoring lead. Gillespie leads the team with 59 points in 97 career games.
World Jr. A Challenge - Four Stars were selected to play in the World Jr. A Challenge in Bonnyville, Alberta from Dec. 11-17. Ethen Frank, Alex Green and Cayden Primeau will play for the U.S. Jr. Select Team. Josef Korenar will play for the Czech Republic. Coach Chris Hartsburg was named an assistant for Team USA.
Thanksgiving Weekend - The Stars are playing three games in four days during the week of Thanksgiving. After playing at home on Wednesday night, the team arrived in Chicago on Thursday morning and will return from Muskegon on Sunday morning.
NHL CSS - NHL Central Scouting released its updated "Players to Watch" list for November and included Josef Korenar, Cayden Primeau and Eero Terinen. Primeau was given a B rating as a projected second or third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Korenar and Terî=A4vî=A4inen were given C ratings as projected fourth-seventh rounders.
Jersey Auction - The Stars raised more than $19,000 for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Veterans Organization with a post-game jersey auction on Military Appreciation Night (Nov. 11). Eero Terînen's jersey sold for $1,750.
NHL Connections
-Chayse, Cayden Primeau - Keith Primeau (Father) - Former NHL All-Star
-Justin Richards - Todd Richards (Father) - Asst. Coach with Tampa Bay Lightning
-Christian, Cole Krygier - Todd Krygier (Father) - Former NHLer
-Eero Terînen - Teuvo Tervînen (Brother) - Carolina Hurricanes
-Dominick Mersch - Michael Mersch (Brother) - Los Angeles Kings
Oh Captain, My Captain - Dylan Woolf is team captain for the 2016-2017 season. Mike Gillespie, Jake Nielsen and Christian Evers are alternates.
Scattered Students - The Stars have 19 NCAA committed players: ECAC (4), NCHC (5), WCHA (1), Hockey East (4), Big Ten (4), Atlantic Hockey (1)
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United States Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2016
- Stampede Rally to Top Tri-City in Overtime - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Tri-City Storm Gets Point in 4-3 OT Loss at Sioux Falls - Tri-City Storm
- Gamblers Win - Green Bay Gamblers
- Stars Stopped in Chicago, 5-4 - Lincoln Stars
- Lancers Add Defenseman Galambos - Omaha Lancers
- Tri-City Storm Preview: Storm at Sioux Falls for Final Time this Regular Season - Tri-City Storm
- Game Tonight Lincoln Stars at Chicago Steel - Lincoln Stars
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