5 Things: Lemay Scores OT Winner in Return
Published on December 12, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
The Lincoln Stars (12-7-1-1) took down the Fargo Force (7-11-3-1) 3-2 in overtime at the Ice Box on Saturday night. Here are five things that happened:
1.) Watch for Flying Bears
It was Teddy Bear Toss Night in Lincoln, sponsored by 104.1FM KIBZ The Blaze and BMW of Lincoln, marking the return of a game that's always circled on the calendar for fans and players alike. Fans clutched their teddy bears and stuffed animals, waiting for the moment the red light came on to heave their plushy friends onto the ice.
Griffin Jurecki made sure they didn't have to wait too long as the 18-year-old ripped a shot from the left circle past Louden Hogg 4:13 into the game. Carter Schade pinched along the far-side boards, keeping the puck in the offensive zone, allowing Aidan Thompson to poke the puck to Jurecki. The Grosse Ile, MI native notched his fifth goal of the year in the process and his second of the weekend.
The fans did not disappoint, hurling hundreds and hundreds of teddy bears and stuffed animals over the glass. Stars players and staff collected the bears to be donated to local families in need this holiday season (thanks to Community Action of Lancaster and Saunders counties).
2.) Go Shorty
Following a goal from Fargo's Luke Gramer in the second period, the Stars were searching for the lead once again. Teams exchanged chances at even strength, but the play was kept to the perimeter for both sides for the most part.
When Max Scott took a high-sticking minor at 12:25, Lincoln's penalty kill went to work and saw an opportunity to contribute at the other end.
Thompson flew down the left-wing side of the offensive zone, saucing a pass to a streaking Lucas Wahlin, who was poke-checked by Hogg. The puck sputtered of Hogg's left pad and remained in the crease until Andre Gasseau attempted to clear it. His clearing attempt went off of Thompson's skate, off Hogg's stick and barely across the goal line for Thompson's fifth goal of the season.
It was the second shorthanded goal of the season for Thompson, who recorded his sixth consecutive appearance with two points or more. Schade picked up his second helper of the night on the goal.
3.) Jo My Gosh
Tyler Rollwagen tied the game late in the second period for the Force, marking the last goal each team could muster in regulation. In 3-on-3 overtime, the Stars controlled the play and offensive zone possession. Thompson nearly ended it inside the opening 90 seconds, but Gasseau closed his hand on the puck in the crease. Mason Marcellus was awarded a penalty shot following the delay of game infraction but failed to score.
Lincoln kept pushing on the next shift as Jurecki would shake away from a defender along the far side corner in the attacking zone. Wahlin came to his fellow forward's aide, finding the puck along the boards and dishing it to the slot for a trailing Jo Lemay. The 19-year-old Washington Capitals draft pick snapped a shot by the glove-side of Hogg, sending the Ice Box up for grabs.
Lemay, who missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, scored his third goal of the season at 1:59 of overtime. The Stars picked up the extra point, snapping their mini losing streak.
4.) PK FIRE
The Stars took twenty total penalty minutes in Friday night's game, giving Fargo nine power-plays. As mentioned earlier, the PK group generated a shorthanded goal, but they also kept the Force in check for eight successful kills. In the third period, Lincoln took four consecutive minors, giving their opponent a 5-on-3 advantage for over 80 seconds. The home team battled through it, blocking shots and getting massive stops from Kaidan Mbereko.
Through 21 games this season, the Stars have been shorthanded the most in the USHL, putting the opposition on the man-advantage 111 times. Lincoln's penalty killers have extinguished 95 of them, amassing a success rate of 85.6 percent, good for third-best in the USHL behind Omaha and Tri-City. In a game where the officials tried to take control, the Stars stuck to the script and didn't feel sorry for themselves. Lincoln's power play was 0-for-5.
5.) KLUTCH KAIDAN
Speaking of the Stars netminder, Mbereko was fantastic on Friday night. He made saves on numerous odd-man rushes and breakaways, keeping his team in the game early on. Erik Bargholtz had a penalty shot in the third period, but Kaidan kept that out, too. The 18-year-old stopped 26 shots en route to his sixth win of the season.
In his last six appearances, Mbereko has posted 411 saves and a goals-against average of 2.40. He's off to USA Hockey's World Junior Camp in Plymouth, MI, set to take place from December 13th to December 15th. The Aspen, CO native has certainly made his case with this recent resurgence, becoming the Stars MVP over the last few weeks.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2021
- Storm Complete Sweep of Stampede - Tri-City Storm
- Stampede Come up Short on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm Set to Complete Road Trip against Sioux Falls - Tri-City Storm
- Force Fall to Stars in Overtime - Fargo Force
- Force Take Down the Stars 4-2 - Fargo Force
- 5 Things: Lemay Scores OT Winner in Return - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Defeat Stampede in Shootout 3-2 - Tri-City Storm
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