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USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Croal Scores Twice, Jacks Fall to Youngstown 6-3

April 1, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Cody Croal
Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Cody Croal
(Muskegon Lumberjacks)

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Cody Croal lit the lamp for the first two times in his USHL career, but the Jacks could not find their way to victory as they ultimately fell to the Youngstown Phantoms by a final score of 6-to-3 on Friday, April 1, 2022, from the Covelli Centre. Ben Strinden added the other Muskegon goal, with Jake Richard and Owen Mehlenbacher each netting a pair of assists on the night. With the loss, the Lumberjacks fall to 28-19-3-3 with 62 standings points, remaining in front of the Phantoms for third place in the USHL Eastern Conference standings.

1st Period

Just 2:51 into the opening period, Youngstown's Garrett Wright punched home a rebound on the power play to give the Phantoms the 1-to-0 lead. Wright's 14th of the season was assisted by Shane LaChance and Andrew Centrella.

The Phantoms would double their lead on another power play goal at 4:23 from Adam Ingram to make it a 2-to-0 lead. Ingram's 24th goal of the year was assisted by Justin Varner and Charlie Lurie.

Youngstown would add another at 12:23 of the first period with a goal from Kenta Isogai to increase the Phantom lead to 3-to-0. Isogai's ninth goal of the season was helped by Stiven Sardarian and Quinn Kennedy.

Trey Taylor padded the lead for the Phantoms at 16:59 of the period to make it 4-to-0. Taylor's ninth goal of the season was assisted by Charlie Lurie and Chase Pietila.

The Lumberjacks would finally put up a crooked number on the scoreboard just over a minute later with a lamplighter from Ben Strinden to cut the deficit to 4-to-1. Strinden's 23rd of the season was assisted by Quinn Hutson and Jacob Guevin.

After 20 minutes of action, the Phantoms controlled a 4-to-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

2nd Period

About three minutes into the middle frame, Muskegon's Cody Croal piped home his first career USHL goal to cut the deficit in half to 4-to-2. Croal's first goal of the season was assisted by Owen Mehlenbacher and Jake Richard at 3:02 of the second period.

Twenty-one seconds later, the Phantoms would restore the three-goal lead after Stiven Sardarian fired a puck past Muskegon netminder Chase Clark at 3:23 to make it a 5-to-2 score. Sardarian's seventh goal of the season was assisted by Kenta Isogai and Trey Taylor.

Through 40 minutes of action, Youngstown remained ahead by three goals, entering the final period of regulation up 5-to-2 over Muskegon.

3rd Period

Less than two minutes into the third period, Cody Croal scooped up his second goal of the game to put Muskegon within a pair on the 5-to-3 goal. Croal's second goal of the season was assisted by Jake Richard and Owen Mehlenbacher.

With the Muskegon net empty, the Phantoms would score an empty net, shorthanded goal to regain the three-goal advantage at 19:26 with a goal from Tiernan Shoudy to make it 6-to-3. Shoudy's 10th goal of the season went unassisted.

In the end, Muskegon could not find a way to come back and ultimately fell in game one to the Youngstown Phantoms by a final score of 6-to-3 to kickstart the three-game weekend series.

On Deck

Muskegon will be summoned back to the Covelli Centre for the middle game of their three-game weekend set against the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday, April 2 at 7:05 pm EDT. Sunday's matinee contest will begin the following day April 3 with puck drop slated for 4:05 pm EDT for game three.

Upcoming Theme Nights - Fan Appreciation Night

On Saturday, April 23, the Jacks complete their home-and-home series with the Chicago Steel to close out the 2021-22 regular season on Fan Appreciation Night! The Lumberjacks want to thank the best fans in the USHL and show gratitude for their continued support. Come out and enjoy special deals and giveaways just for loyal followers! Detroit Pistons Hall of Famer Ben Wallace will be in the house! This will be the last time to see Lumberjacks hockey in action before the Clark Cup Playoffs. For more information, call the Muskegon Lumberjacks Business office at (231)-799-7000.

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Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Cody Croal
Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Cody Croal
   



United States Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2022


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