Digrande Nets Hat Trick in Lumberjacks Loss

February 15, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release

BLOOMINGTON, Ill - Daniel DiGrande netted his first career hat trick, and Anthony Del Gaizo scored his first career USHL goal, but the Muskegon Lumberjacks fell in a shootout to the Bloomington Thunder 5-4.

Midway through the first period, Anthong Del Gaizo netted his first career United States Hockey League goal with a wrist shot from the high slot. He forced a turnover along the Thunder blue line, and skated the puck to the high slot, before blasting in the milestone goal. Five minutes later, Daniel DiGrande scored his first career USHL goal with a wrist shot from an identical spot as Del Gaizo. Grant Gabriele and Lucas Michaud picked up assists on the DiGrande goal. DiGrande added his second goal of the season, when he fired a shot from the corner that wound up in the back of the net, to give Muskegon a 3-0 lead after one period.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks witnessed their first hat trick of the season. DiGrande completed the feat, after he received a pass from line mate Logan Drevitch, and one-timed the puck into the back of the net. The Thunder would respond, after a redirection by Patrick Curry in front of Lumberjacks goaltender Joey Daccord, found the back of the net, to cut Muskegon's lead to three goals.

Bloomington completed the comeback with three third period goals. Jake Durflinger and Jeremy Davies scored early in the third period to cut the Lumberjacks lead to one. With less than thirty seconds to go in the game, Logan Lambdin tied the game with a one-timer from the slot. The game would eventually go into a shootout, and the Thunder would knock off the Lumberjacks 5-4.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks (16-19-5) will return home next weekend to host the Madison Captiols (17-20-6) for a weekend series. It will be dollar beer and dollar dog night on Friday, and then on Saturday the Lumberjacks will host their annual Jacks Fight Cancer Night. Puck will drop at 7:15 p.m.

United States Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2016

• Force Move into Fourth Place with OT Win over Lancers - Fargo Force
• Fargo Scores Late, Wins in OT 4-3 - Omaha Lancers
• Bloomington Scores 4 Unanswered, Wins in Shootout - Bloomington Thunder
• Digrande Nets Hat Trick in Lumberjacks Loss - Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Fighting Saints to Make New Hires - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• NTDP Announces "Milk and Cereal Bowl" Game - U.S. National Team
• Storm Goaltender Jake Kielly Wins Goaltender of the Week - Tri-City Storm
• Two Steel Players Earn USHL Player of the Week - Chicago Steel
• USHL CCM Players of the Week Named - USHL
• Muskegon Lumberjacks Red Wings Ticket Giveaway - Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Capitols Announce Gazich as Team President - Madison Capitols

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