Gamblers drop pair at home to Lancers
Published on March 21, 2006 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Green Bay Gamblers News Release
The Green Bay Gamblers dropped a pair to the Omaha Lancers at the Resch Center this past weekend. On Friday night the Lancers tallied three first period goals and hung on for a 3-1 win. The following evening, Omaha notched six third period goals to erase a 2-1 deficit to complete the weekend sweep with a 7-2 win.
With the two losses on the weekend, the Gamblers regular season record fell to 28-25-4, which places them in third place in the USHL Eastern Division. The Gamblers have clinched the third spot in the USHL Eastern Division and will play either Cedar Rapids or Des Moines in the opening round of the Clark Cup Playoffs.
On Friday night, Lancers forward Ryan Thang tallied a pair of first period power play goals and goaltender Mike Spillane made 38 saves to lead the Lancers to a 3-1 win over Green Bay. The Gamblers lone offense came on a third period power play goal from Kevin Deeth (5:29). Green Bay goaltender Eddie Neville made 34 saves in the loss.
Heading into Saturday night, the Gamblers were 19-0-0 when leading after two periods of play. Green Bay took a 2-1 lead into the final period, however it was not money in the bank on this night, as the Lancers ripped off six goals in the final period to win going away 7-2.
Green Bay jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead, as Kevin Deeth tallied his 20th of the season (2:53) and Kevin Haczyk notched his fourth of the season (17:11).
The Lancers got on the board midway through the second period (11:08), as Thang tallied his third goal on the weekend.
Thang would be heard from again, as the Notre Dame recruit tallied a pair of third period goals to complete the hat trick (:19 & 11:34).
Along with Thang's pair, forwards Ryan Raven (2:01), Matt Schepke (8:52), Matt Thurber (10:03), and Nick Fanto (18:22) also found the back of the net in the third period.
Neville suffered the loss with a 39 save performance.
The Gamblers, who have lost four straight games, will play their final home game on Tuesday at they welcome the Des Moines Buccaneers to the Resch Center.
GAMBLER NEWS
NEVILLE AND SOMMA HEADED TO THE CCHA
The Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) have announced that goaltender Eddie Neville has committed to Bowling Green State University and forward Sergio Somma will be attending Ohio State University. Neville will arrive at Bowling Green beginning this fall and Somma will begin his Buckeye career in the fall of 2007.
Neville, 20 (5/27/85) came to the Gamblers via a trade with the Omaha Lancers in mid-January. In 20 games with Green Bay, Neville has posted a 12-8-0 record, to accompany a 2.68 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. The Greene, New York native also has three shutouts and two assists during his tenure with the Gamblers.
Somma, 18 (5/13/87) is one of four Gamblers to net 20 goals this season. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native has appeared in all 55 games this season, registering 44 points, which ties him for third on the team in scoring. After a stellar 2004-05 campaign in the Eastern Junior Hockey League with the Capital District Selects the Gamblers selected Somma in the third round of the 2005 USHL Entry Draft.
Neville and Somma become the 11th and 12th players off the 2005-06 Gamblers squad to commit to a NCAA Division I institution. Others include forwards Sean Backman (Yale), Greg Beller (Yale), Kevin Deeth (Notre Dame), Tyler Lehrke (Bemidji State), Brian Roloff (Vermont), Steve Silva (Northeastern) and defensemen Justin Braun, (UMASS-Amherst), Matt Case (Ferris State), Jeremy Dehner (UMASS-Lowell), Eric Gryba (Boston University).
THIRD SEED
Green Bay has locked up the third seed in the USHL Eastern Division for the upcoming Clark Cup Playoffs. The Gamblers will play either Cedar Rapids or Des Moines in the opening round of the playoffs. Regardless of who the Gamblers play, game one of the best of five series will take place on Wednesday, March 29 and game two will be on Friday, March 31. Games three and four, which will be played at the Resch Center are scheduled for Saturday, April 1 and Wednesday, April 5.
COLLEGE LIST
Sean Backman - Yale (ECAC)
Greg Beller - Yale (ECAC)
Justin Braun - UMASS - Amherst (Hockey East)
Matt Case - Ferris State (CCHA)
Kevin Deeth - Notre Dame (CCHA)
Jeremy Dehner - Lowell (Hockey East)
Eric Gryba - Boston University (Hockey East)
Tyler Lehrke - Bemidji State (CHA)
Eddie Neville - Bowling Green (CCHA)
Brian Roloff - Vermont (Hockey East)
Steve Silva - Northeastern (Hockey East)
Sergio Somma - Ohio State (CCHA)
PROMOTIONS/COMMUNITY SERVICE
HOCKEY TALK BACK
Gamblers Hockey Talk Back presented by Miller Lite will not air this Tuesday (3/21) at the Bay City Smokehouse, as the Gamblers will be hosting the Des Moines Buccaneers at the Resch Center on this date. Pending on the playoff schedule Gamblers Hockey Talk Back will return either on March 28 or April 4.
CATCH THE GAMBLERS ON THE WEB
All 60 regular season Green Bay Gambler games can be seen live via the B2 Network. The B2 Network can be accessed by logging onto the Gamblers official web site at www.gamblershockey.com There is a $6.00 per game fee for this service. The next B2 broadcast will be on Tuesday, March 21 as the Gamblers play host to the Des Moines Buccaneers. Game time is 7:05 PM. Thursday and Friday's games verse Sioux Falls (7:05 PM) will also be available on the B2 Network.
GAMBLERS ANNOUNCE BANQUET
The Green Bay Gamblers would like to invite you to join the entire 2006 team, coaches and front office staff at the Gamblers Year-End Banquet on Sunday, March 26. The banquet will be held at the Stadium View and begins at 11:30 AM. Cost of the banquet is $12.00 per person (includes Brunch). To reserve your spot at the banquet contact Jeff Mitchell at (920) 405-1237. Credit cards, checks or cash are all accepted. All reservations for the banquet must be made by Wednesday, March 22. The Stadium View is located on 1963 Holmgren Way.
PLAYOFF TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets to the upcoming Clark Cup Playoffs are now on sale at the Resch Center box office. The Gamblers will host games 3 and 4 on Saturday, April 1, which has been slated as a Labatt Blue Buck Night and Wednesday, April 5. Ticket prices are $15, $13, $11, and $8. To reserve your seats call the Resch Center box office at 494-3401 or toll free at 1-800-895-0071.
GAMBLERS ROUND OUT HOME SCHEDULE
The Gamblers will wrap up their 2005-06 home schedule at the Resch Center on Tuesday, March 21 as they face off against the Des Moines Buccaneers at 7:05 PM. All those in attendance will have the opportunity to take advantage of the 2-fo-1 Bud Select Special. For tickets call the Resch Center box office at 494-3401 or toll free at 1-800-895-0071.
LPH/USHL Players of the Week:
Offensive Player of the Week -
Ryan Thang - Omaha Lancers
Omaha forward Ryan Thang, 18, rang up five goals and one assist in three games last week, including a hat trick in Omaha's 7-2 win over Green Bay on Saturday. The Edina, Minn., native was also a plus-2 for the week. On the season, Thang, a Notre Dame recruit, has 23 goals for 50 points after 55 games, including a league high +35 rating
Defensive Player of the Week -
Aaron Rock - Tri City Storm
Tri-City goaltender Aaron Rock, 18, backstopped the Storm to three wins last week, helping it solidify the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. Two of those triumphs came in a shootout, in which the Wheatland, Ill., native denied all nine shooters. In 47 appearances this season, Rock holds a 23-14-7 mark to compliment a league-leading 2.11 goals against average and a .905 save percentage
GAMES IN THE USHL THIS WEEK (3/21 - 3/27)
TUESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Des Moines vs Green Bay Green Bay vs Sioux Falls Green Bay vs Sioux Falls Cedar Rapids vs Chicago
Indiana vs Chicago Omaha vs Lincoln Chicago vs Cedar Rapids Waterloo vs Des Moines
Sioux Falls vs Cedar Rapids Tri City vs Omaha Indiana vs Sioux City
Waterloo vs Lincoln Indiana vs Sioux City Lincoln vs Tri City
Des Moines vs Waterloo
USHL REPORT
HOBEY BAKER FINALISTS
Five USHL graduates are among the 10 finalists for the 2006 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's top player.
The finalists with USHL ties include: University of Denver junior defenseman Matt Carle (Omaha, 2002-03); Boston College senior forward Chris Collins (Des Moines, 2001-02); University of Nebraska-Omaha senior forward Scott Parse (Tri-City, 2002-03); University of Minnesota junior forward Ryan Potulny (Lincoln, 2001-03); and Colorado College senior forward Marty Sertich (Sioux Falls, 2001-02).
The top three finalists will be announced as the "Hobey Hat Trick" on March 29. The three members of the Hat Trick will be present at Milwaukee's Bradley Center on April 7, when the winner will be announced at 7:30 EST.
Two of the last three Hobey Baker winners skated in the USHL: Sertich in 2005 and Colorado College's Peter Sejna (Des Moines, 1999-2000) in 2003.
FORMER BLACK HAWK NAMED D III PLAYER OF THE YEAR
St. John's goalie Adam Hanna (Waterloo, 1999-2001) added yet another honor to his lengthy resume when the senior won this year's Sid Watson Memorial Award honoring the top player in NCAA Division III hockey.
The award is presented by the American Hockey Coaches Association and is named for the longtime Bowdoin (Maine) coach and athletic director, who died in April of 2004. Hanna finished this season 16-7-3 overall with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. He is also one of two Division III players invited to take part in a skills challenge competition at the Division I Frozen Four April 7 in Milwaukee.
ALUMNI REPORT
WISCONSIN EARNS NUMBER ONE SEED
On Sunday the Wisconsin Badgers learned their fate, as the NCAA announced their field of 16 for the upcoming NCAA Division I hockey tournament. The Badgers with their 4-0 win over Minnesota in the third place game of the WCHA Frozen Five earned the number one seed and will play Bemidji State in the opening game of the Midwest Regional at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. If the Badgers beat the Beavers they will play the winner of Colorado College and Cornell.
The Resch Center will be familiar surroundings for a few members of the Wisconsin Badgers and Colorado College Tigers. Badger team captain Adam Burish, senior A.J. Degenhardt, and sophomores Kyle Klubertanz and Josh Engel, along with Tigers senior Joey Crabb and sophomore Jimmy Kilpatrick all played their junior hockey in Green Bay. Wisconsin assistant coach Mark Osiecki was the Gamblers head coach from 1997-2004 and the Badgers other assistant coach Kevin Patrick was an assistant in Green Bay during the 1997-98 season.
THE RACE IS ON
Sixteen teams have been selected to compete for the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey National Championship. Here is a list of former Gamblers and their teams who will be looking to raise the championship trophy:
Wisconsin - Adam Burish (01-02), A.J. Degenhardt (00-02), Kyle Klubertanz (02-04) and Josh Engel (03-04) and assistant coaches Mark Osiecki (97-04) and Kevin Patrick (97-98).
Colorado College - Joey Crabb (01-02) and Jimmy Kilpatrick (02-04)
Miami of Ohio - Mitch Ganzak (03-04) and Chris Michael (00-02)
Harvard - Mike Taylor (03-04) and Chris Kelley (03-04),
Minnesota - Blake Wheeler (03-04)
North Dakota - Brad Miller (03-04).
ST. NORBERT FALLS IN DIVISION III FINALS
The St. Norbert Green Knights lost to Middlebury College 3-0 in the NCAA Division III Men's Hockey finals on Sunday in Elmira, New York. The Green Knights got to the title game with 5-4 overtime win over Hobart College on Saturday afternoon. In the overtime win, former Gamblers Ryan Petersen (03-05) and Jeff Hazelwood (03-04) each tallied goals.
NHL REPORT
San Jose defenseman Tom Preissing (97-99) has 10 goals and 20 assists in 50 games with the Sharks...Edmonton defenseman Matt Greene (01-02) has appeared in 22 games with the Oilers registering one assist...Edmonton goaltender Ty Conklin (95-97) has appeared in 17 games posting a 7-5-1 record to accompany a 2.85 goals against average and .880 save percentage...Phoenix defenseman Matt Jones (99-01) has two assists in 15 games with the Coyotes.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN TO HOST WISCONSIN AT THE RESCH CENTER
Northern Michigan University will move two of its home hockey games this fall to the Resch Center to host the Wisconsin Badgers. The games will be played on Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7, 7:05 p.m. both nights. All tickets are $22 and will go on sale Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at the Resch Center box office, all Oneida Casino Ticket Star outlets, by phone 902.494.3401 or toll free 800.895.0071 and online at www.ticketstaronline.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2006
- Sioux Falls Drops Riders 5-2 - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Parse among Hobey Baker's Top Ten - Tri-City Storm
- Obermeyer commits to Robert Morris University - Tri-City Storm
- USHL weekly - USHL
- Gamblers drop pair at home to Lancers - Green Bay Gamblers
- Final week to decide playoff fate of Ice and Blackhawks - Indiana Ice
- Stampede close out regular season at home - Sioux Falls Stampede
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
