USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Jacks Aim to Scrape Together Wins on Iowa Roadtrip

Published on February 16, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Pun intended, the Muskegon Lumberjacks aren't at full strength. They aren't shorthanded in the literal, on-ice, penalty-kill sense, but the Jacks are down a man (or four) on this Iowa roadtrip.

When Muskegon faces Cedar Rapids and Des Moines this weekend, they'll have to do it without the services of Michael Graham (IR), Wyatt Bongiovanni (IR), Mikael Hakkarainen (INJ) and Matej Pekar (international play).

Graham has missed almost the entire season, but the other three have combined for 86 points this season in just 85 games. It's fair to say that Muskegon will have to win games in gritty fashion this weekend as they await the return of this stellar trio.

"I told the team that we're going to have to come together and play great team defense," said head coach John LaFontaine. "I liked the effort in Wednesday's win over Central Illinois. Playing responsible defensively and getting some big saves is what we're going to have to do."

And that's what they did in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Flying Aces. They limited Central Illinois to 28 shots on net while firing 47 of their own, and goaltender Keegan Karki allowed just one goal for the second straight game.

Muskegon has now won two straight, and while having only 11 healthy forwards isn't ideal, the Lumberjacks will see two opponents that are out of the playoff picture.

Cedar Rapids is the opponent Friday, and the RoughRiders are the lone Eastern Conference foe that Muskegon hasn't yet faced. Entering the weekend in eighth place in the East at 15-17-7, the Riders have won just three of their last ten games. However, the door is still open for Cedar Rapids because only three teams in the East (USA, Youngstown, Muskegon) have won more than five of their last ten. As a result, the RoughRiders are only three points out of a playoff spot.

Muskegon will hope to take advantage with the man advantage against Cedar Rapids- the RoughRiders have the third-worst penalty kill in the USHL, and Muskegon's power play has converted on 19.9% of their opportunities this season, good for 6th in the league.

Friday's game begins at 8:05pm and will be aired live on 92.5 Nash Icon and HockeyTV.com.

On Saturday, the Jacks conclude a two-game series with Des Moines that began with a win all the way back on October 7th. Muskegon had to come from behind in that 3-2 win, getting a late game-winner from Jachym Kondelik.

Look out for Kondelik again in this one, the towering Czech center notched another assist on Wednesday, and has scored two goals and contributed four assists in eight games since returning from injury.

Playing alongside Emilio Pettersen and Anthony Del Gaizo, Kondelik and the top line was dynamic in Wednesday's win. The trio generated a slew of chances, and Del Gaizo grabbed an assist during the game as well, giving him a USHL-best 48 points this season.

Muskegon's top line will be relied upon heavily, but it was Jagger Joshua, Nolan Sullivan and Bobby Kaiser; Muskegon's third line; that scored the game-winner on Wednesday. Kaiser got the goal by using his strong wrist shot, and Bobby could have more chances to use that shot this weekend.

Like the RoughRiders, the Buccaneers are out of a playoff spot, and sit in 8th place in the West at 15-20-4. The Bucs have lost two in a row, but have played .500 hockey over the last ten games.

Saturday's tilt with Des Moines begins at 8:05pm, and will air on 92.5 and HockeyTV.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2018


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