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USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Jacks Fall 6-5 to Chicago in Regular Season Finale

April 23, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


Muskegon Lumberjacks along the bench
Muskegon Lumberjacks along the bench
(Muskegon Lumberjacks)

MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Muskegon Lumberjacks put a bow on their 2021-22 regular season as they ultimately fell to the Chicago Steel on home ice by a final score of 6-to-5 on Saturday, April 23, 2022, from Mercy Health Arena. Landon MacDonald picked up his first career goal for the Jacks, with Phil Tresca and Owen Mehlenbacher each tallying two points in the loss. With the victory over Muskegon, the Chicago Steel officially lock up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, with the Lumberjacks remain cemented in the number three spot. Over the course of 62 regular-season contests, the Lumberjacks post a final record of 33-23-3-3 and 72 points, good for a third-place finish before the 2022 Clark Cup Playoffs.

1st Period

The Lumberjacks started red-hot to begin the game with Landon MacDonald's first career goal 30 seconds into the game to make it an early 1-to-0 lead. MacDonald's first goal of the season went unassisted.

Muskegon made it 2-to-0 1:14 into the game from Phil Tresca on the second shot on net of the night. Tresca's 28th goal of the season also went unassisted.

At 3:55, Chicago's Sam Lipkin put the Steel on the board to make it 2-to-1. Lipkin's 35th goal of the year was assisted by Lukas Gustafsson and Jayden Perron.

On Muskegon's third shot on goal of the game, Jake Braccini broke through to make it 3-to-1 with a lamplighter at 4:47 of the period. Braccini's 26th of the year was assisted by Phil Tresca.

The Steel would cut it back to a one-goal game at 8:25 with a goal from Jack Harvey to make it 3-to-2. Harvey's 26th of the year was helped by Luca Fantilli.

Owen Mehlenbacher restored the Muskegon two-goal advantage with a goal at 16:22. Mehlenbacher's 17th goal of the year also went unassisted to put Muskegon up 4-to-2.

Chicago would inch closer with a late goal at 18:58 from Zam Plante to make it a 4-to-3 game still in favor of the Lumberjacks. Plante's 10th goal of the season was assisted by Dylan Robbins and Anthony Dowd.

After a seven-goal first period, the Lumberjacks controlled a 4-to-3 lead heading into the first intermission.

2nd Period

It was all Chicago in the second period as Jackson Blake tied the game 4-to-4 1:39 into the period. Blake's 27th goal of the season was helped by Joe Miller and Jack Harvey.

Chicago would get their first lead of the night courtesy of Jayden Perron at 9:36 of the second period to make it 5-to-4. Perron's 17th goal of the year went unassisted.

With less than a minute left in the middle period, the Steel doubled their lead to 6-to-4 with Sam Lipkin's second of the game at 19:24 of the period. Lipkin's 36th goal of the season was assisted by Luca Fantilli.

Through 40 minutes in Muskegon, the Steel jumped out to a 6-to-4 lead heading into the dressing room.

3rd Period

The only tally in the third period came from Muskegon's Ethan Whitcomb to make it a 6-to-5 contest at 13:15 of regulation. Whitcomb's eighth goal of the season was assisted by Nathan McBrayer and Owen Mehlenbacher.

With the goalie pulled, the Lumberjacks could not find the game-tying goal and ultimately fell to the Chicago Steel by a final score of 6-to-5.

On Deck

The Muskegon Lumberjacks will start their run for the Clark Cup on with Game 1 of the 2022 Clark Cup Playoffs on Monday, April 25 as the Jacks host the first round of the postseason. The first round is a best-of-three series, with all games being played in Muskegon. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 pm EDT from Mercy Health Arena with Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, and Wednesday, April 27, respectively.

2022 Clark Cup Playoffs

The Muskegon Lumberjacks will host the first round of the playoffs in a best-of-three series on Monday, April 25 through Wednesday, April 27, if necessary. The first-round opponent has yet to be decided, but playoff tickets are on sale NOW! Go to www.muskegonlumberjacks.com/playoffs2022 to purchase playoff tickets!

Camp Dates Announced

The Muskegon Lumberjacks have announced their 2022 Camp Dates for the upcoming season. Registration is now open for the Prospect 07-08 Camp, which runs from May 27-29, 2022 at Mercy Health Arena in downtown Muskegon. Goalie camp is scheduled for June 4-5, 2022, at the Lakeshore Sports Centre. Main Camp, which includes free agents and prospects, will run June 9-11, with Final Main Camp on June 12-15, both at Mercy Health Arena. For more information, visit muskegonlumberjacks.com/camps2022.

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Muskegon Lumberjacks along the bench
Muskegon Lumberjacks along the bench
   



United States Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2022


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