USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Jacks prepare for rematch with Ice, home-and-home set with Phantoms

Published on January 25, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


Muskegon, Mich. - It will be a bang-bang week for the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

After losing a pair of games in Iowa over the weekend, the Jacks have quickly shifted their focus to the Indiana Ice. Muskegon (14-14-6 - 34 points, fourth place in the Eastern Conference) will travel to the Pepsi Coliseum, where the puck will drop between the rivals at 7:05 p.m. (EST) tonight.

It will be the teams' fourth meeting, and the Jacks have taken three of six possible points so far in the seven-game season series. After Indiana spoiled the Jacks' season-opener Saturday, Oct. 2 at the L.C. Walker Arena, the Jacks struck back in a big way at their home barn in a 5-4 shootout stunner Saturday, Oct. 23. The Ice led that contest by three goals, only to see the Jacks roar back and grab both points. The teams' most recent meeting went to Indiana 7-1 on Friday, Jan. 7, and the Ice snuck past the Jacks into third place in the East.

The Ice (20-11-2 - 44 points, third place in the East) has won four of its last five games and 16 of its last 18 since Friday, Nov. 26. They most recently defeated Chicago 8-3 at Edge Ice Arena on Saturday night.

The Jacks will continue a three-game week in Youngstown on Friday night and will complete a home-and-home series with the Phantoms at the L.C. Walker Arena on Saturday. The Jacks evened the fourth of a seven-game season series with Youngstown (13-18-3 - 29 points, sixth in East) in a 6-2 victory in Muskegon on Friday, Jan. 14.

Jacks assistant captain Micki Mihailovich verbally committed to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell on Thursday, just eight days after forward Isaac Kohls committed to Niagara University. Twelve of the 23 members of the Jacks' active roster are committed to playing college hockey at Division-I institutions.

Donnie Baker to perform two shows at Annex Comedy Theater: Comedian Donnie Baker, famous for his calls to the Bob & Tom Show, will be performing two shows Friday, Jan. 28, at the L.C. Walker Arena's Annex Comedy Theater. Tickets for the shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. can be purchased for $20 by calling (231) 726-2400. Baker will stick around for Mullet Night and be part of the show when the Jacks host the Phantoms on Saturday night.

News and notes:

- Point-getters' paradise: Five of the league's top nine point-getters will be on the ice in Indy tonight. Jacks wingers Ryan Misiak (12g, 28a - 40pts) and Matt Berry (15g, 20a - 35 pts) are second and eighth, respectively, in the United States Hockey League. Indiana linemates Blake Coleman (16g-35a - 51pts), Daniil Tarasov (20g, 16a - 36pts) and Brian Ferlin (14g, 21a - 35pts) rank first, seventh and ninth, respectively. - Road woes: The Jacks will be looking to snap a five-game winless streak tonight. After starting the season 5-1-1 in games played at Eastern Conference opponents' barns, the Jacks have dropped their last four such games. - Opening up: After 17 of the Jacks' first 29 games were decided by a single goal, their last five games have been decided by at least three. - School nights rock: The Jacks are 2-0-0 in their only two weeknight games this season. - Ice on fire: The Ice has scored a total of 26 goals (6.3 goals per game) during its four-game winning streak. - One for the scrapbook: Ice defenseman Ryan Obuchowski scored his first USHL goal, and it proved to be the game-winner in Indiana's 8-3 victory over Chicago on Saturday night. - Much ado about doughnuts: Youngstown and Indiana have been shut out twice and once, respectively. Curiously enough the league's two expansion teams - Muskegon and the Dubuque Fighting Saints - are the only two clubs that are yet to be blanked this season.

USHL announces weekly awards: The USHL named Ryan Dzingel of the Lincoln Stars the CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Matt Prapavessis of the Lincoln Stars as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Stephon Williams of the Sioux Falls Stampede as the Reebok USHL Goaltender of the Week.

Dzingel scored seven points (4g, 3a) and posted a plus-six rating as the Stars captured five of a possible six points in the standings during the week. The 18-year-old tallied three points (1g, 2a), including an assist on the overtime winner, in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Sioux City. Dzingel then notched his first USHL career hat trick and dished out an assist for a four-point game in Friday's 8-4 victory against Sioux City.

Prapavessis tallied six points (2g, 4a) and a plus-two rating in three contests for the Stars. He had a hand in all four goals (2g, 2a), including the overtime winner, in Wednesday's 4-3 win against Sioux City. The 19-year-old defenseman then dished out two assists in Friday's victory.

Williams won both his starts for the Stampede and totaled 49 saves. He turned aside 24 shots in the 3-1 win at Fargo on Monday. The goaltender then stopped 25 shots in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Tri-City.

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2011


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.

OurSports Central