USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Jacks Win Third Straight, Knock off Steel 5-3

Published on November 9, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


Bensenville, Ill. - The program that were put in place from the time the Muskegon Lumberjacks arrived in camp is starting to pay enormous dividends. The latest example was the Jacks' 5-3 victory over the Chicago Steel at the Edge Ice Arena Tuesday night.

Matt Berry finished with both the Lumberjacks' first hat trick and the club's first four-point performance. He scored the only two goals for either team in the third period. The Jacks (5-4-2, 12 points, fourth place in the Eastern Conference) won their third straight game to overtake the Steel (5-7-1, 11 points) in the East.

"We're really starting to get things rolling here, and we're just hoping to keep adding wins," said Berry, who will sign his National Letter of Intent to attend Michigan State University of Wednesday. He's one of seven Jacks who will be signing letters.

What has Lumberjacks Head Coach Kevin Patrick beaming is the way his club is performing in third periods, which can be traced to the rigorous conditioning program he and Assistant Coach Dave Noel-Bernier have put their players through.

"Our ability to skate in the third period really makes things hard on people," Patrick said. "When we were really skating and putting pucks deep we were able to control the puck down low. Our guys did a great job - for a Tuesday night game on the road - of coming out and really skating."

Berry cracked the 3-3 tie 7:54 into the third period by dangling through a pair of defenders and completing a highlight-quality goal.

"I saw a 1-on-2, but I just faked wide and cut to the middle and both Ds spread out, leaving the middle open for me," Berry said. "So I just went through and backhanded it in."

"Matt Berry has that ability, that high-end skill and the ability to break guys down one-on-one," Patrick said. "He was feeling it tonight. He was definitely flying and making things happen."

About six minutes later, Berry banged home a rebound created by a wraparound attempt by Ryan Misiak to complete the hat trick and give the Jacks a two-goal cushion. Misiak, who's committed to Mercyhurst College, finished with two assists to reclaim the points lead in the USHL at 15 points. Alexx Privitera, who will attend Boston University, had a goal and an assist for his fifth multi-point game of the season. He now has a five-point lead over the closest USHL blueliner.

Joel Vienneau, committed to the University of Minnesota, stopped 29 of 32 shots to pick up his fifth win.

"Joel's closing the door, and we come back to things we talked about early in the year," Patrick said. "When we're skating like we did tonight, we make things real tough for our opponents and give ourselves a great opportunity to be successful."

The Jacks will seek further success when they continue their three-game road swing in Des Moines Friday night. They'll drop the puck with the Buccaneers at 8:05 p.m. (EST). The trip concludes in Dubuque on Saturday against the Fighting Saints, an 8 p.m. puck drop. After the road swing, the Jacks will enjoy their longest homestand of the season. They'll kick off five straight games at the L.C. Walker Arena when they face the Omaha Lancers on Wednesday, Nov. 17. The Education Day game features a special 10:30 a.m. puck drop.

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2010


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