Keeney Flawless in Muskegon's Shutout Win
Published on November 18, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, Mich. - One week after earning his first Lumberjacks win, John Keeney recorded Muskegon's first shutout of the season.
The third-year USHL goaltender stopped 38 shots as the Muskegon Lumberjacks won their third straight game, 2-0 over the Tri-City Storm Friday night at L.C. Walker Arena. The Jacks (7-6-0, 14 points) now boast a winning record for the first time this fall.
Travis Belohrad netted the eventual game winner early in the second period and defenseman Mark Yanis sealed the victory with an empty netter, giving Muskegon its sixth win in its last seven games. Tri-City saw its losing streak extend to eight.
The night belonged to Keeney though, as the California native acquired from Omaha in a trade last month scored his third-career clean sheet and first since Jan. 7. It was the Lumberjacks' first shutout since Mar. 18, a span of 20 games; Paul Berrafato shut down Cedar Rapids 5-0 that night.
His finest stop came against Tri-City's Thomas Nykopp with about 15 seconds to go and Storm goalie Pheonix Copley off the ice for an extra attacker. Keeney stoned Nykopp from 10 feet away and the puck bounced free to Yanis, who skated to center and flung his second of the season into the open cage.
Copley was solid as well for Tri-City (3-11-0), stopping 30 of 31 and keeping Muskegon off the board in seven power play opportunities. But the Storm were powerless themselves on the man advantage, including three in the third period when they were pressing for the tie.
Both goaltenders were flawless in the first period, with Keeney denying 11 Tri-City shots and Copley getting in front of 16 Lumberjacks drives. Muskegon had the game's first three power plays but couldn't punch one through in the opening 20 minutes.
The scoreless deadlock held until the early moments of the second, when Belohrad gunned the rebound of Alex Smith's sharp-angle shot over Copley's right leg at 4:43. Smith chased his own flip into the right corner and appeared to surprise Copley with a wrister from along the goal line that the goalie kicked into the slot.
The Jacks will seek a four-game winning streak for the first time in their brief USHL history Saturday night against Eastern Conference rival Green Bay. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m., with the Meijer Pregame Show beginning at 6:45 on 92.5 FM The Outlaw!
Call the L.C. Walker Arena box office at 231.724.JACK(5225) for Lumberjacks tickets and information, or visit startickets.com or go to your local Meijer.
The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The Lumberjacks' organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports. For more information, visit muskegonlumberjacks.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2011
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- Third Period Surge Leads Bucs Past Lancers 6-4 - Omaha Lancers
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