Lancers Earn Split In Rivalry-Filled Weekend At Home
November 4, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
RALSTON, NE - Despite a hard-fought effort that saw the home team battle back from down a goal late in the second period, the Omaha Lancers were defeated at Ralston Arena for the first time this season on Friday when the Sioux City Musketeers got a late-third period power-play goal from Brandon Hawkins and topped Omaha 3-2 for their seventh consecutive win and eight straight head-to-head victory over Omaha, dating back to last season. On Saturday, the Lancers rebounded with a 4-1 win over the Lincoln Stars in the first of eight meetings between the two rivals this year. At 10-2-1, the Lancers remain alone atop the USHL's Western Conference standings and all three members of the Lancers' top line remain among the league's statistical elite. On the heels of a three-point weekend (1G, 2A), future Nebraska-Omaha Maverick Jake Randolph (6G, 20A - 26 PTS) continues to lead the Lancers and the USHL in scoring, assists, power-play assists (7) and shorthanded assists (2) and is tied for the league-lead in plus/minus with his centerman, Tyler Vesel, at +16. Vesel (12G, 6A - 18 PTS), also bound for UNO following his junior hockey career, netted three combined tallies in Omaha's 1-1 weekend to claim the USHL lead in goals and slot into third place league-wide in scoring. Vesel's and Randolph's right-winger Gage Hough (7G, 12A - 19 PTS) now ranks second in the USHL in scoring, third in plus/minus (+15), is tied for third in power-play goals (4) and ranks fifth in shots with 45. This weekend, the Lancers hit the road for a pair of games vs. their in-state rivals. On Friday, it's the first trip of the year to the Vaiero Event Center in Kearney to take on the Tri-City Storm (4-6-2, 10 pts., fifth in Western Conference) at 7:30 pm. Then on Saturday, it's the first road game of the year vs. Lincoln (2-5-4, 8 pts., seventh in Western Conference) at 7:05 pm at the Lincoln Icebox.
LANCERS NOTES:
OMAHA LANCERS (10-2-1), 21 pts., 1st in Western Conference, W1
- Lancers G Cole Bruns (9GP, 6-2-1, 5 SO, 1.78 GAA, .935 S%) leads the USHL in shutouts and ranks in the league's top five in appearances (tied for fourth), wins (tied for third), goals-against average (third) and save percentage (third).
- Omaha's top line of F Jake Randolph (6G, 20A - 26 PTS), F Tyler Vesel (12G, 6A - 18 PTS) and F Gage Hough (7G, 12A - 19 PTS) is comprised of the USHL's three leading scorers.
- Randolph currently leads the USHL in points (26), assists (20), power-play assists (7), shorthanded assists (2) and the Duluth, Minnesota native is currently tied for the league-lead in plus/minus (+16).
- Vesel leads the USHL in goals (12) and shorthanded goals (2), ranks third in points (18), is tied for second in game-winning goals (2) and is tied for the USHL-lead in plus/minus (+16).
- Among USHL defensemen, D Jimmy Schuldt (2G, 7A - 9 PTS, +12) is tied for third in total scoring and tied for second in plus/minus.
- Lancers captain, North Dakota recruit and 2013 NHL Draft Pick (Winnipeg, 127th overall, 5th Round) D Tucker Poolman is currently tied for second in the league in goals among all defensemen.
- D Steven Johnson (0G, 7A - 7 PTS) was chosen to join Team USA for the World Junior A Challenge Tournament in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Nov. 4-10 th and currently ranks fourth among USHL defensemen in points and shots on goal (28) and is tied for second in plus/minus (+10) with Omaha D Connor Light.
OPPONENT NOTES:
TRI-CITY STORM
(4-6-2), 10 pts., 5 th in Western Conference, L1 FRIDAY, 11/8/13, 7:30 PM - VAIERO EVENT CENTER, KEARNEY, NE
- Storm G Jacob Johansson is tied for second in the USHL in appearances (11) and shutouts (2), ranks third in minutes played (626:12) and ranks second league-wide in total saves (351).
- Tri-City D Nolan Gluchowski's 14 minor penalties rank second among all skaters in the USHL.
- The Storm rank fourth in the USHL in combined penalty-minutes per game with 19.50.
- While the Storm's power-play has struggled overall (11.5%, 15th in USHL), it's been much better at home (17.1%, 5th in USHL).
- The Storm give up more shots on goal per game (38.17) than any other USHL team so far this season. LINCOLN STARS
(2-5-4), 8 pts., 7th in Western Conference, L3
SATURDAY, 11/9/13, 7:05 PM - LINCOLN ICEBOX, LINCOLN, NE
- Lincoln D Zach Frye is tied for second in the league in penalty minutes with 47.
- Stars D Connor Frantti is tied for fourth in the USHL in penalty minutes with 42.
- Lincoln currently ranks third league-wide in attendance, drawing a combined 20,944 fans so far this season, good for a nightly average of 3,490.
- Lincoln ranks second in combined penalty minutes per game with 20.36.
- While the Stars' penalty kill is tremendous on the road (96.3%, 1st in USHL), it's been the opposite at home (76.5%, 15th in USHL).
- The Stars rank fourth league-wide in shots on goal per game (33.27).
United States Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2013
- Storm Alumni Update: November - Tri-City Storm
- Lancers Earn Split In Rivalry-Filled Weekend At Home - Omaha Lancers
- Burchett, Larkin, Mueller, and Rutledge Earn USHL Weekly Honors - USHL
- Scoring for Folds of Honor - Waterloo Black Hawks
- 'XFC 27: Frozen Fury' Lands at L.C. Walker Arena in December - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stampede's Burchett Named USHL Co-Forward of the Week - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Waterloo Black Hawks Name Players of the Week - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Ice Home Saturday at Fieldhouse - Indiana Ice
- Buccaneers Engaged with the Community - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Gamblers Raise $2,000.00 for Sting Cancer - Green Bay Gamblers
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