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USHL Omaha Lancers

Lancers Fall to Green Bay in Front of 12th Sellout Crowd

March 11, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release


Omaha Lancers vs. the Green Bay Gamblers
Omaha Lancers vs. the Green Bay Gamblers
(Omaha Lancers)

Ralston, NE - Austin Lemieux scored the lone goal for the Omaha Lancers as they dropped Friday night's weekend-opener to the Green Bay Gamblers, 6-1, in front of 3,542 fans at Ralston Arena. The crowd was Omaha's 12th sellout of the season.

An early favorable bounce for Green Bay in front of the net helped them take a 1-0 lead. After Omaha tried to clear the chance on the side of the net, the puck rolled across the top of the crease where Chris Grando took over. After gathering the rolling puck, Grando slid it under the stick of a diving Kris Oldham for the lead. The goal was Grando's first of the night and 11th of the season and came just 1:52 into the game.

Great hustle by Keegan Ward and JC MacLean helped Austin Lemieux even up the score in the first period. Ward raced down the ice to beat out an icing and JC MacLean arrived to help. After pulling the puck out of a scrum, MacLean found a wide open Austin Lemieux in the slot. Lemieux took the pass and ripped a snap shot over the shoulder of Adam Huska to tie the game on his fifth of the year. Assists on Lemieux's goal were given to MacLean and Ward at 5:45 of the first frame.

Just about ten minutes later, the Gamblers took back their lead. Ryan Blankemeier skated hard to the front of the net, took a pass from below the goal line, and beat Kris Oldham for the 2-1 lead. The tally came at the 15:48 mark and was Blankemeier's sixth of the season with assists from Jason Dhooghe, on the pass from behind the net, and Connor Murphy.

Green Bay used their opportunity on the power play to take a three-goal lead late in the first period. After the original save by Kris Oldham on a blast from the right side, Joey Marooney corralled the rebound and lifted over the left shoulder of Oldham for the 3-1 advantage. With the goal, Marooney recorded his 17th of the season and the helpers were given to Brett Gruber and Andrew Peeke. The assist was Peeke's 18th of the year to help the Gamblers take a two-goal lead.

The only goal of the second period came off a nice pass from the left side of the ice for Green Bay. Jared Spooner took possession of the puck right of the left wing wall in the Gamblers' offensive zone. Chris Grando went hard to the net as Spooner let a pass go and tapped it into a wide-open net for a 4-1 lead after two periods of play. The goal was Grando's second tally of the evening.

In the final period, Green Bay added two empty-net goals by Jack Poehling at 12:43 of the third and Ryan Blankemeier at 13:14. Blankemeier's goal was his second of the night for the 6-1 Green Bay victory. Goaltender Kris Oldham put aside 24 of 28 shots in Omaha's ninth-straight loss.

The Lancers are back home tomorrow night as they host the Green Bay Gamblers at 7:05 p.m. CT. It's Lancers Legends Night presented by the Omaha Lancers Booster Club. Can't make it? Fans can listen live to the game beginning at 6:50 p.m. CT with the Valpak Pregame Show on "The Mighty" 1290 KOIL, Mighty 1290 KOIL Mobile APP, www.mighty1290koil.com, and www.FASTHockey.com.

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Omaha Lancers vs. the Green Bay Gamblers
Omaha Lancers vs. the Green Bay Gamblers
   



United States Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2016


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