Lancers Weekly
Published on January 14, 2014 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
RALSTON, NE - At 25-6-4 overall this season, the Omaha Lancers remain the top team in the Western Conference and overall USHL standings thanks to a 2- 1-0 showing this week, highlighted by two more sellout crowds at Ralston Arena on Wednesday and Saturday night. The Lancers have now sold out each of their past three games at Ralston Arena and a grand total of five games total so far this season. On Wednesday, Tyler Vesel notched the only Lancers goal in Omaha's first loss of the season to Tri-City, a 2-1 defeat on home ice, but on Friday, the Lancers claimed vengeance on the streaking Storm, snapping their Nebraska rivals' four-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory at Viaero Event Center in Kearney, thanks to two goals from Gage Hough, multi-point nights for Tucker Poolman (2A), Vesel (1G, 1A) and Jake Randolph (2A) and a game-winning marker from Matt Nelson . On Saturday, the Lancers got their first crack against perennial Eastern Conference powers, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, and Omaha met the challenge with five different skaters scoring for the Lancers and Nelson again providing the crucial, win-securing tally. For Nelson, an Edina, Minnesota native and Princeton recruit acquired via trade by the Lancers prior to the season opener from the Green Bay Gamblers, his two game-winners were enough to earn him CCM USHL Defenseman of the Week Honors. Also this week, rookie Lancers forward Jake Henderson, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, finalized his college commitment to the Providence (RI) College Friars of Hockey East where Henderson will continue his hockey career beginning in the 2015-16 season alongside current Lancers teammate Ryan Tait. Next up for the Lancers, it's a nother big home weekend, as Omaha plays host to the Tri-City Storm (12-19-2, 26 pts., 6th in Western Conference) on Friday at Ralston Arena on " Ted & Kathy Baer Appreciation Night ", before welcoming their archrival Lincoln Stars (10-17-5, 25 pts., 7th in Western Conference) to town on Saturday for " Leap-for-a-Cure Night ", presented by Methodist Health System. The Lancers will don specialty " Leap-for-a-Cure " jerseys that will be auctioned off during and after the game to raise money and awareness in the fight against brain cancer.
LANCERS NOTES:
OMAHA LANCERS (25-6-4), 54 pts., 1st in Western Conference, W2
- Omaha G Cole Bruns (25 GP, 15-5-4, 7 SO, 1.96 GAA, .927 S%) currently leads the USHL in shutous, goals-against average and save percentage.
- The Lancers' other G, Hayden Hawkey (11 GP, 10-1-0, 1 SO, 2.16 GAA, .919 S%) is second only to Bruns in GAA and is tied for third league-wide in S%.
- Omaha F Jake Randolph (16G, 42A - 58 PTS) continues to lead the USHL in assists, points and power-play assists (18).
- Lancers F Tyler Vesel (27G, 26A - 53 PTS) is tops league-wide in goals and plus/minus (+34) and tied for league-best in game- winning goals (4).
- Omaha's captain, D Tucker Poolman (9G, 18A - 27 PTS), leads all USHL blueliners in goals, points and power-play goals (7).
- Lancers F Louie "The Sheriff" Rowe ranks fourth in the USHL in penalty minutes (96) and leads the league with eight majors.
- As a team, the Lancers rank first in the USHL in overall power- play (24.0%), overall penalty kill (89.2%) and goals-against per game (2.09), tied for first in short-handed goals allowed (1), second in shots against per game (27.1) and third in goals per game (3.77).
- Currently riding a three-game sellout streak at Ralston Arena, the Lancers rank fourth in the USHL in average attendance (3,068 per game).
OPPONENT NOTES:
TRI-CITY STORM (12-19-2), 26 pts., 6 th in Western Conference, L2
- Storm G Jacob Johansson (28 GP, 11-13-2, 2 SO, 2.88 GAA, .915 S%) ranks second league-wide in appearances and total saves (787) and is tied for second in shutouts.
- As a team, Tri-City is tied for first league-wide in shorthanded goals allowed (1) and tied for second in shorthanded goals scored (6).
- Four Storm forwards are scoring at a point-per game pace over their past five games - Ryan McMurphy (4G, 1A), Austin Poganski (3G, 2A), Garrett Gamez (1G, 4A) and Omaha native Chris Wilkie (1G, 4A).
LINCOLN STARS (10-17-5), 25 pts., 7 th in Western Conference, W3
- As a team, the Stars rank first in the USHL in total penalty minutes (778) and penalty minutes per game (24.3).
- Lincoln captain, D Zach Frye, leads the USHL in penalty minutes with 125 and D Connor Frantti isn't far behind, ranking second only to Frye with 124 penalty minutes this season.
- Stars G Michael Bitzer (29 GP, 8-14-5, 2.99 GAA, .906 S%) leads the league in appearances and ranks third in total saves (781).
- In the Stars' last trip to Ralston Arena, an 8-1 defeat at the hands of the Lancers on Saturday, January 4th, Lincoln earned 67 penalty minutes as a team, the largest single game total for any squad in the USHL this season.
- Lincoln's power-play is the league's second worst at 12.4%.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2014
- Dane Cooper Commits to Brown University - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Buccaneers Update - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Ice Goaltender Honored by USHL - Indiana Ice
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Weekly - Omaha Lancers
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