Lancers Weekly
February 3, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
RALSTON, NE - In front of the Lancers' fourth consecutive sellout crowd at Ralston Arena, Omaha's ninth sellout overall this year and seventh in the team's past eight games, the Omaha Lancers defeated the Chicago Steel 2-1 in overtime on Saturday thanks to leading USHL goal scorer Tyler Vesel's 29th of the season, one night removed from a 5-2 road loss to the Fargo Force on Friday. At 28-9-4, the Lancers currently rank second in the Western Conference and overall USHL standings, three points shy of the first-place Waterloo Black Hawks. On Monday, the Lancers followed up an impactful weekend on the ice with a major transaction. In exchange for a first round selection in the 2014 USHL Phase I draft, Omaha acquired a pair of Nebraska-Omaha recruits in defenseman Luc Snuggerud and forward Steven Spinner, from the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Currently wrapping up their senior seasons at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota, Snuggerud and Spinner slot in at #61 and #70 respectively in the NHL Central Scouting Service's 2014 mid-season player rankings for North American skaters. Both are expected to join the Lancers in mid-March at the conclusion of their high school careers. Next up for the Lancers, it's a nother big weekend at Ralston Arena. On Friday, the Lancers square off with the Sioux Falls Stampede (22-14-4, 48 pts., T3rd in Western Conference) with all fans receiving complimentary " Thunder Sticks " courtesy of Subway before welcoming the Lincoln Stars (11-19-7, 29 pts., 7th in Western Conference) to Ralston Arena for the final time this season on Saturday, presented by the Nebraska Lottery. Full coverage of both games begins with the "Valpak Pregame Show" at 6:50 pm Friday and 7:20 pm on Saturday with the opening faceoff to follow on the Lancers' flagship station, "The Mighty" 1290 KOIL with Lancers broadcaster Tony Brown providing the play-by-play.
LANCERS NOTES:
OMAHA LANCERS (28-9-4), 60 pts., 2nd in Western Conference, W1
- G Hayden Hawkey (17 GP, 13-2-0, 1 SO, 1.88 GAA, .930 S%) currently leads the USHL in goals-against average and save percentage.
- G Cole Bruns (27 GP, 15-7-4, 7 SO, 2.10 GAA, .922 S%) currently leads the USHL in shutouts ranks second in goals-against average and tied for second in save percentage.
- F Jake Randolph (17G, 45A - 62 PTS) currently leads the league in assists, points and power-play assists (18) and ranks second in plus/minus (+31).
- F Tyler Vesel (29G, 30A - 59 PTS) currently leads the USHL in goals and plus/minus (+35), ranks second in points and ranks tied for second in game-winning goals (5).
- Among USHL defensemen, Lancers captain Tucker Poolman (9G, 20A - 29 PTS) ranks first in power-play goals (7) and tied for the league lead in goals and shorthanded assists.
- Lancers F Louie Rowe leads the USHL in major penalties (10) and ranks third in total penalty minutes (118).
- As a team, the Lancers lead the USHL in overall penalty-killing (89.5%) and home penalty-killing (89.7%).
- The Lancers' power-play has allowed just one shorthanded goal this season, tied for the league's best mark in that category.
- The Lancers allow the fewest goals per game this season in the USHL (2.15).
- The Lancers rank fifth in nightly attendance average this year (3,194) and have sold out each of their past four games at Ralston Arena.
OPPONENT NOTES:
SIOUX FALLS STAMPEDE (22-14-4), 48 pts., T3rd in Western Conference, W1
- Stampede F Zeb Knutson ranks second in the league in power- play goals (9) and total shots (160).
- F Christian Horn leads the USHL with six game-winning goals.
- D Nolan Gluchowski's 27 minor penalties this season ranks second league-wide.
- As a team, Sioux Falls averages 20.95 penalty minutes per game, the league's fourth-highest mark.
- The Stampede rank in the USHL's top half in goals per game (3.15, 7th ), goals against per game (2.95, 6th ), shots per game (32.7, 7th ) and shots against per game (30.5, 6th ).
- Sioux Falls ranks 15th league wide on the penalty-kill overall (78.5%) and dead last in penalty-killing on the road (77.5%).
LINCOLN STARS (11-19-7), 29 pts., 7th in Western Conference, L2
- D Zach Frye leads the USHL in penalty minutes (143) and ranks second in major penalties (9).
- D Connor Frantti ranks second in the USHL with 130 penalty minutes.
- As a team, the Stars lead the USHL in penalty minutes (853), major penalties (33) and penalty minutes per game (23.1).
- The Stars rank in the league's top five in shots on goal per game (34.1, 4th ).
- Lincoln G Michael Bitzer (31 GP, 8-15-6, 2.98 GAA, .906 S%) ranks second in the USHL in regulation losses, third in total minutes played (1752:04) and fourth in total saves (836).
- The Stars rank second in the USHL in nightly attendance (3,563).
United States Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2014
- Lancers Weekly - Omaha Lancers
- Lancers Acquire Snuggerud, Spinner in Deal with Muskegon - Omaha Lancers
- Krieger & Montour USHL Players of the Week - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Krieger, Montour, and Tirone Earn USHL Weekly Honors - Sioux City Musketeers
- Krieger, Montour, and Tirone Earn USHL Weekly Honors - USHL
- Ice Home Saturday at Fieldhouse - Indiana Ice
- Buccaneers Jersey Auction to Benefit Leukemia/Lymphoma Society - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Waterloo Black Hawks Name Players of the Week - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede Weekly Update: Herd Return Home Tomorrow Night for Bogo Tickets & Beer - Sioux Falls Stampede
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