USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Break Out, Blow out Chicago

Published on February 4, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Mich. - One night after perhaps the most frustrating night of the season, the Muskegon Lumberjacks put together their most enjoyable victory.

Matt DeBlouw had a career-high three points, Hayden Stewart earned his first win in goal and six different Lumberjacks scored in a 6-1 rout of the Chicago Steel Saturday night, ending the visitors' four-game winning streak. A season-best 3,217 fans were on hand at L.C. Walker Arena to watch.

Swedish-born defenseman Rasmus Bengtsson netted his first league goal, as did Noah Batis, who was playing his first USHL game. Fellow Affiliate List forwards Michael Turner and Alex Talcott also had nights to remember, as each got assists for their first USHL points.

Batis, Turner, Talcott and defenseman Chris Leibinger were called up for the game as five Lumberjacks were suspended for their actions in Friday night's game versus Cedar Rapids. In addition, team captain Carter Foguth returned to action for the first time in 19 games with his upper-body injury healed.

The reinforcements were indeed effective, as the Lumberjacks (11-19-4, 26 points) won for the first time since Jan. 20, a span of five games. The six goals and five-goal margin of victory both matched season highs for Muskegon, as did the pair of power play goals they scored.

Defensemen Ryan Bullock recorded two points with a goal and an assist, giving the rookie 18 points, just three behind team leader Jon Padulo. DeBlouw bounced back from seeing his four-game point streak come to an end Friday, as his three-assist night gave him 20 points on the year.

The opening minutes of the game belonged to the newcomers. Mason Jobst, playing his ninth game with the Jacks, ripped a high shot that Chicago goalie Alex Sakellaropolous stopped, but the rebound came free to Batis. The Pennsylvanian stashed it in from the right post at 4:22, with the Illinois-born Turner earning the secondary assist on the play.

Just like Friday night, Muskegon killed an extended two-man advantage late in the first period. Stewart was the star this time, stopping shots from all angles in just his second start at the Tier I level.

The Jacks made it 2-0 a little over a minute into the second on a sweet setup from DeBlouw to Adam Chlapik. DeBlouw quickly stepped off the side wall and hit Chlapik with a perfect pass that the Czech winger one-timed high into the net over Sakellaropolous, who had won four in a row entering Saturday.

A minute and a half later, Alex Roos deposited his third goal in three USHL games to draw Chicago back within one, off an assist from Ray Pigozzi. That's as close as the Steel (13-24-1, 27 points) would get.

The Muskegon power play had been last in the league in home conversion rate, but it looked like an efficient machine Saturday. During the Lumberjacks' second opportunity of the game midway through the second, DeBlouw found Bengtsson creeping in from the left point for his first league goal in his eighth game.

Bullock, who had an assist on Bengtsson's tally, belted a heavy slap shot at 1:28 of the third that beat Sakellaropolous along the ice with Muskegon on another power play. The Dartmouth recruit has five goals on the season, and two in his last three games. DeBlouw and Bengtsson had the helpers.

Max Shuart earned the lone assist on Tyler Heinonen's even-strength goal, his eighth, three minutes later. Shuart grabbed a loose puck at center and cruised down the right wing before centering for Heinonen at the left post.

That goal chased Sakellaropolous, who was also replaced in his first USHL start Oct. 29 at L.C. Walker Arena, a 5-1 Muskegon win. Mathias Dahlstrom came on in relief, but Mike McNicholas greeted him rudely just 27 seconds after Heinonen's tally. Talcott and defenseman Mark Yanis picked up assists on the tic-tac-toe passing play to the goalmouth.

The Steel had another late 5-on-3 that they strangely made a 6-on-3 by pulling Dahlstrom with about three minutes to go, but once again Stewart stood tall to close out his first USHL victory with a flourish.

Join the Lumberjacks next Friday as they host Youngstown on Old School Hockey Night! All-time minor-league goal scorer Robin Bouchard's No. 32 will be retired in a special pregame ceremony and the team will wear special throwback jerseys to be auctioned off after the contest.

Call the L.C. Walker Arena box office at 231.724.JACK(5225) for tickets and information, or visit startickets.com or go to your local Meijer.

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2012


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