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USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Hold off Late Roughriders Charge for First Preseason Victory

September 14, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (September 14th) - From the opening puck drop to the final buzzer, the Muskegon Lumberjacks never looked back as they would tally two early first period goals and hang on late to capture a 3-2 victory this afternoon at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the USHL Fall Classic East in downtown Indianapolis.

The Lumberjacks would strike quickly in the opening minutes of the first period as Matt Iacopelli would create a Cedar Rapids turnover into gold as he roofed a shot top shelf over Danny Tirone's blocker side to give Muskegon a 1-0 lead at the 3:41 mark. Tommy Panico would get an assist on the Iacopelli marker. Just over a minute after at the 4:45 mark, Connor Hurley would create his own offense with an unassisted tally to quickly give the Lumberjacks a 2-0 lead.

The Lumberjacks would take that lead into the first intermission even though they were being slightly outshot by the RoughRiders, 10-8, through the first twenty minutes of play.

The RoughRiders would finally crack the scoreboard in the second period and score the lone goal of the middle frame at the 12:31 mark as Casey Jerry would one-time a shot past Jordan Uhelski under his left pad to cut the lead to 2-1 Lumberjacks. Charlie Curti and Dylan Steman would get the helpers on the Jerry marker.

The score would remain the same into the second intermission with the shots being dead-even at 18-18. Lumberjacks Head Coach Todd Krygier would be given a game ejection 1:25 into the second period for abuse of officials.

Early in the third period at the 3:22 mark, the Lumberjacks would regain their two-goal advantage as Luke Sandler would tip-in a goal that was set up by Connor Hurley and Frederik Tiffels to make it a 3-1 game. The score would hold into the latter stages of the third period when Cedar Rapids would pull Tirone for the extra attacker and cut the deficit back to one to 3-2 with 1:27 remaining in regulation as Carlos Fornaris would slam a rebound home to the right of Uhelski that was assisted by Judd Peterson.

The RoughRiders would again pull Tirone for the extra skater, but the Lumberjacks would hold on for their first preseason victory.

Cedar Rapids outshot Muskegon for the game, 31-27, and Jordan Uhelski would make 29 saves in net for the Lumberjacks. Danny Tirone would stop 24 of 27 shots for Cedar Rapids. The Lumberjacks were led offensively by Connor Hurley with a goal and an assist along with four other players tallying at least a point.

The Lumberjacks will conclude their USHL Fall Classic East in Indianapolis, Indiana tomorrow evening against the host Indiana Ice at 5:45 pm from the Pan Am Pavilion.

The Lumberjacks will begin their 2013-14 regular season campaign on Saturday, September 21st in Green Bay against the Gamblers at 8:05 pm with their home opener slated for the following weekend on Saturday, September 28th against the Indiana Ice at 7:15 pm.

Season ticket packages for the 2013-14 season are still on sale for the low price of $225 for adults and $150 for children ages 3-12 for the 30 home games provided next season along with individual tickets. For more information on season and individual tickets, fans can visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com or by calling (231) 724-5225.

The proud home of all Muskegon Lumberjacks home games is the L.C. Walker Arena in downtown Muskegon located just minutes from the beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline. Muskegon Lumberjacks hockey, "Experience the Buzz!"

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The Lumberjacks' organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports. For more information, visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com .

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