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USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Keep Home Ice Playoffs Hopes Alive

April 6, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan - When they needed a victory at the most crucial point of the season, the Muskegon Lumberjacks reared their heads back and made a home statement tonight bouncing back from the previous night to defeat the rival Green Bay Gamblers at the L.C. Walker Arena by a 5-1 final.

For the second consecutive night, the Lumberjacks (31-21-10, 72 points) would get the first goal of the night as Cullen Hurley would slide one through Gamblers Goaltender Tony Kujava's (9-6-1) legs from the right wing for his 10th goal of the season at the 6:46 mark that was assisted by Joe Cox and Michael Brodzinski to make it a 1-0 game.

The Gamblers (35-23-4, 74 points) would counter back on the power play to even the game at 1-1 at the 10:25 mark as Matthew Weis would one-time a shot from the high slot home past Lumberjacks Goaltender Jordan Uhelski (7-4-4) for his 13th goal of the season from Kyle Novak and Nick Schmaltz.

Muskegon would take their second lead of the night at 2-1 late in the first period with 1:59 to go in the opening frame as the Lumberjacks would create a Green Bay turnover into gold as Christian Heil would get his 20th goal of the season as he one-timed a shot home in the low slot off a pass from Cox in the low right wing. Jeff Kubiak would get the secondary assist on the Heil strike. Muskegon would take that lead into the first intermission while outshooting the Gamblers, 14-10.

Only one goal would be tallied in the second period for the second straight night, and this time, it came the way of the home team as the Lumberjacks would increase their lead to 3-1 just 3:00 into the middle frame. Cullen Hurley would get his second goal of the night and 11th of the season as he rebounded a shot from Rasmus Bengtsson at the right point home that was also helped by Mason Jobst. Muskegon would control the play in the second period outshooting Green Bay in the second period, 14-7.

The Lumberjacks defense and goaltending would hold strong the rest of the way as Green Bay would run into big time penalty trouble with 7:48 remaining in regulation as Weis would get called for a five-minute kneeing major plus a two-minute high sticking call and a game misconduct. Muskegon would take advantage and tally an empty-net power play goal at the 16:22 mark with Heil's second of the night and team-leading 21st goal of the season from Cameron Darcy to make it 4-1 Lumberjacks.

The Gamblers would pull Kujava again for the extra attacker, and the Lumberjacks would get another empty-net marker at even strength with 1:04 left in regulation as Doyle Somerby would get his second USHL goal of the season unassisted.

The Lumberjacks would outshoot the Gamblers for the second straight night winning the shot battle tonight by a 38-25 margin. Jordan Uhelski would make 24 saves for the home team to earn his 7th victory of the season, while the offense was led by Cullrn Hurley (two goals), Christian Heil (two goals), and Joe Cox (two assists) with two points each. Tony Kujava stopped 33 of 37 shots for the Gamblers in the road loss. Muskegon improves to 3-3-1 against the Gamblers this season with two meetings left next weekend in Green Bay.

The Lumberjacks will finish their 2012-13 regular season next weekend with a pair of games against the Green Bay Gamblers next Friday and Saturday, respectively, at 8:05 pm. Muskegon has qualified for the 2013 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs that is tentatively slated to begin on Tuesday, April 16th. Dates and opponent for the first round have yet to be determined.

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. Fans can place their deposits by May 31st to receive a free parking pass good for all home games next season. For more information, fans can visit the Lumberjacks website at www.muskegonlumberjacks.com or by calling (231) 724-JACK (5225).

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2013


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