USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Log: Boys of Winter Enter Spring with Two Home Games

Published on March 20, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Mich. (March 20, 2012) - It may feel like June outside, but the calendar reads March, so the Muskegon Lumberjacks still have business to take care of as they near the conclusion of their second season in the United States Hockey League.

After matching a season high with six goals Saturday night at L.C. Walker Arena, the Lumberjacks (16-28-7, 39 points) stay at home for a pair of games this weekend while seeking to build on a blowout win over the National Team Development Program.

Their 6-2 victory over the National Under-17 Team, powered by Dakota Klecha's hat trick, curtailed a five-game winless streak and continued a season-long trend of the Lumberjacks playing much better at home than on the road.

The Jacks have scored 77 goals in Muskegon, 12 more than they've netted away from home, while they've allowed 19 fewer tallies on the Lakeshore than they have as the visiting team. Those numbers have led to results, as 11 of the team's 16 wins have come at storied L.C. Walker Arena.

Muskegon will enjoy familiar environs once again this week, starting Friday night when they challenge the National Under-18 Team at 7:15 p.m. Represented by two separate teams that combine as one entity in the USHL standings, the NTDP (24-24-4, 52 points) has a 12-point lead on Chicago for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot with eight games to play.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday for the last Dollar Beer/Hot Dog Night of the season! Presented by John Morrell, the offer lasts from 6-8 p.m. It is also Reading Caravan Night, with top participants in the first-year program honored during the game.

Celebrate Ollie the Ox's first birthday Saturday night when Muskegon takes on Green Bay! Bring a present for the Lumberjacks' mascot and receive a free children's ticket; all gifts will be contributed to the Rescue Mission.

Green Bay (41-8-2, 86 points) boasts the USHL's best record, but the Jacks gave the Gamblers all they could handle last Thursday in a tight 2-1 defeat on Hockey for Health Day. Three of Muskegon's last eight games are against the Clark Cup favorites.

Buy your tickets before the end of the day Wednesday to take advantage of the Lumberjacks' Economy Buster rate! Adults tickets purchased in that window are only $10 apiece. Offer applies prior to every weekend home game. Call (231) 724-JACK, stop by the L.C. Walker Arena box office, check out StarTickets.com or visit your local Meijer for tickets and information.

The Jacks have also reduced the price of season ticket plans for the 2012-13 campaign to just $200! That's an average of only $6.25 for each of next season's 32 home contests, but the offer only lasts until June 16. Contact the Lumberjacks ticket office for more information.

The Meijer Pregame Show begins 30 minutes prior to every opening faceoff on the radio home of your Lumberjacks, 92.5 The Outlaw (925fmtheoutlaw.com). Voice of the Jacks Matt Gajtka has the play-by-play, with Muskegon hockey legend Ron Stephenson providing analysis.

UPCOMING GAMES (Home games in bold; all times Eastern)

* Friday vs. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM at 7:15 p.m. - Dollar Beer/Hot Dog Night presented by John Morrell! Offer stands from 6-8 p.m. * Saturday vs. GREEN BAY at 7:15 p.m. - Ollie's Birthday! / Bring a present for our mascot's first birthday and receive a free kids' ticket to the game. All gifts will be donated to the Rescue Mission! * Friday, March 30 @ DUBUQUE at 8:05 p.m. * Saturday, March 31 @ WATERLOO at 8:05 p.m. * Sunday, April 1 @ GREEN BAY at 4:05 p.m.

JACKS FACTS

* Klecha's hat trick Saturday night was the Lumberjacks' first in 365 days, one short of a year thanks to February's extra day. Charlie Taft, currently in his freshman year at Colorado College, was the last Muskegon player to score three times in a game when he buried Cedar Rapids with a five-point performance last March 18. Prior to his hat trick, Klecha (Ferris State) had three two-goal games this season, his first in the USHL. * In addition to Klecha, fellow Michigan natives Matt DeBlouw (Michigan State) and Dean Pawlaczyk also registered three points apiece Saturday night, the first time this season three Lumberjacks accomplished that feat. DeBlouw now has a trio of three-point games this year, tying him with Klecha for the team lead. Pawlaczyk nearly doubled his season point total (seven) with his first multipoint USHL performance. * The Lumberjacks scored all six goals Saturday at even strength, helping DeBlouw as well as defensemen Rasmus Bengtsson and Ryan Bullock post plus-4 ratings, season bests for Muskegon. Despite the 5-on-5 success, the Jacks have hit a power play drought, scoring once in their last 22 opportunities with the man advantage. On the season Muskegon has 36 PPGs on 243 chances, a 14.8 percent conversion rate that ranks 12th in the 16-team circuit.

ALUMNI ON THE ATTACK

* No. 11 Maine beat Boston University 5-3 last Friday in the Hockey East semifinal at Boston's TD Garden, but couldn't get by No. 1 Boston College in Saturday's championship game. Nonetheless, the Black Bears (23-13-3, 17-10-2 HEA) and last year's Jacks captain John Parker earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I tournament; they will challenge defending national champion and 5th-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Saturday night in the Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass.

* No. 10 Boston University and defenseman Alexx Privitera fell to Maine in the Hockey East semifinal, but the Terriers (23-14-1, 17-10-1 HEA) earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, drawing No. 6 Minnesota in Saturday night's West Regional semi in St. Paul, Minn.

* Also deemed worthy of tournament play were No. 15 Michigan State, featuring freshman sniper Matt Berry (10 goals), and No. 13 UMass-Lowell, with Mike Conderman and Micki Mihailovich on scholarship. The Spartans face No. 3 Union Friday in Bridgeport, Conn., while the River Hawks collide with No. 7 Miami later that night in the same East Regional.

* Despite Niagara's 2-1 overtime loss to RIT last Friday in the Atlantic Hockey semifinal round, it was quite the first year for both Chris Lochner and Isaac Kohls. Lochner capped a remarkable second-half surge by getting the Purple Eagles' only goal Friday; the 5-foot-7 forward led the team with 13 lamp-lighters, 11 of which came in the last 14 games. Kohls finished his freshman season with 22 points (8g, 14a), tied for third-most on Niagara (17-11-9, 14-6-7 AHA).

* Mercyhurst also fell in the Atlantic Hockey semifinal, dropping a 5-2 decision to eventual conference champ Air Force. Ryan Misiak picked up an assist to conclude his first NCAA season; the Shelby Township product had 19 points (6g, 13a) in 36 games after leading the Lumberjacks in scoring last winter.

BEST HOCKEY TALK ON THE LAKESHORE

JackSixty presented by Cinema Carousel is a weekly hour-long talk show devoted to your Muskegon Lumberjacks Tuesday nights from 6-7 p.m. at Hennessy's Irish Pub & Restaurant. Located at the corner of Jefferson and Clay Streets in the heart of Muskegon, Hennessy's plays host as Gajtka and co-host Antonio Bartoli talk hockey with Lumberjacks coaches, players and other featured guests on 98.3 FM WLCS!

THE SOCIAL NETWORKS Never go hungry for Jacks news: "Like" the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Facebook and follow "@MuskegonJacks" on Twitter to stay plugged into the Jacks 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, find the Jacks' exclusive YouTube channel at youtube.com/MuskegonJacks!

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2012


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