USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Log: Week 4

Published on October 27, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Mich. (October 27, 2011) - After being on the schedule-maker's bad side for the season's first three weeks, the Muskegon Lumberjacks will reap the rewards of that taxing time with nine of their next 13 games at home.

That favorable stretch begins this weekend with a pair of matches at L.C. Walker Arena against the Chicago Steel and Waterloo Black Hawks on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

The 30-game home schedule started last Saturday with a 4-0 loss to defending Clark Cup champion Dubuque. The Lumberjacks (1-5-0, 2 points) controlled the contest for the opening 20 minutes but couldn't carry the strong play through the final two periods.

"We did a great job staying out of the middle and dictating play to start," said Jacks Head Coach Kevin Patrick. "For some reason our mentality changed after that, and that's something we've addressed with our team leadership."

The prospects looked promising for Muskegon to split the weekend when they led 2-0 in the first and 4-3 after two periods Sunday afternoon in Chicago. However, the Steel (3-4-0, 6 points) roared back with four in the third to earn their second win in as many games against the Jacks.

"At key times we're having breakdowns and that's affecting our ability to close games and have success," Patrick said. "We have to stick with our systems and continue, trust each other and find the combinations that work, both offensively and defensively."

The challenge facing the Lumberjacks Saturday in their third of eight meetings with Chicago will be containment. The Steel have scored 13 goals (one empty netter) thus far in the season series.

"Mistakes up ice are leading to too much open space in our end," Patrick said. "We're breaking down at times and that's allowing [opponents] to gain too much speed and attack our zone."

The Western Conference-leading Black Hawks (4-2-1, 9 points) make their first trip to Muskegon Sunday evening to finish the weekend. Waterloo was in the Eastern Conference last year; the Hawks and Jacks split their four games in 2010-11.

The puck drops between the Jacks and Chicago at L.C. Walker Arena Saturday at 7:15 p.m., with doors opening at 6:15. Call 231.724.JACK(5225) to purchase your tickets, or visit startickets.com or any local Meijer location.

Muskegon hosts Waterloo Sunday with the special starting time of 5:15 p.m. The Meijer Pregame Show engages 30 minutes prior to every game on your exclusive radio home for the Lumberjacks, 92.5 FM The Outlaw.

JACKS FACTS

Dakota Klecha netted the Jacks' first two-goal game of the season Sunday at Chicago. The Taylor, Mich., native and future Ferris State Bulldog also collected an assist for a three-point performance, matching linemate Josh Henke's output on the day. Defenseman Ryan Bullock has the only other three-point game for Muskegon so far.

Bullock leads Muskegon in points (5) and Klecha is tops in goal-scoring (3), but the Jacks offense has been quite diversified through six games. Ten different players have goals - Matt DeBlouw, Ryan Lomberg and Travis Belohrad each have two - and 14 Lumberjacks have at least a point.

Muskegon's offense has been slightly below USHL average (2.67 goals/game), but goal prevention has been the culprit behind the team's sputtering start. The Jacks have surrendered 5.67 red lights per tilt, most in the 16-team league. Des Moines has given up the second-most at 4.50.

Although they've dropped a pair in Chicago, a fair share of Jacks have found the scoresheet in the season series. Joona Manninen drilled his first USHL goal last Saturday, joining DeBlouw, Lomberg, Bullock and Michael Moran as lamp-lighters against the Steel.

Departed forwards John Parker (University of Maine) and Casey Thrush (University of New Hampshire) each rung up three points in the season series with Waterloo last season. Returners Jordan Masters, Travis Belohrad and Travis Walsh each had a point against the Black Hawks in 2010-11.

SCOUTING REPORT:

STEEL CAGE MATCH

Chicago will go for two straight home wins Friday night vs. Team USA before traveling four hours to Muskegon to finish their weekend. Pending Friday's game, Swedish goalie Mathias Dahlstrom has played every minute for the Steel on the season, stopping more than 91 percent of shots faced in his rookie USHL campaign.

West Michigan's Zach Saar (Plainwell) and fellow second-year forward Michael Fallon lead the Steel with seven points each, but they took a back seat to league sophomores Andrew Miller (hat trick) and Jimmy Devito (four points) in Chicago's 7-4 comeback win over Muskegon last Sunday.

Chicago's penalty kill continues to be excellent, with a 92.9 percent success rate that's less than a percentage point below Dubuque's league-leading mark. But the Jacks may have a secret, as they've scored the only two power-play goals against the Steel this season, with Moran and DeBlouw connecting.

BLACK HAWKS DOWN

First-place Waterloo heads to Indianapolis to play the East-leading Ice Friday and Saturday, then hop up to Muskegon to close out their first three-game weekend of the season. Despite their impressive record, the Black Hawks have only outscored their opponents by one (20-19) through seven games.

Rookie forward Taylor Cammarata doesn't look impressive on the roster sheet, as the 16-year-old is listed at 5-foot-6 and 145 pounds. His production, on the other hand, has been prodigious. His 10 points place him one back of the USHL lead and he is the league leader in assists with eight. The Minnesotan has at least a point in four straight entering the weekend.

Goaltender Jay Williams is among the league's top five in minutes played and stands seventh in both save percentage (.922) and goals-against average (2.26). He earned a win in his lone appearance vs. Muskegon last season, stopping 26 of 27 shots.

Third-year USHLer Tyler Zepeda accumulated four points and a plus-3 rating in four games against the Jacks in 2010-11; Vince Hinostroza collected a pair of goals. With two wins and a shootout loss, the Hawks picked up five of a possible eight points vs. Muskegon.

UPCOMING JACKS ACTION (HOME GAMES BOLDED)

Saturday, October 29 vs. CHICAGO at 7:15 p.m. / Jacks Halloween Party

Sunday, October 30 vs. WATERLOO at 5:15 p.m. / Jacks Halloween Party

(Kids 12 and under wearing costumes get in free all weekend!)

Friday, November 4 vs. YOUNGSTOWN at 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, November 5 vs. CEDAR RAPIDS at 7:15 p.m.

FOLLOW THE JACKS ALL SEASON

92.5 FM The Outlaw is the exclusive radio home of your Muskegon Lumberjacks! Listen over the air or check out the action streaming online at 925fmtheoutlaw.com as Voice of the Jacks Matt Gajtka has the play-by-play. The USHL is also partnering with FASTHockey to provide video coverage of all league games this season; go to ushl.fasthockey.com to sign up and watch!

TALKIN' LUMBERJACKS HOCKEY

JackSixty presented by Cinema Carousel is a weekly hour-long talk show devoted to your Muskegon Lumberjacks every Tuesday night 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 talks hockey with head coach Kevin Patrick, various 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!

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 27, 2011


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