USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Ready for Another Crack at Chicago; Boisvert Seems Poised for a Big Second Half of the Season

Published on January 5, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON - The Muskegon Lumberjacks are currently 12 points (six wins) behind the first-place Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League Eastern Conference standings.

They have yet to beat Chicago in four games this season, which is not a good omen as they prepare to head to the Windy City this weekend for Friday and Saturday games against the Steel.

Yet there is reason for optimism, because the Jacks have played Chicago very tough in three of those four games and seem to be inching closer to beating the conference bullies.

The Lumberjacks' first encounter with Chicago, in their Sept. 30 season home opener, was not pretty. They lost 5-1 and appeared to be miles behind the powerful Steel.

The next two matchups, on Dec. 2-3 in Chicago, were much more competitive.

In the first game the Jacks trailed 3-1 in the third period, rallied to force overtime, then lost 4-3 in the extra period.

The next night, on Dec. 3, the Lumberjacks led 3-1 after one period, the game was tied 4-4 after two periods, then Chicago pulled away for a 7-4 win.

The last matchup, on Dec. 10 in Muskegon, was a real thriller. The Steel led 4-2 late in the game, the Jacks gambled and pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with nearly four minutes left, and it almost paid off. Muskegon scored twice down the stretch, but Chicago managed an empty-net goal and escaped with a 5-4 victory.

"In my short time here, I have seen how they play and how they are coached," Lumberjacks Coach Parker Burgess said about Chicago. "They are very prepared, they have a game plan, and they have some really high-profile players. If you give them time and space they are going to make plays. They are kind of the gold standard right now that everyone is chasing.

"For us (beating Chicago) would be huge and would help us build a lot of confidence to go into the second half of the season."

So how do the Jacks finally break through and beat Chicago?

"We have to manage the puck and make smart decisions and force them to defend, and then there is the special teams aspect," Burgess said. "We've had our highs and lows on both sides of special teams, and they are a team that can burn you on special teams. We have to remain disciplined, stay out of the penalty box, play them five-on-five and use our depth a little bit.

"I think we are close. The scores are indicative that we are right there with them. For us there might be a little bit of a mental hurdle. When we get into the third period we have to find a way to pull it out."

Boisvert on the verge of a big second half?

Remember last season, when the Muskegon Lumberjacks' Jake Richard was a talented but very green rookie who had no goals through the first two months of the season, then caught fire in and finished with 18?

Some fans are wondering if one of this year's super-talented rookies, 16-year-old Sacha Boisvert, could be headed for a similar experience over the second half of this season.

Boisvert actually had a much better first few months of his rookie season than Richard did, registering six goals and six assists through 20 games.

But he really turned some heads last Friday in Plymouth, Michigan when he registered his first USHL hat trick in the Jacks' 9-6 victory over the Team USA 17-Under squad.

Burgess cautions that Boisvert is still very young and has a lot to learn - but he also admitted that the sky is the limit for the talented forward, and a big second half to the season is a real possibility.

Remember, this is a kid who piled up an amazing 51 goals and 43 assists while playing prep school hockey at Mount St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island last season.

"When you are 16, it doesn't matter how talented you are, coming into the USHL is a huge transition for any player," the coach said. "I think what you're seeing now is that he used the first half of the season to understand that he can play at this level, and now in the second half, instead of just being a good player, we're starting to see him become the dominating player he can be. There will still be some games that provide lessons for him - he's still a 16-year-old kid - but I think we're going to see on a more consistent basis the dominant type of play he can provide.

"He's extremely competitive, smart on the puck, plays on the defensive side, finishes checks and wants to have the puck on his stick in big-time spots. Those are indicators of a great player, and he will be fun to watch."

Whitcomb, McCarthy selected for All-American game

Second-year Lumberjacks standouts Ethan Whitcomb and Gavin McCarthy have been selected to play in the 2023 BioSteel All-American Game, which is scheduled for Jan. 16 in Plymouth, Michigan.

The game features players who are viewed as top American prospects for the 2023 National Hockey League draft. It will be broadcast live on the NHL Network.

Whitcomb, a forward, is currently second in scoring for the Lumberjacks with 13 goals and 7 assists. McCarthy, a defenseman, has four goals and 14 assists.

Reimann traded to Des Moines

Forward Jack Reimann, acquired by the Lumberjacks earlier this season, has been traded to the Des Moines Buccaneers for a draft pick.

Reimann came to the Jacks in a trade with Sioux Falls in early October and drew a lot of praise for his hustle and skills.

Reimann has one goal and three assists this season. He joins former Lumberjacks Peyton Nelson and Noah Rupprecht on the Des Moines roster.

"For Jack, providing him with an opportunity to go somewhere and expand his role was important for him, and for us it opens up an opportunity for more ice time for some of our younger players down the stretch," Burgess said.

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2023


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