Lumberjacks Welcome Bucs and Stars to Muskegon for Three Game Weekend
Published on February 2, 2024 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI - It's a jam-packed weekend ahead at Trinity Health Arena as the Muskegon Lumberjacks welcome the Des Moines Buccaneers and Lincoln Stars for games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
On Friday the Lumberjacks celebrate Healthcare Heroes Night against Des Moines at 7 p.m. Then, on Saturday at 7 we take a trip back to the Mohawks days with Throwback Night featuring the second specialty jersey of the season against Lincoln. Finally, Sunday afternoon the weekend comes to a close with Sensory Friendly Day which will adjust the game day atmosphere to be more inclusive for everyone.
THE MATCHUP
The first game either team played this season was against each other at the 2023 Dick's Sporting Goods Fall Classic. For the Muskegon Lumberjacks (19-12-1-1, 40 pts.) the time since then has had both positive and negative moments, but overall, the Jacks have enjoyed quality hockey through the first half. The Omaha Lancers (7-21-3-0, 17 pts.) on the other hand find themselves at the bottom of the USHL which is where they found themselves at the end of last season. Not all is lost for the Lancer's season though. Despite falling in their last game, they picked up 3 straight wins against Sioux City and Youngstown as the calendar turned over. At the end of the day 6 out of the 8 teams in each conference make the playoffs, and Friday marks the official start to the second half for the Lancers.
ABOUT LAST WEEKEND
The Lumberjacks hit the road and headed to the western conference for the final time this season for a weekend series at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ralston, NE for a series against the Omaha Lancers. Saturday night saw another two-goal performance from Matvei Gridin (Kurgan, RUS) paired with a two-assist game from Joe Connor (Amherst, NH) for 3-0 goals for the Jacks. Shikhabudtin Gadzhiev (Makhachkala, RUS.) stopped all 25 shots he faced for his first career shutout in the USHL, and a 3-0 Lumberjacks win.
Saturday night was going the Lumberjacks way until the final 6 minutes of regulation. With a 5-1 lead in the late stages of the game a Lumberjack's player jumped at the side of the Omaha net, but somehow the Jacks ended up shorthanded. Omaha took advantage of the opportunity but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 5-4.
Des Moines took on the Waterloo Black Hawks on Friday night at Buccaneer Arena. The tightly contested game saw the Bucs open the scoring in the first period, but three unanswered goals from the Hawks handed Des Moines their second straight loss. The following night on the road in Dubuque the Bucs took on the top team from the Eastern Conference, the Fighting Saints. A much less even game saw a similar score line with Des Moines on the losing end 4-2.
Lincoln had a bit of a better weekend than Des Moines with a weekend series split against the visiting Sioux Falls Stampede. Friday night the offense was buzzing for the Stars. Opening the scoring 14 seconds into the second period to take a lead the Stars remained in control the remainder of the game for a 5-2 win. The following night Sioux Falls picked up a 5-2 win of their own to earn the split.
Over the Airwaves
Catch the action all season long with the USHL's official video streaming partner FloHockey, and with the free radio stream on the Lumberjacks Hockey Network on Mixlr.
Upcoming Games
Fri. January 26 | 7:00 pm EST | vs Des Moines Buccaneers
Sat. January 27 | 7:00 pm EST | vs Lincoln Stars
Sun. January 28 | 3:00 pm EST | vs Lincoln Stars
Sat. February 3 | 7:05 pm CST | at Chicago Steel
Sun. February 4 | 3:05 pm CST | at Madison Capitols
United States Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2024
- Powell's Hat Trick Leads Saints Over Steel in OT - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Two-Goal Night for Kuzma Spoiled by Late Waterloo Goal - Madison Capitols
- Storm Drops 5-2 Decision to Buccaneers - Tri-City Storm
- Herd Drowned by Force in We Hate Winter Night Battle - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Projected Lineup vs. Waterloo I - Madison Capitols
- $16.50 for Teagan Damme - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Storm Set for Three-Game Weekend on Home Ice - Tri-City Storm
- 23 Former USHL Players Named to 2024 Tim Taylor "Watch List" - USHL
- Penalty Filled Matchup Leads to Lumberjacks 5-2 Loss to Lincoln - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Jacks Slow Start Leads to 2-1 Loss against Des Moines - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Three Straight Goals Lift Lumberjacks to 3-2 Win over Lincoln on Throwback Night - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lumberjacks Sign Vaclav Nestrasil, '07 Forward from Czechia - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lumberjacks Welcome Bucs and Stars to Muskegon for Three Game Weekend - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Fighting Five: Saints 'Blackout' ImOn Arena - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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