USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

RECAP - Muskegon Stumbles in 8-4 Loss to Team USA U18

March 11, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Phil Tresca vs. Team USA U18
Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Phil Tresca vs. Team USA U18
(Muskegon Lumberjacks)

MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Muskegon Lumberjacks received two power play goals from Jake Braccini, but could not find their way to victory as they fell to Team USA U18 by a final score of 8-to-4 in game one of the weekend series on Friday, March 11, 2022, from Mercy Health Arena in downtown Muskegon. Other Lumberjacks goals came from Ben Strinden and Jake Richard, but Cutter Gauthier's three-goal hat trick performance led Team USA to victory in Friday night's contest. With the loss, the Lumberjacks fall to 25-16-3-3 and remain in third place in the Eastern Conference standings with 56 points.

1st Period

The 18's wasted no time getting on the board early as Jimmy Snuggerud scored the game's first goal 41 seconds into the contest to make it a 1-to-0 game. Logan Cooley and Cutter Gauthier picked up assists on Snuggerud's fourth goal of the season.

Less than a minute later, Ben Strinden tied the game 1-to-1 for the Lumberjacks with his 22nd goal of the season to level the score. Quinn Hutson and Joey Larson scooped up helpers on the goal.

However, Team USA regained the lead at 3:43 courtesy of Cutter Gauthier to make it a 2-to-1 game for the 18's. Gauthier's 16th goal of the season went unassisted.

While shorthanded, the 18's increased their lead to 3-to-1 at 14:02 with a lamplighter from Frank Nazar. That would be Nazar's 13th goal of the season.

After one full period of action from Mercy Health Arena, Team USA controlled a 3-to-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

2nd Period

Team USA scored another quick goal to begin the second period, this time just 15 seconds into the middle stanza by Cutter Gauthier, his second of the contest. Gauthier's 17th goal of the season was assisted by Logan Cooley and Lane Hutson to make it a 4-to-1 game for Team USA.

The Lumberjacks would respond with a power play goal from Jake Braccini at 1:06 into the second period. Braccini's 21st goal of the year was helped by Jake Richard to put Muskegon within two goals again with a 4-to-2 score.

The 18's would regain the three-goal lead at 10:56 of the period with a tally from Will Smith that increased the Team USA lead to 5-to-2. Smith's 10th goal of the season was assisted by Tyler Duke.

At 13:58, Logan Cooley picked up his seventh goal of the season to push the Team USA lead to 6-to-2. Cooley's goal was assisted by Tyler Duke and Ryan Leonard.

Through 40 minutes of action, Team USA jumped out a 6-2 lead over Muskegon heading into the final period of regulation.

3rd Period

Muskegon's Jake Braccini would score his second goal of the game at 3:06 while on the power play to move Muskegon within three goals, making it a 6-to-3 lead for Team USA. Braccini's 22nd goal of the season was assisted by Joey Larson.

Fourteen seconds later, Team USA's Ryan Chesley fired a backhand past Muskegon netminder Chase Clark to restore the four-goal lead for the 18's, now leading 7-to-3. Chesley's fourth goal of the season was assisted by Lane Hutson at 3:20 of the third period.

At 11:24, Cutter Gauthier completed the hat trick to pad the Team USA lead to 8-to-3, with his 18th goal of the year. Gauthier's second consecutive hat trick against the Lumberjacks was officially unassisted.

The Lumberjacks would try to mount the comeback after a goal from Jake Richard at 14:51, with an assist coming from Phil Tresca. Richard's 12th goal of the season made it an 8-to-4 game, still in favor of Team USA.

In the end, the 18's proved to be too much for the Lumberjacks in game one of the weekend series, claiming Friday night's victory by a final score of 8-to-4.

On Deck

The Lumberjacks will finish off their two-game weekend series with Team USA U18 on Saturday, March 12. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 pm EST from Mercy Health Arena in downtown Muskegon for St. Paddy's Party!

Upcoming Theme Nights - St. Paddy's Party

On Saturday, March 12, come cheer on the Lumberjacks with some bagpipes and green beer for St. Paddy's Day! For more information, call the Muskegon Lumberjacks Business office at (231)-799-7000 or email afranczek@muskegonlumberjacks.com.

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics




Images from this story

Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Phil Tresca vs. Team USA U18
Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Phil Tresca vs. Team USA U18
   



United States Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2022


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