USHL Lincoln Stars

Stars Defeat Waterloo, Move into Second in West

Published on April 1, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release


The Lincoln Stars scored three times in the second period to defeat the Waterloo Black Hawks, 4-3, on Friday night at the Ice Box.

Lincoln (33-18-3-1) trailed 2-1 after consecutive power-play goals by Griffin Erdman early in the second. Doug Grimes scored a power-play goal of his own before German Yavash and Mason Marcellus crashed the net to score goals of their own.

The win over Waterloo (34-19-1) moves the Stars into second place in the Western Conference and past the Black Hawks. Lincoln is one point ahead but must also win Saturday's 6:05 p.m. game to remain ahead of Waterloo after the weekend.

"The standings are certainly important," head coach Rocky Russo said, "and it's no secret that we want to be in second place and maybe first place. We have a tremendous amount of respect for our opponent but we have an incredible belief in ourselves and what we can accomplish when we stick together and believe in what Lincoln Stars Hockey means and we're going to come back out and give that same strong effort tomorrow."

The Stars scored first when Jared Mangan continued his near point-per-game pace since mid-February by scoring his 13th of the season at the 6:32 mark of the first period. Brennan Ali's wrist shot from atop the near circle was denied but Mangan was their near-post side to poke it home. He has 16 points (8+8) in his last 17 games and extended his point streak to six games (2+4).

That goal was part of a dominant first period in which Lincoln outshot Waterloo 26-5. That represented the most shots in any period by the Stars this season but the 1-0 lead was not enough as Erdman and Waterloo took the lead on the first two Black Hawks' power plays of the night to open up the second period.

Grimes and Lincoln would responded. His wrist shot from inside the far circle at the 11:59 mark of the second came just under five minutes after Waterloo had taken the lead. It not only tied the game but shifted the momentum of the period back to the Stars.

"This is why I love junior hockey," Russo said. "(After Waterloo scored twice early in the second) I just said to the guys 'don't worry about it.' Early on in the year we would have gotten stressed about that. Our energy level would have dropped and our bench wouldn't have been where we wanted. Our guys are so mentally strong now. We've been through so much together and we've been through so much adversity."

Yavash's goal gave the Stars the lead for good at the 18:18 mark of the second as he redirected a shot from Adam Kleber top shelf and over the shoulder of goaltender Emmett Croteau. Kleber saved the play shortly before his shot by hustling to edge of the blue line far side to keep the puck insides before setting Yavash up for his third goal since joining the Stars.

Lincoln added to its lead when Patrick Raftery cut to the net and was blocked and denied on a couple of attempts but a rebound eventually came loose atop the crease, where Marcellus poked it in at the 19:38 mark of the third. He also assisted on Grimes' goal to record a multi-point game for the second straight game.

"(Raftery) was just battling," Marcellus said. "Four guys were out and front and the puck was just sitting there for me. He did everything on that and I just had to tap it in. Kudos to him. It was a really hard-working play and he deserves all the credit. The goalie wasn't in the net, which was lucky, so I just shoveled it into the net."

Erdman scored on a six-on-five sequence when Waterloo sent Croteau to the bench for the extra attacker with 20 seconds left to complete the hat trick for his second of the season.

The Stars have won three straight and host the Black Hawks again on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. It's Billet Appreciation Night and the Stars will be honoring all of their billet parents before the game on the ice. Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule will also be on hand for the ceremonial puck drop. Tickets can be purchased at lincolnstars.com

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2023


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