Stars Look to Clinch Playoff Spot in Home Series
April 1, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Lincoln, Neb. - The Stars (32-21-3) will host the Waterloo Black Hawks (29-22-5) on Friday and the Sioux Falls Stampede (27-24-4) on Saturday in the Ice Box. Puck drop for both games is set for 7:05 pm.
The Stars are second in the Western Conference with 67 points and require two points to clinch a playoff spot. Lincoln has earned points in six of its last seven games. Tanner Laczynski leads the team and is tied for second in league scoring with 61 points.
Waterloo rides into the Ice Box third in the West with 63 points and has gone 7-3-0 in its last 10 games. Trade deadline acquisitions Ryan Lohin and Sam McCormick lead the Black Hawks offensively with 55 and 53 points respectively.
Sioux Falls enters the weekend two points shy of the fourth and final playoff spot. The Stampede has won four of its last five games and is led by Parker Tuomie who has 49 points in 55 games.
The Stars are 2-1-0 against the Black Hawks and the Stampede this season.
Last Game
March 25 vs. Chicago - (5-2 W)
The Stars had five different goal scorers en route to snapping a five-game road-losing streak and finishing 14-13-3 on the road this season. Peyton Jones made 24 saves in the win.
Stars Lately - The Stars are second in the Western Conference with 67 points and have taken points from six of their last seven games. They are two points from clinching a playoff spot. Tanner Laczynski leads the team with 61 points. Peyton Jones has the fourth-best save percentage (.922) and sixth-best GAA (2.31) in the USHL.
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Scouting Waterloo - The Black Hawks are third in the West with 63 points and have gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 games. Waterloo needs six points to clinch a spot in the postseason. Ryan Lohin leads the team with 55 points.
Stars vs. Black Hawks - The Stars are 2-1-0 against the Black Hawks this season, outscoring them 7-6. Friday will mark the final meeting between the teams in the regular season.
Stick With Us - The Stars will wear helmet sticks to commemorate forward Adam Brady who was injured in a car accident and Tim Wyse, the father of Anthony, who passed away in March.
Future Teammates
-LIN Joachim Weberg, WAT Michael Davies - Denver
-LIN Ludvig Hoff, LIN Christian Evers, WAT Zach Yon - North Dakota
-LIN Ethen Frank, WAT Cam Orchard - Western Michigan
-LIN Grant Jozefek, LIN Biagio Lerario, WAT Liam Pecararo, WAT Brandon Schultz - Northeastern
-LIN Tanner Laczynski, WAT Sam McCormick - Ohio State
Top Gunner - Tanner Laczynski has three goals and four assists in his last five games. The Ohio State commit is tied for second in USHL scoring with 61 points and is second in the league with 39 assists.
Playoff Push - The Stars are two points from clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2012. They will become the second Western Conference team to clinch this season, behind the first-place Tri-City Storm.
Frozen Four - The Stars had 13 players compete in the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship Tournament. Seven players remain in the Frozen Four: Tommy Schutt (Quinnipiac), Luke Shiplo (Quinnipiac), Brad Hawkinson (Denver), Chris Wilkie (North Dakota), Luke Johnson (North Dakota), Paul LaDue (North Dakota) and John Simonson (North Dakota).
Going Pro - Five Stars alumni finished their college careers and signed professional contracts within the last month: Eric Scheid (Portland Pirates - AHL), Nick Cecere (Alaska Aces - ECHL), Lukas Hafner (Alaska Aces - ECHL), Frank Misuraca (Peoria Rivermen - SPHL) and Richard Coyne (Mississippi RiverKings - SPHL).
Going Once, Twice - The Stars will host their second jersey auction of the season on Saturday, April 2. All proceeds will go to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The team's last jersey auction on Dec. 5 raised more than $20,000 for Make-A-Wish Nebraska
Man in the Box - Biagio Lerario leads the USHL with 165 penalty minutes and is tied for first in the league with five major penalties.
Home Cookin' - The Stars are 18-8-0 at home this season, riding a eight-game home-winning streak. Their last loss in the Ice Box came on Jan. 16 vs. Fargo.
Stonewall Jones - Peyton Jones is 18-9-3 with the fourth-best save percentage (.922) and sixth-best GAA (2.31) in the USHL.
NHL CSS Rankings - Peyton Jones, Tanner Laczynski and affiliate Carter Long were listed on the NHL CSS midterm rankings released in mid-January.
Rock the Box - The Stars have sold out three of their last five home games with packed crowds on Jan. 30, Feb. 19 and March 5. The team has the third-best in attendance in the USHL.
Oh Captain, My Captain - Biagio Lerario was named team captain for the 2015-2016 season. Ludvig Hoff, Ryan Jones and Dylan Woolf were named alternates. The Stars seven-man leadership group includes those four players along with Adam Brady, Sam Kauppila and Christian Evers.
Loose PucksÂ
-The Stars have 21 NCAA committed players
-ECAC (6), NCHC (6), WCHA (2), Hockey East (3), Big Ten (4)
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2016
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- Halladay Shuts Down Steel - Bloomington Thunder
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- Gamblers Win at Home - Green Bay Gamblers
- Storm Strengthens First-Place Lead in OT Loss, 4-3 - Tri-City Storm
- Courtnall's Goal Lifts Herd Past Bucs 3-2 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hawks Outshine Stars in Lincoln - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Charlie Gerard Nets Four Goals in Return to Madison - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Black Hawks Down Stars, 5-4 - Lincoln Stars
- Gerard Leads Takedown of His Former Team - Madison Capitols
- Phantoms Top Line Pummels Lancers - Youngstown Phantoms
- Rivera, French Score in 5-2 Loss in Youngstown - Omaha Lancers
- Stars Look to Clinch Playoff Spot in Home Series - Lincoln Stars
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