Stars to Meet Force for First Time this Season
January 16, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Lincoln, Neb. - The Lincoln Stars (19-16-1) will meet the Fargo Force (13-16-2) on Saturday night at the Ice Box. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.
The Stars lead the Western Conference with 39 points and are looking to avoid losing seven straight games for the first time since the 2013-2014 season. Lincoln is 10-7-0 on home ice and led by forward Ludvig Hoff who is sixth in league scoring with 33 points.
The Force is seventh in the West with 28 points, going 8-6-1 on the road this season. Fargo has lost three of its last five games and is led by forward Denis Smirnov who has 12 goals and 19 assists.
Saturday will mark the first of four meetings between the Stars and the Force this year. Fargo went 3-1-0 against Lincoln last season.
Last Game
Jan. 15 vs. Tri-City - (4-2 L)
The Stars lost their fourth straight game to the Storm and finished the season series 4-4-0. Patrick Polino and Dominick Mersch scored for the Stars. Peyton Jones finished with 32 saves.
Stars Lately - The Stars are first in the Western Conference with 39 points, but are on a six-game losing streak and without a win since December. Lincoln has been outscored 23-8 during its slide. The last time the Stars lost seven straight games was during a stretch from Oct. 26, 2013 to Nov. 15, 2013.
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Scouting Fargo - The Force are seventh in the Western Conference with 28 points, having gone 3-6-1 in its last 10 games. Fargo is 8-6-1 on the road this season. Denis Smirnov leads the team with 12 goals and 19 assists.
Stars vs. Force - Jan. 16 marks the first meeting of the season between the teams, but they're scheduled to meet a total of four times. Last season the Stars went 1-3-0 against the Force, getting outscored 13-11.
Set Schedule - The Stars will play only Fridays and Saturdays until the end of the regular season. They'll play twice at home in February, three times at March and four times in April.
Future Teammates
-LIN Dominick Mersch, FGO Jere Astren - Wisconsin
-LIN Ludvig Hoff, LIN Christian Evers, FGO Zach Yon - North Dakota
-LIN Carson Gicewicz, Henry Bowlby, Sam Kauppila, FGO Jake McLaughlin, FGO Ryan Wischow - St. Lawrence
Gillespie Returns - Mike Gillespie has rejoined the Stars after playing eight games for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The forward posted 34 points in 59 games for the Stars last season, taking a share of the team lead. He will wear No. 18.
Tough Stretch - The Stars will play three consecutive nights for the second time this season from Jan. 14-17. After that stretch, Lincoln will have played 10 games since returning from Christmas break.
Mr. 200 - Patrick Polino played his 200th USHL game on Friday, Jan. 8. Polino played for the Chicago Steel and Green Bay Gamblers prior to coming to Lincoln. The fourth-year forward is committed to play at RPI next season.
Top Prospects - Ludvig Hoff, Grant Jozefek, Christian Evers and Peyton Jones participated in the 2016 USHL/NHL Top Prospects game in Omaha, Nebraska on Jan. 12. Chris Hartsburg coached Team West and Athletic Trainer and Equipment Manager Corey Courtney joined the support staff.
Lerario Commits - Biagio Lerario committed to play college hockey at Northeastern University on Jan. 7. He'll join teammate Grant Jozefek and three former Stars with the Huskies.
Wild Bunch - The Stars average 18.2 penalty minutes per game, most in the USHL. Biagio Lerario is tied for the fourth-most penalty minutes in the league with 91.
Tickets, Tickets - Single game tickets, four game mini packs and group tickets are available by logging on to lincolnstars.com or by calling 402-474-7827.
20th Anniversary Season - The Stars are celebrating their 20th Anniversary Season this year. The team played its first season in 1996-1997.
Oh Captain, My Captain - Biagio Lerario was named team captain for the 2015-2016 season. Ludvig Hoff, Patrick Polino and Dylan Woolf were named assistants. The Stars eight-man leadership group includes those four players along with Adam Brady, Sam Kauppila, Ryan Jones and Christian Evers.
Loose Pucks
-The Stars have 18 NCAA committed players
-ECAC (8), NCHC (5), WCHA (1), Hockey East (2), Big Ten (2)
United States Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2016
- Third Period Stretch Too Much - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede Come up Short in Omaha - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Steel Fall 4-1 Saturday To First Place - Chicago Steel
- Buccaneers Fall - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Late Explosion Catapults Storm, 6-3, over Bucs - Tri-City Storm
- Special Teams Key in Lancers' 5-3 Win over Stampede - Omaha Lancers
- Stars Drop Close Game to Fargo, 1-0 - Lincoln Stars
- Gamblers Rebound in Madison - Green Bay Gamblers
- Phantoms Sweep Weekend Series against Dubuque - Youngstown Phantoms
- Quick Strikes Overpower Fighting Saints - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- McLellan & Godbout Notch Goals, But Gamblers Prevail - Madison Capitols
- Thunder Roll to Third Straight - Bloomington Thunder
- Caps Look for Cheese Cup Series Win & Bounce Back Performance - Madison Capitols
- Thunder Take Road to Team USA - Bloomington Thunder
- Stars to Meet Force for First Time this Season - Lincoln Stars
- Musketeers Road Stretch Continues January 22nd - Sioux City Musketeers
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