USHL Notes: February 14, 2024
Published on February 14, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Chicago, Ill. --- Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 14, a total of 20 games dot the calendar in a busy week for United States Hockey League teams.
Players of the Week: Mack Celebrini (Chicago/USHL Forward of the Week) accumulated four goals and three assists for seven points over the course of a pair of Steel wins last week. The Vancouver, B.C., native contributed five points on three goals and two assists in a 7-4 victory at Des Moines Saturday. The Boston University commit has lept to the top of the USHL scoring charts with 28-26--54 in 34 games played on the season. This is the third time he's been named USHL Forward of the Week.
Joe Palodichuk (Fargo/USHL Defenseman of the Week) had a goal and two assists with four shots on goal and was +4 in two games last week for the Force. A native of Cottage Grove, Minn., and a University of Wisconsin commit, Palodichuk scored the game-winner and assisted on two others in a 7-1 win over Sioux City last Friday. Now a two-time USHL Defenseman of the Week this year, Palodichuk is Fargo's top-scoring defenseman with 6-20--26 in 34 games for 2022-23.
Matej Marinov (Fargo/USHL Goaltender of the Week) went 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .931 sv% in two games last week. The Quinnipiac commit posted 33 saves in 6-3 win over Sioux City Saturday and had 21 saves in 7-1 victory over the Musketeers Friday. This is the third time the Nitra, Slovakia native has been named USHL Goaltender of the Week this year.
Pointedly: With an 8-1-1-0 mark in its last 10 games and 58 points, Fargo not only ranks as the top team in the Western Conference, but in the entire 16-team USHL. The Force, who stand 13-4-0-2 at home, own a four-point edge over Waterloo in the Western Conference standings. The Black Hawks are on a hot streak of their own with an 8-2-0-0 record in their last 10 outings.
Chicago, which has gone 5-4-1-0 in its last 10 games, maintain its lead in the Eastern Conference with 55 points. Green Bay has 48 points in standing in second place, just ahead of the NTDP and Youngstown, both of whom enter the week with 47 points. The NTDP has won eight of its last 10 games and Youngstown has won seven of its last 10 contests.
Pad Lock: Fargo's Matej Marinov stands 16-0-0-0 on the year and leads the USHL with a 2.08 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. His crease mate, Anton Castro, stands 11-8-1-1 with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save percentage. Fargo has allowed a league-low 97 goals in 39 games on the season. Lincoln ranks second in fewest goals allowed with 110.
Cresting: With seven points on three goals and four assists in the last six games, Sioux Falls forward Isaac Gordon enters this week owning the league's longest point-scoring streak. Gordon owns a 12-11--23 ledger in 39 games on the season.
USHL NHL Alumni Spotlight: Defenseman Alec Martinez, who skated for Cedar Rapids in 2004-05 and played three seasons at Miami (Ohio) before joining the Los Angeles Kings organization in 2009-10, is playing in his 14th season in the National Hockey League. The Rochester Hills, Mich., native has registered 77 goals and 178 assists for 255 points in 736 NHL games. Martinez, who was a member of Stanley Cup championship teams with the Kings in 2011-12 and 2013-14, is currently in his fourth season with the Vegas Golden Knights.
USHL College Commitments 2022-23: A total of 354 current USHL players have committed to play NCAA Division I college hockey. 50 schools are represented amongst the 354 commitments including 92 players headed to Hockey East teams, 86 players to the National Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHC), 77 players to Big 10 programs, 57 players to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC), 32 players to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), six players to Atlantic Hockey (AHA) teams and four players to independent programs.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2023
- Last Weekend Proved That the Jacks Do Better When They Focus on Winning and Stay out of the Penalty Box - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Forward Michael Callow Gave the New-Look Lumberjacks a Spark Last Friday with Two Huge Goals - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Sacha Boisvert Collects A Hat Trick In Muskegon's 7-3 Victory Over Madison - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lumberjacks' Offense Goes Quiet in a 3-1 Loss to Madison Capitols - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Introducing the Des Moines Barkaneers - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview - Waterloo Black Hawks
- USHL Notes: February 14, 2024 - USHL
- Stars Host Buccaneers for Valentine's Day Matchup - Lincoln Stars
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