USHL power poll

by Mike Wallin
Published on October 25, 2004 under United States Hockey League (USHL)

Parity was the name of the game this past week in the United States Hockey League. Just one of the eleven teams went undefeated for the week while just one team went winless. Cedar Rapids and Lincoln have both taken over the top spot in their respective divisions, although both hold narrow leads over their divisional foes.

USHL Standings


East Division           W       L        OTL          PTS
Cedar Rapids            6        1         1           13
Indiana                 5        3         1           11
Waterloo                4        3         1            9
Chicago                 4        7         0            8
Des Moines              1        5         3            5
Green Bay               2        6         0            4


West Division
Lincoln                 7        2         1           15
Omaha                   7        2         0           14
Sioux Falls             6        3         0           12
Sioux City              4        3         2           10
Tri-City                4        5         1            9

Power-Poll Rank Team Last Week Last Week' s Record Upcoming games

1. Omaha 4 2-0 Sioux City, Chicago

Omaha continues to light up the scoreboard as they lead the league with 40 goals. Brock Bradford, Trevor Smith and Corey Carlson are 1-2-3 in the USHL in scoring and no Lancer has a minus rating. The Lancers already have 15 man-advantage goals and lead the USHL with a 23.08 power play efficiency. Carlson notched a hat trick in a 6-1 whipping of Sioux Falls and Jeff LoVecchio scored twice in a big road victory over Waterloo. Jeff Lerg won both games between the pipes and is now 7-1 with a 1.71 GAA on the season.

2. Cedar Rapids 2 2-1 Indiana

The Roughriders split a pair of games versus Chicago and defeated Des Moines this past week. Netminder Dan Tormey won both of his starts, including a shutout against the Steel. Tormey turned aside 55 of 57 shots to improve to 3-0-1 while fellow goalkeeper Alex Stalock is 3-1. The Roughrider penalty-kill has allowed a league low 2 goals in 33 chances.

3. Lincoln 3 2-1 Chicago, @Sioux Falls

Linus Klausen scored twice this past week, including the winner in a shoot-out versus Tri-City. The Stars only loss of the week was a 1-0 contest at Sioux Falls. Lincoln leads the USHL with 15 points in the standings and has yet to lose a home game in regulation. The Stars also lead the USHL with 258 penalty minutes.

4. Sioux Falls 1 1-2 Des Moines, Lincoln

The Stampede fall from first to fourth in the power poll this week. Two blowout losses against Omaha and Tri-City and a week in which Sioux Falls scored just four goals while allowing thirteen. Tom Gorowski scored the lone goal in the Stampede win over Lincoln.

5. Indiana 5 1-1 @Waterloo, @Cedar Rapids

The Ice split a pair of games with Green Bay this past week. Indiana has had trouble holding onto leads in recent games, but have shown resiliency in battling back. During a recent five-game home stand, the Ice went 4-0-1. Paced by the line of Todd McIlrath, Ryan Peckscamp and Tomas Klempa, Indiana are second in goals scored with 33.

6. Waterloo 7 2-1 Indiana

The defending USHL Champs are heating up. Drew O'Connell stopped all 37 Des Moines shots in regulation, overtime and the shoot-out as the Black Hawks escaped with a 1-0 victory. O'Connell leads the USHL with a 3-0 record, 1.13 GAA and a .963 Saves Percentage. Waterloo has been very effective on special teams, ranking third in both power play and penalty kill.

7. Sioux City 6 1-2 @Omaha, @Des Moines

Tim Kennedy scored a power play and a shorthanded goal this past week. Kennedy's man-advantage goal proved to be the game winner versus Tri-City. Netminder Jimmy Spratt turned aside 71of 75 shots in two games, improving his record to 3-1-1.

8. Chicago 8 1-1 @Lincoln, @Omaha

The Steel split a pair of games against the Eastern Division leading Roughriders, losing at home and winning in Cedar Rapids. T.J. Fox scored again this week and continues to lead Chicago in scoring with 8 points, (5G-3A). The Steel continues to be ineffective on home ice with a 1-5 record. On the road, Chicago is 3-2.

9. Tri-City 9 1-1-1 @Green Bay, @Green Bay

Tri-City is 1-2-1 with two games remaining on a six game road trip. The Storm lost to Sioux City 2-1, lost 3-2 in a shoot-out to Lincoln before drubbing Sioux Falls 6-2. J.P. Platisha scored his first USHL career goal against Lincoln and added two more in the win over Sioux Falls.

10. Green Bay 11 1-1 Tri-City, Tri-City

Backed by NHL First Round selection Blake Wheeler, the Gamblers won for just the second time this season last Saturday night. Wheeler scored two third period goals, including the game-winner with 1:56 left in regulation. The Gamblers scored 12 goals in their first six games, but have heated up to score 8 in their last two games.

11. Des Moines 10 0-1-1 @Sioux Falls, Sioux City

The Buccaneers lost two heart breakers this past week. It started with a 1-0 shoot-out loss against Waterloo and concluded with 3-2 decision at Cedar Rapids. Des Moines ranks last in the league on the power play, scoring just 4 goals in 45 opportunities. Des Moines has already lost once in overtime and twice in a shoot-out. All three came on home ice.

United States Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2004

• USHL weekly - USHL
• Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Weekly Update - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
• RoughRiders' Steffes Commits to Miami of Ohio - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
• Steel deal Cedar Rapids first loss - Chicago Steel
• USHL power poll - OSC Original by Mike Wallin
• Stampede Weekly Update - Sioux Falls Stampede

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