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USHL Update - Week 14

January 6, 2010 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


Around the League

Hot Streak for Gamblers

...The Green Bay Gamblers are riding a six-game point streak after winning all three games during the week and now sit just two points behind Omaha for the overall League lead. The team outscored the opposition 13-5 over the three recent victories, all of which were on home ice and extended their home win streak to four. The Gamblers rank top in the USHL allowing just 2.27 goals per game. Goaltender Steve Summerhays has won his last 10 starts and has not allowed more than two goals in any of his last six starts. Chris Crane scored two goals on Saturday, the second time in a span of three games in which he has scored a pair of goals. Team leading scorer Anders Lee also netted a pair in that game and now has 15 goals on the season. Defenseman David Makowski has three goals over his last five games including the game-winner in Sunday's 2-1 victory over Youngstown.

Force Make a Leap

...The Fargo Force have jumped into sole possession of second place in the West Division standings thanks to a five-game winning streak. Four of those victories have been by a single goal. The team overcame a 4-1 deficit on Saturday when they tallied four goals in the second period and eventually defeated Omaha 6-5. Chase Grant netted two goals in the win bringing his total to eight goals over a five-game goal streak. Goaltender Dayn Belfour earned his first USHL victory on Saturday when he played the final two periods and stopped 12-of-13 shots he faced. He stopped 30 shots the following evening for his second straight win. Team leading scorer Matt Leitner scored three goals over three games during the week. He now has 14 goals through 24 games, matching his total through 56 games last season. John Stampohar and Nicholas Romanick each scored their first goal of the season in Sunday's 6-5 win vs. Sioux Falls. Corey Leivermann dished out five assists during the three-win week.

Ice Chips

...Playing in just his third game with the Ice since being acquired in a trade, Blake Coleman netted two goals in the 5-3 victory on New Year's Eve vs. Chicago. Antti Roppo scored the equalizer late in the third period then potted the overtime winner in Saturday's 4-3 OT victory vs. Waterloo. It improved Indiana's record to 4-1 in games that have gone past regulation. Roppo has scored a team-leading 15 goals this season and has five multi-goal games. Goaltender Casey DeSmith started both games during the week and made a combined 68 saves to earn two victories. The Ice have turned away 31 of the last 33 opponent power play chances and lead the League with in overall penalty killing (86.7%).

Leading Lancers

...Despite recording just 15 shots on New Year's Eve, the Omaha Lancers won 5-3 over Sioux City. Matt White scored the game-winner, his seventh goal during a five-game goal streak. Erik Haula tallied two goals, including one shorthanded, in Saturday's loss to Fargo. Goaltender John Keeney earned his first USHL shutout when he turned aside 31 shots in the 1-0 victory vs. Cedar Rapids on Sunday. In three appearances this season, he has stopped 53 of 55 shots he has faced. Ryan Daugherty scored the lone goal in Sunday's win and now has six goals over his last seven games. Two of those goals have been game-winners and he ranks tied for second in the USHL with four this season.

RoughRiders Net a Dozen

...After scoring a combined five goals in their previous three games, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders netted five goals in their victory over Youngstown on New Year's Eve. Two nights later, they tallied seven goals. Jeff Costello scored three goals over the two-game span while Stephen Collins and Eric Robinson scored a goal in both contests. Jared Beers dished out three assists in Thursday's 5-1 win. Defenseman Bryce Aneloski equaled a League season high when scored six points (1g, 5a) in Saturday's 7-5 win vs. Des Moines. He also equaled a USHL season high with five assists in the contest. Defenseman Mac Bennett tallied three points (1g, 2a) including the game-winner on Saturday.

Storm Streaks

...Tri-City forward Jaden Schwartz is riding a 10-game point streak in which he has tallied 20 points (5g, 15a). Brett Mohler has posted a five-game point streak (4g, 4a) and has points in nine of his last 10 games. Maxwell Tardy is also on a five-game point streak (1g, 6a) and has recorded a point in 11 of his last 13 games.

Playing for the Homeland

...Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Andrej Sustr and Tri-City Storm forward Radoslav Illo recently competed for their countries at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Sustr played five games for the Czech Republic which finished the tournament with three wins in six games. Illo ranked tied for second in scoring on the Slovakia team with five points (2g, 3a) in six games.

Notes

...Chicago Steel forward Andrei Kuchin scored a goal in three straight games during the week. He has a point in 10 of his last 11 games...Steel goaltender Connor Wilson earned consecutive victories when stopped a total of 66 shots in victories over Lincoln on Friday and Saturday...Forward Matthew Nieto has scored six goals over his last six games for Team USA...Des Moines Buccaneers forward Ryan Walters had his 10-game point streak (5g, 11a) snapped on Friday before collecting two assists on Saturday...Sioux City Musketeers forward Ryan Carpenter is riding a four-game point streak (2g, 4a)...The Lincoln Stars played in consecutive games decided by shootouts during the week. Forward Josh Berge converted on his attempt in both shootouts...The Waterloo Black Hawks have played in four straight games decided by one goal, including two that have gone past regulation.

Alumni News

...Two USHL alumni participated in the NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day which was played at Fenway Park in Boston. Blake Wheeler (Green Bay Gamblers, 2004-05) played for the Boston Bruins and Matt Carle (Omaha Lancers, 2002-03) for the Philadelphia Flyers. Former USHL official Chris Rooney served as a referee for the third annual event in which the Bruins won 2-1 in overtime...Five USHL alumni were selected to compete for the U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team at the 2010 Winter Games. NHL defenseman Brian Rafalski (Madison Capitols, 1990-91) of the Detroit Red Wings, along with forwards Paul Stastny (Omaha Lancers, 2002-04) of the Colorado Avalanche, Joe Pavelski (Waterloo Black Hawks, 2002-04) of the San Jose Sharks, David Backes (Lincoln Stars, 2001-03) of the St. Louis Blues, and Ryan Malone (Omaha Lancers, 1998-99) of the Tampa Bay Lightning will represent the U.S. in February.

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