USHL Update - Week 14

Published on January 4, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release

Around the League

USHL Fans Ring in the New Year in Style ...Fans took advantage of their last chance to see USHL games before the calendar flipped to 2012. On New Year's Eve, more than 27,000 fans turned out to see the seven games on the schedule, including four teams that hosted their largest crowd of the season. The Green Bay Gamblers welcomed 6,277 fans to their convincing 10-1 victory against Chicago on Saturday, while the Sioux Falls Stampede hosted a season high 3,562 during the 3-1 win over Des Moines. In Sioux City, a total of 4,009 fans watched as Musketeers goaltender Matt Skoff recorded his 10th USHL career shutout in the 5-0 win over Lincoln. The Waterloo Black Hawks had a capacity standing-room-only crowd of 3,500 to see their 5-3 victory against rival Cedar Rapids. It wasn't the usual digs for the Indiana Ice on Saturday, but the team still hosted their second largest crowd of the season as 5,360 fans saw their 3-0 win over Youngstown in downtown Indianapolis at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers.

2011 on Ice ...The Indiana Ice closed out the calendar as one of the hottest teams in the USHL. They won all three games during the week and are unbeaten in regulation over their last eight contests (6-0-2). Indiana outscored the opposition 30-15 over that span and has scored at least one power play goal in the last eight games as they lead the USHL with a 30.1% conversion rate with the man advantage. Goaltender Jon Gillies has been in net for each of the last eight games, including stopping all 26 shots in the 3-0 win vs. Youngstown on Saturday to record his fifth USHL career shutout, setting a new Indiana Ice record. Defenseman Ryan Obuchowski is riding a five-game assist streak and is second among USHL blueliners in scoring with 16 points (3g, 13a). Daniil Tarasov scored two goals in Friday's 5-2 win against Youngstown which was his 12th USHL career multi-goal game.

End of Road Woes ...The Fargo Force hit the road last weekend with just three road wins on the season and hadn't earned a victory as the visitor since November 4th, but that all changed with back-to-back wins. On Friday, the Force scored four goals in the second period alone on the way to a 5-2 victory against Chicago. Bryn Chyzyk scored his sixth goal in a span of six games and Colton Hargrove had a three-point night (1g, 2a), including the game-winning goal. Austin Farley had a three-assist night for the third time in a span of four games. He followed up with a goal in regulation and the deciding shootout tally in the 3-2 shootout victory over Dubuque on Saturday. Zane Gothberg was in net for both wins posting a 1.92 GAA and .925 SV%, plus stopped all three attempts in the shootout of Saturday's 3-2 win.

Feels Like the First Time ...A pair of players had memorable debuts in the USHL during the week. Justin Bailey scored a goal just 10:25 into his first USHL game with the Indiana Ice on Friday. The 16-year-old was the club's first pick (11th overall) in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft. On Wednesday, Zach Diamantoni made his USHL debut for the Dubuque Fighting Saints and scored a goal on his first shot in the League. He also was a selection in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft (6th round, 78th overall).

Hat Trick Trifecta ...There were a hat trick of hat tricks in the USHL during the week, including two in the same game. Jared Hanson of the Lincoln Stars and Gasper Kopitar of the Des Moines Buccaneers traded hat tricks in their contest on Friday, a wild game that the Stars won 7-6 in the shootout after giving up a 6-1 lead. Hanson, who notched his second three-goal game of the season, also had the deciding shootout tally. The following night, Nick Saracino scored all three goals for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in their 5-3 loss to Waterloo. His first USHL career hat trick had goals scored in three different ways - power play, extra attacker, and even strength.

Ten to End "˜11 ...The Green Bay Gamblers equaled a USHL season high in scoring during their 10-1 win vs. Chicago on Saturday. Four of their goals came on the power play as they currently hold the League's second best power play unit at 24.8%. Eight different skaters recorded multi-point games, including Matthew Weis who had a four-point night (2g, 2a), his first points in the USHL. Nolan LaPorte and Jordan Schmaltz both scored two goals in the contest.

On the Plus Side ...During the Lincoln Stars 7-6 shootout win vs. Des Moines on Friday, forward Luke Johnson and Jared Hanson both finished with a plus-five rating which equaled a USHL game high for a player this season. The duo is currently tied for seventh overall in the League with a plus-13 rating. Teammate Matt Friese posted a plus-four rating to go along with his three points (1g, 2a) for the Stars.

The Defense Never Rests ...It was a big defensive effort for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in their 4-0 win vs. Sioux Falls on Friday. Goaltender Matt Morris stopped all 30 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the season and fifth of his USHL career. He currently leads USHL goaltenders with a 1.85 GAA. Morris received plenty of help in front as the Saints defensemen not only shutdown Sioux Falls, but combined for six points in the contest. Mike Matheson dished out three assists while Matthew Caito collected two points (1g, 1a). Jake Downing also tallied his first goal of the season.

Notes ...After being held without a goal in his first 11 games of the season, Sioux City Musketeers forward Tim O'Brien scored three goals over two games, including a pair in Saturday's 5-0 win vs. Tri-City...Sioux Falls Stampede goaltender Stephon Williams recorded his first shutout of the season when he turned away all 18 shots he faced in the 2-0 victory over Chicago on Wednesday...Tri-City Storm forward Nick Lappin scored two goals, including the game-winner with just 24 seconds remaining in the third period, during Friday's 4-3 win against Sioux City. It was his fifth multi-goal game of the season...The Waterloo Black Hawks won their final two games of 2011 which also closed out a four-game stretch vs. teams from the state of Iowa. The Hawks went 3-1-0 during that four-game swing against in-state rivals and are 6-3-0 this season against teams based in Iowa.

United States Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2012

• U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls to Russia, 7-4, in Championship Game of World Under-17 Challenge - U.S. National Team
• Stampede Come up Short in 3-2 Loss to Omaha - Sioux Falls Stampede
• Lancers Kick off 2012 with 3-2 Win at Sioux Falls - Omaha Lancers
• U.S. National Junior Team Downs Switzerland, 2-1, in World Junior Championship Finale - U.S. National Team
• Sign up for January 13th "Dash for Cash" Prior to January 6th - Green Bay Gamblers
• Fighting Saints Acquire Goaltender Connor Girard - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Kenny Matheson to Return to Brockville - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Gamblers Raise Funds for Bay Beach - Green Bay Gamblers
• Grigory Dikushin to Play in Gold Medal Game - Green Bay Gamblers
• Ice Forward Kuraly and Goaltender Gillies Honored by USHL - Indiana Ice
• USHL Update - Week 14 - USHL
• Phantoms Have Chance to 'Get the Ball Rolling' in 2012 with Trio of Conference Games - Youngstown Phantoms
• Lumberjacks Log: New Year Starts with Busy Week - Muskegon Lumberjacks

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