USHL Update - Week 15

Published on January 12, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release

Around the League

Rounding Up the Herd

...The Sioux Falls Stampede won consecutive games and earned five of six possible points in the standings during the week. Four of the last seven games for the Herd have gone past regulation. Bryan Moore scored the overtime winner in Friday's 2-1 victory against Dubuque. It was his fourth goal over his last four games as he tallied two goals in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to Sioux City. Ryan Jacobson tallied the game-winner in Saturday's 5-3 win over Waterloo. It was his fourth game-winner of the season which is tied for third in the USHL. After being acquired earlier in the week, Thomas O'Regan scored a goal in both victories for his new club. Goaltender Stephon Williams made a combined 57 saves over the team's two wins.

Phantom Five

‚¬Â¦It was three straight nights of one-goal games for the Youngstown Phantoms as they earned five of a possible six points in the standings. The club has now played five consecutive games decided by one goal. Ty Loney scored a goal in both of the team's victories ‚¬" Friday and Saturday ‚¬" giving him a goal-scoring streak of four games. Cody Strang tallied a goal in all three games during the weekend and has now scored a goal in five straight contests. Leading scorer Jiri Sekac has a point in five straight games (2g, 5a) and has a plus-five rating over that stretch. Defenseman Justin Stevens netted his first career USHL goal in Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to Team USA. Defenseman Scott Mayfield scored a goal on Saturday and has posted a plus-four rating over his last four games.

Starring in 2011

‚¬Â¦The Lincoln Stars have started off the New Year in good fashion by winning their first two games of 2011. The victories snapped their six-game losing streak to close out the 2010 portion of the schedule. After scoring eight goals total during the winless stretch, the team netted seven goals in their two weekend victories. Playing in his first game with the Stars, forward Zachary Aston-Reese scored his first career USHL goal, which proved to be the game-winner, just over five minutes into Friday's 3-0 win against Tri-City. Forward Brent Tate scored two goals, including the game-winner, in Saturday's 4-3 win at Omaha. Despite his club being outshot 42-27 on Saturday, goaltender Kevin Murdock made a season high 39 saves for the Stars, this coming one night after recording his third shutout of the season.

Full House

‚¬Â¦The Omaha Lancers welcomed 7,764 fans to their game on Saturday against the rival Lincoln Stars. It was the highest attended game in the League this season and it was the largest crowd to ever see a USHL game in Omaha during the 25-year history of the Lancers.

Fire on Ice

‚¬Â¦The Indiana Ice remained hot with a pair of convincing victories and extended their winning streak to six games, which is the second longest streak in the USHL this season. Peter Schneider scored a pair of goals in Friday's 7-1 win over Muskegon, his fourth multi-goal game of the season. Sean Kuraly added a shorthanded tally, the fourth straight game the Ice had scored a shorthanded goal. Goaltender Casey DeSmith made a season 37 saves to improve his winning streak to seven. Adam Erne, the youngest player in the USHL, scored the game-winner in Saturday's 2-0 win over Chicago. It was his second goal in as many nights and third over his last four games. Brian Ferlin sealed Saturday's victory with a late empty net goal, which extended his point streak to nine games. He has posted 17 points (9g, 8a) and a plus-11 rating over that stretch, including six goals over the last four games.

Shootout for the East

‚¬Â¦In a home-and-home series between the two teams with the best overall records in the USHL, it was only fitting that both games would go beyond regulation time. The Green Bay Gamblers won two tight contests by skating away with a pair of shootout victories over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Jean-Paul LaFontaine scored a goal for the third straight game on Friday and the Gamblers scored on all four attempts in the shootout to claim a 2-1 win. It extended their home winning streak to 11 games, the longest stretch of home wins since the Indiana Ice also won 11 straight during the 2008-09 season. Defenseman Max Hartner scored a pair of goals in regulation and the Gamblers scored on 3-of-5 attempts in the shootout on Saturday to claim the 4-3 win and extend their overall win streak to five games. Jayson Megna scored a goal in both games for Cedar Rapids and now has three goals over his last four games.

Notes

‚¬Â¦Defenseman Austin Coldwell scored the overtime winner for the Des Moines Buccaneers in Saturday's 4-3 victory against Tri-City. The game was played in front of 3,691 fans, the largest crowd to see a Bucs game this season. It was his second overtime winner of the season for Coldwell ‚¬Â¦Seven different skaters tallied a goal for the Fargo Force in the 7-2 win against Waterloo on Saturday, which extended the Force win streak to six games ‚¬Â¦After scoring five goals total during a four-game winless stretch (0-3-1), the Dubuque Fighting Saints scored five in their shutout victory over Fargo on Saturday. John Gaudreau scored his League leading sixth game-winning goal of the season ‚¬Â¦Matt Berry has scored three goals over his last four games and has six points (3g, 3a) during his current four-game point streak for the Muskegon Lumberjacks ‚¬Â¦Max McCormick is riding a five-game point streak (4g, 3a) for the Sioux City Musketeers ‚¬Â¦The first USHL goal for Team USA defenseman Connor Carrick was the game-winner in Saturday's 4-2 win against Sioux City while forward Cameron Darcy scored a goal in both weekend wins for Team USA and now has goals in four straight USHL contests.

Alumni News

‚¬Â¦When the NHL released its full rosters for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, a pair of USHL alumni were among the league's stars. Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp was among 21 first-timers named to the All-Star event. He is tied for third in the NHL with 25 goals this season. Sharp spent two seasons in the USHL (Thunder Bay Flyers, 1998-2000). Also making his first NHL All-Star Game appearance is David Backes of the St. Louis Blues. The former Lincoln Stars forward (2001-03) is currently leading his team in scoring with 33 points (12g, 21a) through 41 games this season.

United States Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2011

• Omaha Lancers Weekly - Omaha Lancers
• Party Bus Trip to Waterloo February 19th - Green Bay Gamblers
• Austin Coldwell Commits to University of Alaska-Anchorage - Des Moines Buccaneers
• 4 Stampede Players Listed on NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings - Sioux Falls Stampede
• Busy Weekend for Saints Features Two Home Games - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• USHL Update - Week 15 - USHL

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