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USHL Update - Week 26

March 25, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


AROUND THE LEAGUE

Streaking to the Record Books ...Winning three games in three nights over the weekend put the Youngstown Phantoms in the record books as they pushed their winning streak to 17 games, the longest streak in the USHL Tier 1 era (2002-present). The Phantoms have posted a 36-13-5 record this season, already setting a team record for points in the standings (77) and sit one victory short of equaling their team record set during the 2012-13 season. The record 17-game winning streak follows the 2013-14 season in which the Phantoms won just 17 games total. Over their streak that began on February 6th, they have outscored the opposition 75-30 and have defeated 10 different USHL teams. Nine of the wins during the streak have been on the road, including all three during the weekend. Josh Nenadal scored the game-winning goal with just 43 seconds remaining in the third period of Friday's 2-1 victory over the Waterloo Black Hawks. Chris Birdsall then stopped all 24 shots he faced in Saturday's 4-0 win against Waterloo to post his third shutout of the season. Kyle Connor netted the game-winner with just over four minutes to play in Sunday's 4-3 victory against the Chicago Steel to help the Phantoms set the new record. It was the sixth time during the streak that Connor scored the game-winning goal, and he is now tied for first in the USHL with seven total winners this season.

Playoff Clinchers ...Four different teams secured their spot in the 2015 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs over the weekend, filling half of the eight available spots for the postseason. The Tri-City Storm were the first to do so with their 5-4 overtime win against the Des Moines Buccaneers on Friday, marking the first playoff appearance for the Storm since the spring of 2012. The Sioux City Musketeers also clinched a spot with their 6-3 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede, making it consecutive playoff berths for the Musketeers. Two playoff positions in the Eastern Conference were secured on Saturday night as the Youngstown Phantoms defeated Waterloo 4-0 to make it three appearances in the postseason over the last four years for the Phantoms. Despite losing 4-2 on Saturday to Dubuque, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders clinched a playoff berth which will be their 14th postseason appearance in 16 seasons since coming to Cedar Rapids.

Goal Outburst ...The offense for Team USA's Under-18 squad exploded on Friday during an 11-3 win over the Lincoln Stars. It was the most goals by a USHL team since the Indiana Ice scored 11 in a game during the 2009-10 season (2/17/10 vs. Youngstown). 15 different skaters recorded a point as the team totaled 29 points in the contest (11g, 18a). Five different players had three-point nights - Jeremy Bracco (2g, 1a), Auston Matthews (2g, 1a), Christian Fischer (2g, 1a), Matthew Tkachuk (1g, 2a), and Clayton Keller (1g, 2a). Team USA followed up with eight more goals in Saturday's 8-0 shutout of Lincoln and has scored 48 goals over their last seven USHL contests.

Home Sweet Home ...A two-game weekend sweep over Des Moines kept the Tri-City Storm on top of the Western Conference standings. Their 34 victories this season are the most for the team since they won 36 games during the 2006-07 season. Both wins this weekend were on home ice and they now lead the entire USHL with 21 victories on home ice, the most for the Storm since winning 24 in the 2003-04 season. Chase Berger was the hero as he netted a shorthanded tally in overtime of the 5-4 victory. It was the first game-winning goal of his USHL career and third goal in a span of four games. Jake Wahlin then scored the game-winner in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Des Moines. Three of his last seven goals have been game-winners.

The Five Musketeers ...Sioux City Musketeers forward Joel Janatuinen netted a pair of goals in Friday's 6-3 win against Sioux Falls. The second goal was his 20th of the season, giving the Musketeers five different 20-goal scorers - Robert Carpenter (31), Adam Johnson (30), Sam Kurker (23), Joe Snively (22), Janatuinen (20). They are the only team with five, followed by the Youngstown Phantoms who have four 20-goal scorers. No other team in the USHL currently has more than two. It is the first time during the USHL Tier 1 era (2002-present) that the Musketeers have had five players on the roster net 20 goals, surpassing the mark of four from the 2006-07 season. Carpenter and Johnson each scored a goal in both weekend contests, helping them both reach the 30-goal mark. It is the first time in the USHL Tier 1 era that the Musketeers have had a pair of 30-goal scorers and just the 13th time over that span a USHL team has had two players score 30 in a season.

The 30 Club ...Waterloo Black Hawks forward Brock Boeser netted his 30th goal of the season in Friday's 2-1 loss to Youngstown. He is the fourth player to reach the 30-goal mark this season and is the eighth member of the Black Hawks in the USHL Tier 1 era that has scored 30 goals in a season, joining a group that includes Taylor Cammarata (2012-13), Zach Stepan (2012-13), Tyler Barnes (2009-10), J.T. Brown (2009-10), Jordan Samuels-Thomas (2008-09), David Meckler (2004-05), and Joe Pavelski (2002-03). Six of the previous seven 30-goal scorers for Waterloo have either been selected in the NHL Draft or have played in the NHL.

Matthew & Matthews ...A pair of Team USA forwards are continuing to fill up the scoresheet and both are riding 11-game point streaks in USHL action. Matthew Tkachuk has produced 21 points (10g, 11a) over that stretch, which has included seven goals over the last six games. Auston Matthews has 25 points (10g, 15a) over that same period, including at least one assist in all but one of those games. The 11-game point streaks are tied for the second-longest in the USHL this season.

WOW-ski From Dmowski ...Des Moines Buccaneers forward Ryan Dmowski has been one of the hottest players in the USHL as of late. He tallied four goals over three games for the Bucs last week, including the game-winner in Tuesday's 5-2 victory against the Fargo Force, one day before celebrating his 18th birthday. Dmowski has netted 10 goals over his last nine games and is currently second on the Bucs with 22 total goals this season.

Buzzer Beater ...Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Matheson Iacopelli is no stranger to scoring goals, but he scored one of the biggest of the season on Friday. With Lumberjacks trailing 2-1 late in the third period, they pulled their goaltender in favor of the extra attacker. Iacopelli fired a shot that beat the Green Bay Gamblers goaltender with just 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock to force overtime. Muskegon would then go on to win the game 3-2 in the shootout, their 30th victory of the season. It was the 22nd goal of the season for Iacopelli and sixth tally over a span of eight games.

Malone Makes it Three ...Dubuque Fighting Saints forward Seamus Malone scored three goals in a span of 12:25 of game action during the second period of Saturday's 4-2 win against Cedar Rapids. It was the first hat trick of his USHL career after having nine two-goal efforts in 155 previous regular season games for Dubuque. His second goal proved to be the game-winner after scoring the game-winner in Friday's 3-2 win against Team USA. Malone is one goal shy of 50 for his USHL career.

Trick for Nick ...It was a weekend to remember for Omaha Lancers forward Nick Rivera. He netted three goals in Friday's 6-2 win against Fargo to record his first USHL hat trick. His first goal proved to be the game-winner, his third game-winner of the season, while his second tally was his first USHL career shorthanded goal. Rivera followed up with another goal in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to Fargo and now has 14 goals over 51 games this season.

Shootout Sensations ...The Fargo Force went to the shootout for the 10th time this season, tied for the second-most in the USHL, during Saturday's 5-4 victory against the Omaha Lancers. It was a couple of familiar characters coming up big in the extra session for the Force. Denis Smirnov, who had two goals in regulation, converted his attempt in the shootout. It was the third straight time he has been successful on his shootout attempt. Also converting was Kyle Sylvester. Despite not scoring a goal through 46 games this season, he is tied for the USHL lead with seven shootout tallies this season. He has converted four of his last five attempts and 7-of-10 overall this year. Goaltender Mathias Israelsson stopped both attempts by Omaha in the shootout to record his League-leading sixth shootout victory as he has stopped 21-of-25 shooters in the extra session this season.

Here You Go Bro ...Playing in just his fourth USHL game, forward Nick Poehling netted his first USHL goal for the Green Bay Gamblers in Friday's 3-2 shootout loss to Muskegon. Earning an assist on the play was his twin brother Jack Poehling. They were one of two sets of brothers in the lineup that night for Green Bay, joining Jake Kauppila and Sam Kauppila.

Herd Heading Home ...The Sioux Falls Stampede wrapped a 10-game road stretch on Sunday with a 7-5 victory against the Chicago Steel. Trailing 5-3 early in the third period, the Stampede scored four goals in a span of 6:47 to complete a comeback victory. Dakota Joshua and Parker Tuomie scored just 12 seconds apart before Cooper Marody and Mikey Eyssimont scored goals 48 seconds apart a few minutes later. The Stampede ended the road swing with a 5-5-0 record and now play their next six contests at home.

Noteworthy ...Des Moines Buccaneers forward Georgy Gorodetsky had three points (1g, 2a) in Friday's 5-4 overtime loss to Tri-City. It was the third time during a five-game point streak (2g, 9a) that he had produced a three-point game...Dubuque Fighting Saints forward Robby Jackson dished out five assists over two weekend contests, plus netted the 40th goal of his USHL career...Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman Clark Kuster netted the winner in overtime of the 3-2 win against Madison on Friday. The goal was the 20th of his USHL career and was the second time this season that he has scored the winner in overtime...Playing in just his sixth USHL game, forward Mitchell Mattson scored his first USHL goal which proved to be the game-winner for the Bloomington Thunder in Saturday's 2-1 victory against Team USA...Chicago Steel defenseman Carson Vance had a USHL career high three-point game (1g, 2a) in Saturday's 7-5 loss to Sioux Falls. It was his third straight game with a goal and gives him nine points (3g, 6a) in eight games since being acquired by the Steel after having eight total points (1g, 7a) in 44 previous USHL games.

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