USHL Update - Week Four
Published on October 26, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Around the League
Top of the East...The standings in the Eastern Conference have a log-jam at the top as four teams are tied for first place in the conference following the fourth week of USHL action. Dubuque, Indiana, Green Bay, and Cedar Rapids all have earned 10 points in the standings, which is the most in the USHL.
Road Tripping...The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders picked up five of a possible six points during their three-game road trip that spanned three different cities in three consecutive nights. A positive road trend for a team that will play seven of its next nine away from home. They picked up a point in the 4-3 overtime loss to Youngstown on Thursday. A shorthanded goal by defenseman Greg Amlong late in the third period forced the extra session. The Riders added two more shorthanded goals, including one by Thomas Forgione, in Friday's 4-2 victory over Chicago. Despite being outshot 36-22 on Saturday, Cedar Rapids completed the weekend with a 5-2 victory at Green Bay which included the first USHL goal for Jono Davis. Penalty killing played a key role for the Riders as they turned away all 15 opponent power plays on the road trip.
Hats Off...The USHL had seen one hat trick through the first three weeks of play, but the fourth weekend saw a trio of hat tricks. Gerald Mayhew collected three goals for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in their Saturday night victory while Nick Lappin tallied three for the Tri-City Storm in the 7-3 win against Sioux City. On Sunday, Andrew Miller scored three goals in the third period for the Chicago Steel during their 7-4 triumph over Muskegon.
Two for Herd...The Sioux Falls Stampede wrapped their five-game home stretch with a pair of weekend victories. Keeping out of the penalty box helped the cause as the Stampede allowed just four combined power plays to their opponents in the two wins. Kent Sherrer netted the game-winner in Friday's 2-1 victory against Lincoln. Ian Mansfield scored his first two career USHL goals in Saturday's 4-1 win against Fargo while Todd Skirving tallied his team-leading fourth of the season. Goaltender Stephon Williams made a combined 62 saves over the two wins while defenseman Matt Van Voorhis collected three assists.
The Hot Hand...Youngstown Phantoms rookie forward Austin Cangelosi has been filling up the stat sheet this season with multiple points in five of six games, including three multi-goal games. He netted three goals over the last two games and leads the USHL with eight goals this season, three of which have been scored shorthanded. Cangelosi has also posted an even-or-better plus/minus rating in all six games this season.
Saints Go Marching...The Dubuque Fighting Saints dominated on the scoreboard in two weekend victories, outscoring the opposition 9-1. Forward T.J. Moor netted two goals in Friday's 5-1 win against Team USA and has tallied a point in all six games this season. Gerard Hanson scored the game-winner, his team-leading fifth goal of the season. On Saturday, goaltender Matt Morris and Gabe Antoni combined to make 25 saves in the 4-0 shutout of Muskegon. Zemgus Girgensons tallied his second game-winning goal of the season while Tyler Lundey recorded his second goal of the weekend in the victory.
Double Take...Saturday proved to be positive for Team USA as the Under-17 and Under-18 squads earned back-to-back victories and gained four points in the standings. Defenseman Keaton Thompson scored two goals in just over a minute and the first USHL goal for Connor Clifton was the game-winner as the Under-17 team earned a 5-4 victory and snapped Youngstown's four-game win streak. In the nightcap, seven different skaters netted a goal in the 7-2 victory for the Under-18 team against Des Moines. Thomas DiPauli led the way with three points (1g, 2a) and a game high plus-three rating. Goaltender Collin Olson made 22 saves to earn his first victory of the season.
Feels Like the First Time...Several USHL players collected souvenirs during the weekend as they scored their first USHL goals, but a couple picked opportune moments to record their first tally. Matthew Gaudreau scored 1:31 into overtime to give the Omaha Lancers a 3-2 win vs. Fargo on Friday. Paul Ladue recorded the winner in the 3-1 victory for the Lincoln Stars on Saturday which handed Indiana their first loss of the season.
Notes...Indiana Ice rookie forward Emil Romig scored his first goal of the season, the game-winner, in Friday's 6-2 win against Tri-City and then started a barrage of three goals in a span of 1:39 for the Ice in the third period when he, Daniil Tarasov, Drew Smolcynski all scored...Forward Nick Saracino posted a plus-five rating over his last two games for Cedar Rapids and now leads the USHL with a plus-11 rating this season...Green Bay Gamblers defenseman Andy Welinski scored his fourth goal of the season on Saturday.
Alumni Update...Former USHL forward Andy Miele made his NHL debut with the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday as they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-4. In just over six minutes of ice time, he recorded one shot and won both faceoffs he took. Miele spent parts of three seasons in the USHL (2005-08) split between the Chicago Steel and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. He won the Hobey Baker Award last season as college hockey's top player...Defenseman John Moore scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday night, helping the Columbus Blue Jackets win their first game of the season. Moore spent two seasons in the USHL with the Chicago Steel and was named the USHL Defenseman of the Year following the 2008-09 season.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2011
- Tri-City Storm News & Notes - Week Five - Tri-City Storm
- National Team Development Program Weekly Update - U.S. National Team
- USHL Update - Week Four - USHL
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