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USHL Update - Week Six

October 29, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


AROUND THE LEAGUE

High Five in Sioux City ...A pair of victories during the weekend extended the winning streak for the Sioux City Musketeers to five games, the last four of which have been on home ice. It is the longest winning streak since they won five straight near the end of the 2011-12 season. After trailing 4-1 early in the second period on Friday, they scored five of the next six goals to complete a dramatic comeback in the 6-5 overtime win against Omaha. Sioux City then used a two-goal effort by Trevor Olson and a season high 38 saves from Kyle Hayton to win 5-2 on Saturday, pushing their win streak to five games and halting the six-game win streak for the Waterloo Black Hawks.

Ice On Fire ...The offense was in the groove for the Indiana Ice as they scored 11 goals over a pair of weekend victories. After trailing 3-1 on Saturday, they scored four unanswered goals to win 5-3 and hand the Dubuque Fighting Saints their first loss of the season. Denis Smirnov scored his first USHL tally during a three-goal third period for the Ice, which proved to be the game-winner. The Ice then scored a season high six goals in the 6-1 win over the Des Moines Buccaneers on Sunday. Scott Conway netted a pair, giving him three goals for the weekend, and both Dwyer Tschantz and Aidan Muir scored their second goal in as many games. Tyler Andrew also tallied his first USHL goal in the third period, a period in which the Ice outshot their opponents 25-1. The 25 shots are the most by any USHL team in a period this season.

Steel Steal a Victory ...The Chicago Steel put an end to their losing streak in dramatic fashion on Sunday. After falling behind 4-0 to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders midway through the game, the Steel refused to give up and scored two goals in the second period and two in the third period to force overtime. Chicago got their fourth goal with just 1:05 remaining in regulation, and their goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, as defenseman Alec Vanko ripped a shot that tied the contest. Artem Artemov netted a pair of goals during the four-goal stretch, his first two in the USHL, and then converted the deciding goal in the shootout. It snapped the 10-game losing streak for the Steel to open the season and halted the four-game win streak of Cedar Rapids.

Breaking Out ...After scoring six goals total over their four previous games, the Lincoln Stars exploded for a season high goal output in the 6-1 victory over the Tri-City Storm on Friday. Six different skaters netted a goal, including the first USHL tally for Hunter Anderson which proved to be the game-winner. Luke Voltin and Christian Lampasso each scored their first goal of the season in the contest. Goaltender Michael Bitzer made 30 saves in the victory, his third consecutive start in which he has allowed just one goal.

Taking Advantage ...The Waterloo Black Hawks made the most of special teams on Friday as they scored four power play goals in the 6-2 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede. It was the 10th consecutive road victory for the Black Hawks, a team record, and the four power play markers equaled a League season high they established exactly two weeks earlier. They currently lead the USHL with a 26.8% conversion rate on the power play. Blake Winiecki scored two of the power play goals on Friday and added a third tally on the man-advantage the following night. Defenseman Hayden Shaw also converted on the power play to extend his goal streak to four games. All four of his goals during that stretch have been on the power play. Another milestone was set on Friday as Waterloo goaltender Cal Petersen made a season high 36 saves to record the 30th victory of his USHL career.

Dueling Hat Tricks ...It was a wild contest on Friday as the Sioux City Musketeers earned a 6-5 overtime victory against the Omaha Lancers. Six of the 11 goals came off the sticks of two players, including Lancers forward Tyler Vesel who recorded his first USHL three-goal game. He is now tied for second in the League with nine goals this season. Brandon Hawkins also tallied three goals, the second Friday in a row he notched a hat trick for the Musketeers. His third goal was the winner in overtime.

Get Him the Puck ...Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Matt Iacopelli didn't record a point in his first four games of the season, but has been on fire ever since. The 19-year-old has scored eight goals during his current seven-game goal streak. It is the longest streak in the USHL since Mike Szmatula scored a goal in seven straight for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in November 2012. Iacopelli has scored four of those goals in three games of the team's current four-game road stretch.

Blueline Triple ...There is no doubt that Omaha Lancers defenseman Tucker Poolman has a scoring touch, as proven by his 14 goals last season in the USHL. The 2013 NHL Draft of the Winnipeg Jets had yet to find the back of the net this year, but that all changed on Sunday when he scored three goals in the wild 6-5 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks. It was the first hat trick of his USHL career which included scoring two goals in the four-goal third period for the Lancers.

Goal Cam ...With his team being outshot 50-17 on Saturday, goaltender Cam Johnson was tremendous for the Fargo Force as he made a season high 48 saves during the 2-1 loss to the Sioux Falls Stampede. It was the second most saves he had made during a game in his USHL career. His highest game total also came against the Stampede as he stopped 50 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to them on November 21st, 2012.

We Are Family ...Sunday marked a unique family matchup as cousins Scott Pooley of the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Austin Pooley of the Omaha Lancers played against each other for the first time in the USHL. Scott got the best of the matchup early as he scored two goals in the first period for the Jacks, but Austin would record an assist on the game-tying goal in the third period as the Lancers would then go on to win 6-5 and remain unbeaten on home ice (5-0-0). It wasn't the only family connection in the contest as brothers Connor Hurley and Cullen Hurley combined to dish out three assists for the Lumberjacks.

Three at a Time ...Team USA forward Jack Eichel recorded three points (2g, 1a) in the 4-1 win over the Fargo Force on Friday. It was the third time in four USHL games this season that he has finished with a three-point night. Eichel, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday, has record 10 points (6g, 4a) in four USHL games for Team USA's Under-18 squad.

Watching the Herd ...The Sioux Falls Stampede had played eight of their first nine games of the season on the road, but they finally got a weekend at home with a pair of contests. Stampede fans responded as they packed the Sioux Falls Arena both nights, totaling 8,714 fans which included a sellout crowd of 4,772 on Friday. It was the second highest attended game in team history and just 16 fans shy of the team record set last season (February 16th, 2013).

Noteworthy ...Dubuque Fighting Saints defenseman Phil Boje scored two goals in Friday's 6-2 win over Chicago. He had scored one goal in 48 previous USHL contests...Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Judd Peterson has scored four goals during his current three-game streak, including a pair of game-winners...Des Moines Buccaneers forward Tanner Karty is riding a four-game point streak in which he has four goals over his last three games...Goaltender Hayden Hawkey stopped all 22 shots he faced for the Omaha Lancers in Saturday's 2-0 win against Tri-City. It was his first USHL shutout and gave the Lancers six shutouts already this season, the most in a season since they recorded seven shutouts in 2009-10...A native of Germany, Des Moines Buccaneers forward Marcel Kurth scored his first USHL goal in Saturday's 5-2 win over Team USA...Defenseman Noah Hanifin has produced five points (1g, 4a) during his current three-game point streak for Team USA's Under-17 squad...Garick Gray scored both goals for the Fargo Force during the weekend, the first two goals of his USHL career...Defenseman Connor Yau netted his first USHL goal for the Chicago Steel in Friday's 5-2 loss to Dubuque...Luke Stork scored two goals for the Youngstown Phantoms in Friday's 4-3 loss to Cedar Rapids, giving him four goals over a span of four games.

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