USHL Update - Week Two
Published on October 11, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Fast Start for Ice
¬Â¦The Indiana Ice won a pair of games against Team USA over the weekend to push their record to 3-0-0, the first time the Ice has started 3-0-0 in their USHL history. Much of the success can be attributed to a potent power play as the Ice have converted 6-of-13 (46.15%) with the man advantage so far this season. Cody Bradley, Daniil Tarasov, and Sean Kuraly each had multi-point games in both weekend victories. Tarasov has multiple points in each of the first three games of the season and Bradley had a career high three points (1g, 2a) in Saturday's 7-4 win. Both forwards have six points this season to lead the USHL and equal a team record for most points over the first three games of the season. Rookie forward Robert Polesello scored two goals, including the game-winner, in Friday's 5-3 victory. He has netted a goal in all three games this season. Defenseman Alex Barron tallied a combined plus-five rating over the weekend and has dished out at least one assist in all three games this season.
Unbeaten Gamblers
¬Â¦The Green Bay Gamblers also remain undefeated at 3-0-0, their best start since the 2008-09 season when the team began 4-0-0. David Goodwin has scored a goal in all three games this season, including the game-winner in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Dubuque. It was the second straight weekend he scored the game-winner against Dubuque. Alex Broadhurst scored a goal in both weekend victories, including the game-winner in Friday's 5-3 victory vs. Des Moines, while Nolan LaPorte also lit the lamp in each weekend contest. Green Bay was the USHL's top penalty killing unit a season ago and have continued that trend in 2011-12 as they have successfully turned away 15-of-16 (93.75%) power play opportunities by their opponents, which included a perfect 10-for-10 in two weekend victories.
Goaltender Duel
¬Â¦The scoring column in Friday night's boxscore for the Fargo Force vs. Omaha Lancers has a lot of zeroes thanks to the stellar play by a pair of goaltenders. Fargo netminder Zane Gothberg had a 36-save performance while his counterpart for the Omaha Lancers, Alex Lyon, stopped all 19 shots he faced through regulation and overtime. Neither goaltender would give in the shootout until Austin Farley converted in the fourth round and Gothberg made yet another stop to give Fargo the victory.
First Shutout and First Win
¬Â¦On Friday night, Youngstown Phantoms goaltender Matthew O'Connor earned his first USHL career shutout making 22 saves in the 3-0 win at Chicago. It was the first win of the year for the Phantoms and the first USHL career coaching victory for Anthony Noreen, a Chicago area native who had several family and friends in attendance to see him earn his first win. Rookie forward Austin Cangelosi scored two goals in the win, including one shorthanded, and has three total goals through two games. He is also tied for the USHL lead with a plus-five rating.
Bucs Get "W"
¬Â¦The Des Moines Buccaneers earned their first win of the young USHL season thanks to a pair of goals by Trent Samuels-Thomas, including the game-winner, in the 3-1 victory over Tri-City. It was the first two USHL goals for Samuels-Thomas. Bucs goaltender Jason Kasdorf also picked up his first USHL win when he made 20 saves.
Hot in Home Openers
¬Â¦Sioux City Musketeers forward Kyle Criscuolo scored two goals in a span of 2:11, including the game-winner, in Saturday's 5-2 win against Fargo. The home opener victory was also the first USHL win for Musketeers new coach Brett Larson. Sioux City has now won eight of their last nine USHL regular season home openers.
Half-Dozen for Steel
¬Â¦The Chicago Steel found the offensive touch in their 6-3 win vs. Muskegon on Saturday, the most goals they have scored in a game since November 19th, 2010. They scored four goals in the second period, including two by Zach Saar to give him four goals through three games which equals his goal total in 32 games last season. Bo Pieper, Christian Heil, and Michael Fallon each scored their first career USHL goal for the Steel.
Notes
¬Â¦Sioux Falls Stampede goaltender Stephon Williams made 37 saves and then turned away all six attempts in the shootout by Waterloo to earn the 3-2 victory on Saturday ¬Â¦Dubuque Fighting Saints forward Zemgus Girgensons scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the 5-2 victory vs. Tri-City on Friday. It was the fourth multi-goal game of this USHL career ¬Â¦Playing in his 100th USHL regular season game on Friday, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Stu Wilson scored his first shorthanded goal, which proved to be the game-winner in the 5-2 win over Muskegon ¬Â¦Second-year goaltender Jay Williams has played every second in net for the Waterloo Black Hawks through three games, which included making a USHL career high 42 saves and then stopping 5-of-6 in the shootout during Saturday's 3-2 loss to Sioux Falls.
Alumni Update
¬Â¦Several USHL alumni didn't take long to make an impression in their young NHL careers. Playing in his first NHL game, Craig Smith (Waterloo Black Hawks, 2006-09) scored his first NHL goal for the Nashville Predators on Friday night and added his second goal for the club the very next evening. Nate Guenin (Green Bay Gamblers, 2000-02) also tallied his first NHL goal on Friday for the Anaheim Ducks. On Saturday, two more USHL graduates netted their first goal in the NHL - Stephane Da Costa (Sioux City Musketeers, 2007-09) while playing his sixth career game for the Ottawa Senators and Matt Read (Des Moines Buccaneers, 2006-07) while playing in just his second NHL game for the Philadelphia Flyers.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2011
- USHL Update - Week Two - USHL
- Ice's Bradley Named USHL's Player of the Week - Indiana Ice
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Saints to Host "Pink the Rink" Against Breast Cancer - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Tyler Lundey Commits to Ohio State - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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