USHL United States Hockey League

USHL Weekly

Published on February 18, 2008 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Chris Connolly

Omaha

Connolly had a big week and jumped into the top five in scoring. On Tuesday he had a goal and an assist in a win over Tri-City. Friday, he scored twice in antoher win over the Storm. On Saturday he scored 1-2-3 in a win over Sioux Falls.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Patrick Wiercioch

Omaha

Wiercioch has been on fire since returning from injury. Last week he had an assist in a 7-3 win over Tri-City. Friday he had three assists in a 7-2 win at Tri-City. Then on Saturday he added another assist in a 7-0 win over Sioux Falls. He finished the week +5.

Stauber s Goalcrease GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Drew Palmisano

Omaha

Palmisano went 2-0-0 on the week as the Lancers win streak reached nine. He made 16 saves in Tuesday s 7-3 win over Tri-City. On Saturday, he made 23 saves in a 7-0 win at Sioux Falls, his second shutout of the year. He had a 1.50 GAA and a .929 SV%.

USHL I NSI DER

We Have A Winner : Omaha s Mike Hastings broke the USHL s all-time record for wins by a coach, picking up the 518th of his career (all with the Lancers) with Saturday s 7-0 win over Sioux Falls. He passes Bob Ferguson, who won 517 in 18 seasons behind the bench with Sioux City and Des Moines. Congratulations Mike!

Lucky Sevens: Omaha scored seven goals in each of the three games they played last week. Not surprisingly, they won all three and their winning streak is now at nine games.

The Hand That Feeds Omaha: Patrick Wiercioch had just three points when he went down with a hand injury in November. Since his return, Wiercioch has nine points (1-8-9) and has picked up at least one in all five games he has played.

The Power Of Three: Greg Squires scored two goals and an assist in Indiana s 6-4 win over Tri-City on Saturday, giving him six games on the year where he has scored at least three points.

Blow out On Hickman: Des Moines hadn t scored more than five goals in any game this season, but that changed Saturday as the Bucs exploded for seven at home, routing Waterloo 7-1 in the process.

I t s Miller Time: Joe Miller has taken over the team scoring lead in Sioux City with 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists). Miller has eight points during his current four-game scoring streak.

Out Of Business: Waterloo s Blake Kessel had his point streak snapped at six games when he was shut out in Waterloo s 7-1 loss at Des Moines on Saturday. During the six-game streak Kessel scored 4-6-10.

Sinners And Saints: Lincoln was whistled for 121 penalty minutes in their last two games, bringing their league-leading total to 1,143. That is 92 minutes more than the next closest team (Chicago) and 463 minutes more than Cedar Rapids, the league s least penalized team.

Shut The Door : Corson Cramer made 24 saves as Ohio beat Green Bay 2-0 on Friday, giving him his first shutout of the season.

PRO ALUMNI NEWS

Joe Jensen (Sioux Falls) was recalled today by the Carolina Hurricanes and made his NHL debut against New Jersey. Jensen was brought up when Rod Brind Amour was placed on injured reserve. Jensen was originally a draft pick of Pittsburgh, taken in the 8th round in 2003.

Alex Goligoski (Sioux Falls) made his NHL debut Wednesday with Pittsburgh, playing 8:40 against Boston. Goligoski was then returned to the Penguins AHL affiliate.

Ted Purcell (Cedar Rapids) was recalled by Los Angeles for the second time this season and scored his first NHL goal in the Kings 6-3 win over Calgary on Friday.

Yan Stastny (Omaha) was recalled by St. Louis and made his 2007-08 debut February 16 against Nashville, scoring the lone goal in the Blues 2-1 overtime loss. It was Stastny s second NHL goal and first since 2005-06. He has also had NHL stints with Edmonton and Boston.

Thomas Vanek (Sioux Falls) had the NHL s highest +/- ranking last season with a mark of plus-47. This season Vanek is minus-2.

Jared Boll (Lincoln) is second in the NHL in penalty minutes with 174. He trails the leader by 34 minutes.

Ruslan Fedotenko (Sioux City) had a huge week for the New York Islanders.

Fedotenko had a goal and an assist in the Isles 4-3 win over Philadelphia, two goals in a 5-4 win over Toronto and a goal in a 4-1 win over Atlanta.

COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS

Nearly 36% of NCAA Division I schools (21 of 59) have a leading scorer that has played in the USHL. The breakdown shows seven in Hockey East (Boston College, Boston University, Massachusetts, UMass-Lowell, Merrimack, New Hampshire and Vermont), one in Atlantic Hockey (Connecticut), one in College Hockey America (Bemidji State), two in the ECAC (Brown and Yale), four in the WCHA (Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota and Minnesota State-Mankato) and six in the CCHA (Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan State, Nebraska-Omaha and Notre Dame).

Andreas Nodl (Sioux Falls) scored a pair of goals, his 15th and 16th of the season, as St. Cloud defeated Alaska-Anchorage 3-1 on Saturday.

Kyle Reeds (Waterloo) had a goal and an assist in Dartmouth s 7-2 win over Quinnipiac Friday.

Scot t Wietecha (Cedar Rapids) had an assist in Ferris State s 6-5 win over Miami on Friday. He then scored the game winning goal in Saturday s 3-1 win, earning him CCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Aaron Palushaj (Des Moines) had three assists on the weekend as Michigan swept Lake Superior State with a pair of 4-2 wins. Palushaj, who leads Michigan with 24 assists, was named CCHA Rookie of the Week.

Travis Winter (Indiana) scored two goals and had an assist and Mat t Read (Des Moines) had a goal and an assist in Bemidji State s 7-2 win over Robert Morris on Saturday.

Nick Pet recki (Omaha) scored two goals in his 26th game at Boston College.

The second goal, was the overtime winner and gave BC the Beanpot Tournament championship. Then on Friday, Petrecki scored his third goal of the season in a 3-1 loss to UMass-Lowell.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2008


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