MUSKEGON, Michigan (September 28th) – The Muskegon Lumberjacks love the flair of the dramatics to start their 2013-14 regular season campaign and tonight was no different.  Another giving up an early two-goal lead late in regulation, the Lumberjacks were able to muster another victory scoring in overtime with 1:11 left to come away with a 3-2 win tonight at the L.C. Walker Arena.

For the third consecutive game, the Lumberjacks (3-0-0, 6 points) were able to get off to another hot start beginning at the 4:25 mark as C.J. Smith found a loose puck in front of starting net minder Samu Perhonen and roofed it top shelf for his second of the season to give Muskegon an early 1-0 lead.  Tommy Panico and Haralds Egle were credited with the helpers.

Later on in the opening frame at the 11:40 mark, Connor Hurley found space in his offensive zone winning a one-on-one battle with Ice defender Joshua Jacobs and was able to roof a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle over Perhonen’s glove hand to give the Lumberjacks a 2-0 lead.  Frederik Tiffels received the lone assist on Hurley’s first goal of the season.

After the second goal by the Lumberjacks, Perhonen would be pulled for Jason Pawloski after allowing two goals on just four shots.  Muskegon took that lead into the first intermission while being outshot heavily by Indiana, 14-5.

Midway into the second period, the Ice (0-2-1, 1 point) cut the deficit in half at the 10:42 mark on the power play as Dwyer Tschantz found a loose puck between the faceoff circles and fired a shot home past Eric Schierhorn (1-0-0) for his second goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game.  Austin Kosack and Patrick Newell were credited with the helpers.

The score held into the latter stages of the game when Indiana tied the game at 2-2 with 3:51 remaining in regulation as Scott Conway found a loose puck at the side of the net and roofed a shot over Schierhorn for his first of the season.  Kosack received his second assist of the night on the Conway marker.

The game went into an extra five-minute session where the Lumberjacks had a golden opportunity to win the game with a four-on-three power play after Scott Conway of Indiana was called for a four-minute high sticking penalty on Connor Hurley with 1:08 left in the third period.  However, Pawloski stood tall to keep the game even.

In the waning moments of overtime, the Lumberjacks seized another victory as Robbie DeMontis found Scott Pooley charging the Indiana net, hit him with a slick backhand pass between the circles, and Pooley did the rest weaving around a sprawling Pawloski and slid one home for his second goal of the season for the game-winner.  Sean Lang also was credited with an assist on the Pooley tally.

Indiana outshot Muskegon for the game, 44-29, and Eric Schierhorn received his first career USHL victory making 42 saves between the pipes for the Lumberjacks.  Jason Pawloski made 24 saves in net for the Ice in the road loss.  Eight different Lumberjacks notched a point in the game, while the Ice was led by Austin Kosack’s two assists.  Indiana went one-for-four on the power play, while the Lumberjacks went empty on their six opportunities.

The Lumberjacks will continue their short three-game home stand next weekend with a pair of games next Friday and Saturday against the Fargo Force at 7:15 pm, respectively.  Next Friday’s game will feature a magnetic schedule giveaway presented by Aspire Lending to the first 3,000 fans along with the return of our “Jacks Win You Win” promotion presented by Sport Clips.  If the Lumberjacks win on Friday, fans will receive a $5 Sport Clips gift card.

Next Saturday’s game features a team poster giveaway along with the return of our Subway Saturday’s promotion.  If the Lumberjacks win on Saturday, fans can redeem their ticket stubs at any participating Subway location for a buy one six-inch sub, get one six-inch sub of equal or lesser value for free.

The exclusive radio home for the Muskegon Lumberjacks all season long is 92.5 FM WLAW “The Outlaw” as Bryan Fongers delivers the call beginning ten minutes prior to puck drop.

Season ticket packages for the 2013-14 season are still on sale for the low price of $225 for adults and $150 for children ages 3-12 for the 30 home games provided next season along with individual tickets.  For more information on season and individual tickets, fans can visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com or by calling (231) 724-5225.

The proud home of all Muskegon Lumberjacks home games is the L.C. Walker Arena in downtown Muskegon located just minutes from the beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline.  Muskegon Lumberjacks hockey, “Experience the Buzz!”

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States.  The Lumberjacks’ organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports.  For more information, visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.