MUSKEGON, Michigan (October 5th) – For the first time this regular season, the Muskegon Lumberjacks had to try and come from behind late to keep their perfect season alive, but it was not meant to be tonight as the Fargo Force tally a pair of goals which was all they needed as they slide away with a 2-0 shutout victor y tonight at the L.C. Walker Arena.
The first period was an evenly-played period as no scoring was issued with the Lumberjacks edging Fargo in the shot battle, 12-10.
Just past the halfway point of the game at the 10:33 mark of the second period, the Force (2-2-0, 4 points) broke the ice and tallied their first goal in almost three full games played as a wrist shot from the left point by Butrus Ghafari hit a Lumberjacks stick in front of Eric Schierhorn (2-1-0), popped over him, and found the back of the net for his first marker of the season. Aaron Herdt and Chris Buchanan had the helpers on Ghafari’s goal.
The score held into the second intermission with Muskegon clinging to the shot advantage, 22-21.
The third period was all about Force Goaltender Cam Johnson (2-1-0) as he stopped all 12 shots that came his way to earn his first shutout of the season.
The Lumberjacks (4-1-0, 8 points) pulled Schierhorn for the extra attacker with 1:15 left in regulation, but it would backfire as Muskegon turned the puck over at their own blue line leading to an empty-net tally from John Baiocco for his first goal of the season that went unassisted.
The Lumberjacks outshot Fargo on the night, 34-28, and Eric Schierhorn made 26 saves in net for the Lumberjacks in the home loss. Cam Johnson stopped all 34 shots that came his way for Fargo, and four different players tallied a point tonight. In terms of the power play, Fargo went empty on three opportunities while Muskegon had only one opportunity all night and came up empty as well. The Lumberjacks and Force end up splitting the season series at one game each.
The Lumberjacks will hit the road next weekend for a pair of games beginning on Friday against the Dubuque Fighting Saints at 8:35 pm followed by a Saturday game with the Green Bay Gamblers at 8:05 pm.
The following weekend, the Lumberjacks will return home for a pair of games against the Sioux Falls Stampede on Friday, October 18th and Saturday, October 19th at 7:15 pm, respectively. Friday’s game features the first of two trading card giveaways for the season, while Saturday’s game features “Trick of Treat with the Jacks” and the return of our Subway Saturday promotion.
Individual game tickets are on sale for the low price of $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-12 if they are purchased before the day of the game. Tickets can be purchased at the Lumberjacks’ Box Office or by calling (231) 724-5225.
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.
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.
