MUSKEGON, Michigan (November 23rd) – After a tough overtime loss the night before in Cedar Rapids in which they were outshot and outplayed heavily for most of the game, the Muskegon Lumberjacks took to home ice for an encounter against the Eastern Conference’s top dog in the USNTDP program led by the Under-18 squad.  The Lumberjacks did not disappoint as they jumped out ahead early and never looked back the rest of the way in a 5-3 victory tonight at the L.C. Walker Arena.

The Lumberjacks (10-7-4, 24 points) were able to jump on the opposition first in tonight’s game at the 3:21 mark as Mason Jobst was able to win an offensive zone faceoff after an icing call against the Under-18 Team and find Trevor Morbeck between the faceoff circles and laced his sixth goal of the season under Collin Olson’s (2-1-0) right pad to make it 1-0.

Later on in the period at the 10:49 mark, Muskegon took advantage of a tripping call to Louis Belpedio and tallied a power play goal from Cooper Marody for his fourth goal of the season from the low slot that was set up by Matt Mendelson and Janik Moeser.

In the waning moments of the opening frame, the Under-18’s were able to slice the deficit in half to 2-1 with 2:49 left on the power play with Jack Eichel’s team-leading 11th goal of the season with a wrist shot past Jordan Uhelski’s (5-4-2) right pad that was assisted by Brandon Fortunato and Sonny Milano.

Through the first 20 minutes, the Under-18’s outshot the host Lumberjacks, 13-8, but Muskegon took their one goal lead into the locker room.

Right out the gate in the second period, the Lumberjacks regained their two-goal lead at 3-1 just 38 seconds into the middle frame as Mason Jobst roofed a one-time backhand shot home for his second goal of the season off a nice backhand feed from Matt Iacopelli at the side of the net.  Morbeck also assisted on the Jobst marker.

Later on in the first half of the second period at the 6:24 mark, Muskegon increased their lead to 4-1 back on the power play as Tommy Panico ripped his second goal of the season short side past Olson as he pinched in from the left point and fired the slapper from the top of the faceoff circle.  Marody and Mendelson helped on the Lumberjacks’ second power play goal of the night.

The USNTDP Under-18 Team (13-6-1, 27 points) countered back to make it a 4-2 game at the 9:57 mark as Dylan Larkin threw the puck in front of the night and found a little puck luck as the puck hoped over Uhelski’s stick and into the net for his eighth of the season that was assisted by Milano and Jack Glover.

After the second goal of the night from the Under-18 Team, Uhelski would be relieved of his duties in favor of Eric Schierhorn.

Muskegon would take the same two-goal into the final intermission, and the Under-18’s were still claiming the shot battle by a narrow 24-20 margin.

Solid defense from the Lumberjacks headlined the third period as no scoring happened for the majority of the final frame.  However, the Under-18 squad kept things interesting with 2:07 to go in regulation as a shot from Alex Tuch hit a Muskegon skate past Schierhorn, off the far side post, and Eichel was there on the backdoor to tip home his second of the night and 12th of the season to make it a 4-3 game.  Glover also helped on the Eichel marker.

The Under-18 Team pulled Olson for the extra attacker with just over a minute remaining in the third period, but the Lumberjacks made them pay shortly after to seal the home victory as Morbeck potted an empty-netter with 57 seconds left as his shot from the blue line slid through two opposing players for his second of the night and seventh of the season.  Panico received the lone helper.

The Under-18 Team outshot Muskegon for the game, 37-24, and Jordan Uhelski stopped 15 of 17 shots in his first half of work followed by Eric Schierhorn making 19 saves during the second half of the game.  Collin Olson made 19 saves on the night to earn his first loss of the season.  Muskegon was led offensively by Morbeck’s two goals and one assist followed by four others with two points each.  Three Under-18’s led the offensive with two points each in Jack Eichel (two goals), Jack Glover (two assists), and Sonny Milano (two assists).

Muskegon improves to 2-1-0 against the USNTDP program this season and 1-1-0 against the Under-18 Team.  With the loss tonight, it marks the first time that the Under-18’s have lost in regulation against USHL competition this season (9-1-1).

The Lumberjacks will travel to Green Bay for a pre-Thanksgiving game with the Gamblers on Wednesday night at 8:05 pm.  After the Thanksgiving holiday, the Lumberjacks will host the same Gamblers bunch for two games next Friday and Saturday at 7:15 pm, respectively.

Next Friday’s game will feature Made in Michigan Night where companies that are locally owned and operated in the State of Michigan are encouraged to come on out and enjoy some great hockey action for the group rate of $8 for adults and $5 for kids ages 3-12.  There will also be a networking session in the Party Deck during the game for companies to mix and mingle with one another.

Next Saturday’s game will feature Military Night where veterans and active military will receive a special $8 ticket at the door with valid military credentials.  Also, American flags will be handed out to the first 1,000 fans, and we will have a color guard present the nation’s colors.  

Additionally, our Subway Saturday promotion returns, where if the Lumberjacks beat the Gamblers next Saturday, fans can redeem their ticket stubs at any participating West Michigan Subway location for a buy one six-inch sub, get another six-inch sub of equal or lesser value for free.

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.