MUSKEGON, Michigan (December 29th) – The two-week Christmas break proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Muskegon Lumberjacks as they started off their second half of the regular season with an offensive onslaught as Matt Iacopelli’s hat trick, along with contributions from the three newest Lumberjack acquisitions, proved to be difference maker in a 5-3 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms tonight at the L.C. Walker Arena.

The first period saw the Lumberjacks (12-13-4, 28 points) jump out to an early 1-0 lead with a power play marker at the 6:41 mark from Matt Iacopelli for his team-leading 17th goal of the season that was helped by Mason Jobst and newcomer Matej Paulovic.

The Iacopelli man advantage tally was the only goal laced in the first period by either team, and Muskegon held the shot advantage through the first 20 minutes by a slim 11-9 margin.

In the early stages of the second period at the 1:24 mark, the Lumberjacks continued to push offensively as Iacopelli notched his second of the night and 18th goal of the season to give the home team a 2-0 lead that was set up by another new Lumberjack in Christian Wolanin and Jobst.

The Phantoms (7-16-5, 19 points) finally found their offensive stride cutting the deficit in half to 2-1 at the 2:28 mark with a power play strike from J.J. Piccinich for his team-leading 17th goal of the season that was aided by Luke Stork and Kyle Connor.

The hosts continued to push the pace making it a 3-1 game later in the middle frame at the 15:13 mark as Scott Pooley found himself alone on a breakaway and buried his 9th goal of the season past Colin DeAugustine’s (5-5-4) blocker side that was assisted by Robbie DeMontis and Carson Gatt.

Muskegon then made it a 4-1 game with 2:25 to go in the second period as Iacopelli found space between the faceoff circles to notch his 19th goal of the season under DeAugustine’s left pad giving him the hat trick.  Cooper Marody and Wolanin helped on Iacopelli’s third goal of the evening.

Youngstown showed no signs of going away quietly as they potted another power play goal with just over 36 seconds left in the middle frame from Maxim Letunov for his 13th marker of the season as he was found all alone on the backdoor off a feed from Piccinich to the right of Eric Schierhorn (6-7-1).  Kiefer Sherwood also helped on the Phantoms’ second power play goal of the night.

Muskegon would still hold on to the shot advantage by a 26-20 margin going into the final 20 minutes of play.

In the third period, the Lumberjacks added an insurance goal at the 4:05 mark courtesy of a power play goal from Joseph Cecconi for his first career USHL goal in his first game in the league as he found a rebound in the left faceoff circle after pinching in from the left point.  Paulovic and Matt Mendelson assisted on the team’s final goal of the night.

The score held into the final moments of the game when Youngstown cut the deficit to 5-3 with 2:13 left in regulation from Zach Evancho for his 5th goal of the season that was helped Letunov, but that is all that the visitors had in store for the game.

The Phantoms pulled DeAugustine for the extra attacker on two separate occasions late in regulation, but had no answers for the Lumberjacks’ defense even though they outshot the Lumberjacks in the final frame by a 16-3 margin.

Eric Schierhorn picked up the victory in net for the Lumberjacks stopping 33 of 36 shots on the night, while Colin DeAugustine took the loss for the visiting Phantoms making 24 saves.  Muskegon was led offensively by Matt Iacopelli’s hat trick along with Christian Wolanin, Matej Paulovic, and Mason Jobst chipping in with two assists each.  Youngstown was led offensively by Maxim Letunov and J.J. Piccinich with a goal and an assist each.  The Lumberjacks improve to 2-1-0 against the Phantoms this season with six regular season meetings left between the two squads.

The Lumberjacks will hit the road to begin their season-long eight-game road swing tomorrow night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the Indiana Ice at 7:05 pm to conclude the 2013 calendar year.

The next pair of home games for the Lumberjacks will be on Friday, January 24th and Saturday, January 25th against the U.S. National Development Program at 7:15 pm, respectively.  Friday’s game against the Under-17 Team will feature the second and final trading card giveaway of the season along with the return of our “Jacks Win You Win” promotion.  If the Lumberjacks win on Friday, every fan in attendance will receive a $5 Sport Clips gift card.

Saturday’s game against the Under-18 Team will feature our annual “Jacks Fight Cancer” Game presented by Mercy Health Partners.  Fans can contribute to the event in numerous ways in which proceeds will be donated to the Johnson Family Cancer Center, and more information can be found on the Lumberjacks’ Facebook page by searching “Muskegon Lumberjacks.”  Additionally, our “Subway Saturday” promotion returns, where if the Lumberjacks win on Saturday, fans that attend the game can present 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 will be on sale for the next pair of home games over the next few weeks 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.