GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (September 21st) – In a back-and-forth offensive outshoot tonight, the Muskegon Lumberjacks were able to gain that extra bit of energy when it mattered the most as they claimed a 5-4 shootout victory (2-0 in the shootout) in earn their first-ever victory at the Green Bay Resch Center.
The Lumberjacks (1-0-0) started off the right foot courtesy of the their special teams unit as the newly-acquired Scott Pooley would net a shorthanded goal at the 2:37 mark that was assisted by Connor Hurley to make it 1-0 Muskegon. Shortly after at the 6:20 mark, the Lumberjacks made it a 2-0 lead on the power play as Trevor Morbeck powered his first goal of the season home that was helped by Sean Lang.
Two minutes later at the 8:20 mark, Green Bay would net a power play goal of their own from Matthew Weis for his first marker of the season that was assisted by Nick Schmaltz and Jordan Gross to make it 2-1 Muskegon. The Lumberjacks continued to apply the pressure and made it a 3-1 game at the 9:20 mark as Matt Mendelson slammed a goal home between the circles that was assisted by Pooley and Cooper Marody.
The Lumberjacks would take that two-goal lead into the first intermission even though the Gamblers were slightly winning the shot battle, 11-8.
The Gamblers (1-0-1) asserted themselves early in the second period as they cut the deficit to 3-2 at the 2:04 mark with a tally from Ryan Lough that was helped by Evan Tironese. Green Bay used that early momentum into the latter stages of the middle frame at the 15:23 mark as Kevin Irwin slid a power play past Jordan Uhelski’s five-hole to knot the game at 3-3 that was aided by Weis.
The game would roll into the second intermission with score deadlocked as Green Bay continued to hang out to the shot advantage, 20-16.
In the final stanza, the Lumberjacks grabbed their third lead of the night at the 4:01 mark as Frederik Tiffels had an entry pass from Connor Hurley hit off his skate and slide past Cam Hackett’s five-hole to give the good guys a 4-3 lead. Luke Sandler would also get a helper on the Tiffels tally.
However, the Gamblers continued to surge back evening the game at 4-4 with 4:29 to go in regulation as Nick Schmaltz netted his first goal of the season from Jake Linhart.
The Lumberjacks continued to hang on for dear life late in the third and would take the game into overtime after being outshot in the final frame, 18-4.
No scoring happened in the four-on-four session, so the game continued on into a shootout where Muskegon asserted their skill sets. The Lumberjacks received tallies from Connor Hurley (first round) and Frederik Tiffels (game-winner in the third round), and Jordan Uhelski closed the door on his two opposing shooters to give them the extra point and the victory.
Green Bay outshot Muskegon on the night, 41-28, and Jordan Uhelski made 37 saves in net for the Lumberjacks. Muskegon’s offense was led by Scott Pooley (one goal and one assist) and Connor Hurley (two assists) with two points each. Eight different Lumberjacks laced at least a point in the victory. Cam Hackett stopped 19 of 23 shots in the home loss, while the offense was led by Nick Schmaltz and Matthew Weis with a goal and an assist each. Muskegon improves to 1-8-2 all-time at the Green Bay Resch Center.
The Lumberjacks will hit the road again next Friday night to Ann Arbor for a 7:00 pm puck drop against the USNTDP Under-17 Team with their Home Opener slated for the following night on Saturday against the Indiana Ice at 7:15 pm.
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.
