MUSKEGON, Michigan (November 6th) – The early start to today’s game didn’t hinder either side as the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders locked horns for the second consecutive game at the L.C. Walker Arena in an offensive shootout that went down to the final seconds.  In the end, it took a game-winning goal from one of the recent additions to the team in Alex Toscano with 2:31 left in regulation to give the host Lumberjacks a big 6-5 victory today.

The RoughRiders (7-2-1, 15 points) were able to jump out to an early two-goal first period lead that began at the 11:28 mark shorthanded as Andrew Poturalski slid his team-leading 8th goal of the season past Jordan Uhelski (3-2-2) on a wrap-around attempt from behind the Muskegon goal to make it 1-0.  Scott Moldenhauer was credited with the lone assist.

Minutes later with 2:35 left in the opening frame, Mark Auk used some fancy stick-handling to maneuver his way through the Lumberjacks’ defense from the right point and slide a wrist shot under Uhelski’s right pad for his 2nd goal of the season that was aided by Alec Marsh and Dylan McLaughlin.

The Lumberjacks (7-6-2, 16 points) cut the deficit in half 1:20 after Cedar Rapids made it a 2-0 game as Carson Gatt fired a one-time shot from the left faceoff circle and beat Danny Tirone (5-1-0) on the short side top shelf for his 2nd marker of the season from Cooper Marody and Matt Mendelson.

The score held into the early portions of the second period as Muskegon used their power play to eventually grab at 3-2 lead just past the halfway point of the game.  Beginning at the 1:59 mark, Adam Larkin laced a shot from the right point that picked the top right corner of the net, went through the netting, and was called a good call from the officials after a stopping in play for his first career USHL goal that was assisted by Luc Snuggerud and Marody.

Later on in the middle frame at the 10:52 mark, the Lumberjacks grabbed their first lead of the day back on the power play as Snuggerud laced his first career USHL goal with a wrist shot of atop of the faceoff circles that beat Tirone low on his blocker side.  Mendelson and Marody helped on the man advantage tally.

Just 2:05 after the Snuggerud goal, Cedar Rapids evened the game back to 3-3 as Alec Marsh created a Lumberjacks’ turnover into gold sliding his 6th goal of the season past Uhelski’s five-hole that was assisted by McLaughlin.

Again, Muskegon would have an answer to the RoughRiders’ goal and regain the lead at 4-3 at the 15:38 mark of the second period as Matt Mendelson found a loose puck in the left faceoff circle of the Cedar Rapids zone and roofed a backhand shot over Tirone for his 6th of the season that was aided by Marody and Steven Spinner.

Onto the third period the game went where the Lumberjacks notched their first two-goal lead of the day at 5-3 just 45 seconds into the final frame as Trevor Morbeck received a nice pass from Matt Iacopelli and ripped a one-time shot home for his 4th of the season that was also set up by Robbie DeMontis.

However, the visiting RoughRiders continue to grind their way back into it and made it a 5-4 game at the 3:16 mark as an entry feed from Auk was dumped into the far side corner of the Muskegon zone and Judd Peterson was the first to the puck and roped a blast top shelf over Uhelski for his 7th tally of the season.

The game cruised into the second half of the third period when Cedar Rapids tied the game up again at 5-5 with 8:31 to go in regulation as the RoughRiders created a three-on-two opportunity into the equalizer as Nick Master was found all alone on the backdoor and potted his 3rd goal of the season that was set up by a nice backhand feed from Corey Petrash along the side of the Lumberjacks’ net.  Dylan Steman also helped on the game-tying marker.

Finally, near the end of regulation, the host Lumberjacks got the last laugh for the day at the 17:29 mark when Alex Toscano fired a snap shot from just outside the left faceoff circle in the Cedar Rapids zone and had eyes squeezing its way past Tirone’s blocker side just inside the far post for his first career USHL goal that was helped by Tommy Panico and Scott Pooley.

Cedar Rapids pulled Tirone for the extra attacker with just over a minute to go, but the Lumberjacks stood tall defensively to hang on for the home win.  The Lumberjacks outshot the RoughRiders for the day, 34-26.

Jordan Uhelski stopped 21 shots for Muskegon in the home victory, while Danny Tirone made 28 saves for Cedar Rapids in the road loss.  The RoughRiders were led offensively by Mark Auk (one goal and one assist), Alec Marsh (one goal and one assist), and Dylan McLaughlin (two assists) with two points each.  The Lumberjacks’ offense was led by Cooper Marody’s four assists along with Matt Mendelson’s one goal and two assists.  Luc Snuggerud also chipped in with a goal and an assist on defense.  Muskegon evens the season series with the RoughRiders at 1-1-0 with two meetings left in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Muskegon will conclude their four-game homestand with a pair of games against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Friday and Saturday at 7:15 pm, respectively. 

Friday’s game features Girl Scout Night and the return of our “Jacks Win You Win” promotion presented by Sport Clips.  If the Lumberjacks win, every fan in attendance will receive a $5 Sport Clips gift card.  Also, any Girl Scout that comes to the game will receive a discounted ticket. 

Saturday’s game features Chamber Night presented by the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce along with the return of our Subway Saturday promotion.  If the Lumberjacks win on Saturday, fans 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 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.