MUSKEGON, Michigan (November 16th) – Nobody said it was going to be easy, but the Muskegon Lumberjacks found a way tonight to claw their way through three separate one goal deficits that included notching a pair of third period markers with the game-winner coming from Matt Mendelson with 15 seconds left in regulation to pull off a 4-3 victory tonight at the L.C. Walker Arena.

Opposite to last night, the Phantoms (6-11-1, 13 points) got on the scoreboard first in the game at the 5:50 mark as Kiefer Sherwood notched his third goal of the season on a mini-breakaway sliding one under Eric Schierhorn’s (5-4-0) right pad to make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors.  Kyle Mackey received the lone assist.

Just under five minutes later at the 10:22 mark, Muskegon knotted the equalizer as Matt Mendelson one-timed his first of two on the night and seventh of the season from the left faceoff circle that was set up nicely by Christopher Dodero and Tommy Panico.

The score would hold into the second period where the visitors grabbed another lead at 2-1 at the 4:31 mark from Kyle Connor as he wristed a shot past Schierhorn’s blocker side from between the top of the faceoff circles for his seventh of the year that was aided by Ryan Schwalbe.

The Lumberjacks (9-7-3, 21 points) continued to attack offensively evening the game at 2-2 at the 5:53 mark as Matt Iacopelli found a loose puck in front of Colin DeAugustine (4-3-0) after Scott Pooley had won the faceoff from the right circle for his team-leading 12th of the season.

The game moved on into the latter stages of the middle frame in which Youngstown regained their lead at 3-2 with 4:40 to go in the second period off a Lumberjacks’ turnover while on the power play as Tyler Spezia recorded a shorthanded goal on a breakaway beating Schierhorn blocker side for his second of the year.

Early in the third period, the Lumberjacks took advantage of an elbowing call to Josh Melnick at the 4:06 mark and tied the game back up at 3-3 ten seconds after that as Christopher Dodero found a loose rebound to the left of DeAugustine and roofed the puck top shelf for his second goal of the season and first as a Lumberjack.  Adam Larkin and Janik Moeser helped on the man advantage tally.

The game remained tied into the final moments of regulation where Matt Mendelson was able to snag an outlet feed from Cooper Marody, glove a pass to himself at the Phantoms’ blue line, and snipe a wrist shot from between the faceoff circles past DeAugustine’s blocker for his eighth of the season for their first lead of the night that was also assisted by Myles McGurty.

Youngstown pulled DeAugustine for the extra attacker after that, but had no answer in the end as they were able to outshoot Muskegon for the game by a slim 36-34 margin.

Eric Scheirhorn stopped 33 of 36 shots on the night to earn his fifth win of the season, while Colin DeAugustine made 30 saves on the night for the visiting Phantoms.  The Lumberjacks were led offensively by Matt Mendelson (two goals) and Christopher Dodero (one goal and one assist) with two points each.  Nine different Lumberjacks tallied at least a point in the home win while five different Phantoms notched a point in the road loss.  Muskegon evens the season series with Youngstown at a game apiece.

The Lumberjacks will travel to Cedar Rapids to take on the RoughRiders next Friday night at 8:05 pm.  The following night, the Lumberjacks return home to take the USNTDP Under-18 Team at 7:15 pm.

Next Saturday’s game features Star Wars Night, where all of your favorite Star Wars characters will be in attendance.  Also, numerous activities will be located throughout the concourse such as being able to battle a Storm Trooper and a photo booth.  All proceeds will be donated towards the Muskegon Lumberjacks Charitable Foundation.

Additionally, our Subway Saturday promotion returns, where if the Lumberjacks beat the USNTDP Under-18 Team, 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.