ANN ARBOR, Michigan (March 30th) – In the final game of their second consecutive three-game weekend this afternoon, the Muskegon Lumberjacks used more late game dramatics to send their contest into a third straight shootout as Jack Rowe was able to tie the game with 13 seconds left in regulation, but their shootout magic would run out as the host USNTDP Under-18 Team claimed the skills competition by a 2-1 decision to earn a 4-3 victory overall at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

An evenly-played first period saw one goal being scored by the host USNTDP Under-18 Team (28-25-5, 61 points) at the 14:48 mark as Louie Belpedio fired a wrist shot from the left point that picked the top right corner of the net over the right shoulder of Jordan Uhelski (10-8-4) for his 5th USHL goal of the season to make it a 1-0 game that was set up by Sonny Milano and Alex Tuch.

The Under-18’s took their one goal lead into the first intermission while outshooting the Lumberjacks by a slim 8-6 margin.

As the second period neared the halfway point, the Lumberjacks (29-24-5, 63 points) knotted the game even at 1-1 by the 6:37 mark on the power play as Christian Wolanin fed an open Matej Paulovic on the back door in which the Dallas Stars prospect fired a one-timer past Edwin Minney (12-3-1) for his 6th goal of the season that was also assisted by Mason Jobst.

Later in the middle frame at the 13:32 mark, the Under-18’s grabbed their one goal lead again at 2-1 with power play marker from Milano as he was able to creep one past Uhelski while parked to the right of the net for his 13th USHL goal of the year that was helped by Tuch and Jack Eichel.

Just as the period was about to expire, Muskegon struck back and got the game tied again this time at 2-2 as Connor Wood threw a shot in front that was originally stopped by Minney, but Scott Pooley found a loose rebound and an open net to slide in his 16th goal of the season into the back of the net on the right side.

Through the first 40 minutes of play, the Under-18 squad outshot the Lumberjacks by a 20-14 spread that included winning the shot battle in the second period by a 12-8 margin.

For the third time in the game, the Under-18 Team took another lead at 3-2 at the 8:11 of the final frame as Milano turned a breakaway attempt into a shorthanded goal with two seconds left during a Muskegon power play as he roofed a backhand over Uhelski’ glove for his second of the afternoon and 14th USHL marker of the season that was aided by Eichel.

The score held into the waning moments of regulation when Uhelski would be pulled for the extra attacker and Jack Rowe found a loose rebound to the right of Minney and lifted his 18th goal of the season with 13 seconds left in the game that was set up by Matt Iacopelli and Jobst to eventually send the game into overtime.  Both teams fired 15 shots on goal during the final frame.

For the third consecutive game, overtime did not provide the answer as the game slid into a shootout with the Under-18’s outshooting Muskegon by a 5-3 margin during the five-minute four-on-four session.  Overall, the Under-18 squad outshot Muskegon, 40-32.

During the skills competition, the Under-18 Team scored on both of their attempts from Eichel and Ryan Hitchcock, while the Lumberjacks scored on just one of their three opportunities from Daniel Willett in the second round.  Paulovic had the chance to send the shootout into a sudden death situation, but his backhand attempt was stoned by Minney.

Edwin Minney picked up his 12th USHL win of the season making 29 saves including two of three shootout attempts, while Jordan Uhelski made 37 saves in the road shootout loss.  The Under-18’s offense was spearheaded by Sonny Milano with two goals and one assist along with Jack Eichel and Alex Tuch each contributing with two assists.  Muskegon’s offensive charge was led by Mason Jobst with two assists along with six others notching a point separately.  The Lumberjacks finish the five-game regular season series with a 2-2-1 record against the Under-18 Team.

This coming weekend, Muskegon will conclude their 2013-14 regular season with a pair of games against two Eastern Conference foes that are still in the playoff chase beginning on Friday, April 4th on the road against the Chicago Steel at 8:30 pm followed by a home tilt against the Green Bay Gamblers on Saturday, April 5th at 7:15 pm.

Saturday’s game will feature Fan Appreciation Night along with the return of our Subway Saturday promotion.  If the Lumberjacks defeat the Gamblers, fans that attend the game can redeem their ticket stubs at any participating West Michigan Subway location for a buy one six-inch sub and get another six-inch sub of equal or lesser value for free.

Individual game tickets will be on sale this coming week 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 for Saturday’s game against Green Bay.  Tickets can be purchased at the L.C. Walker Arena 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.  You can also catch the Lumberjacks on Michigan TV and Sports with the Muskegon Lumberjack “Game of the Week” every Thursday at 6:00 pm on Charter channel 16.

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.