February 23, 2010
Chase Grant of the Fargo Force and Derek Arnold of the Waterloo Black Hawks are both riding nine-game point streaks. (USHL Images)
Around the League
High Five for Black Hawks…Three victories during the week extended the winning streak of the Waterloo Black Hawks to five games, their longest of the season. During that stretch, the team has converted 8-of-21 (38%) on the power play while killing off 21-of-22 (95%) shorthanded situations. The Black Hawks overcame a 3-0 deficit on Tuesday to capture a 4-3 victory vs. Sioux City when Zach Palmquist scored just 39 seconds into the extra session. Waterloo then used a four-goal third period to capture a 5-1 win over Des Moines on Friday. Derek Arnold netted a goal in all three victories during the week and has scored 11 goals during his current nine-game point streak. He has scored all 14 of his goals this season over his last 16 games. C.J. Motte has been in goal for every minute of Waterloo’s five-game win streak posting a 1.78 GAA and has been in net for each of the last 10 victories by the team.
Road Not Rough for Riders…After a two-game weekend sweep of Team USA, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders pushed their road winning streak to eight games tying them for the USHL lead with 18 road wins this season. The squad has played seven of its last eight games away from Cedar Rapids but now return to play their next seven on home ice. Over their past 15 games, the RoughRiders have compiled a 13-1-1 record and 11 of those games have been on the road. During their current eight-game road win streak, they have outscored their opponents 36-19. Zach Lehrke is on a four-game goal streak and has scored seven goals over his past five road games. David Boehm has recorded 15 points (5g, 10a) in 10 games since joining the team. Goaltender Troy Grosenick has won his last seven starts, five of which have been on the road, and Cody Campbell has won five of his last six starts in net, including four on road ice.
Stoppers and Helpers…Several USHL goaltenders turned in stellar performances during the weekend while also contributing to the offense. Cab Morris made 14 saves for the Indiana Ice in Wednesday’s win over Youngstown and he also was credited with two assists in the second period. Omaha’s Jeff Teglia made 24 saves and assisted on the game-winning goal in Friday’s 4-1 victory over Youngstown and then made 25 saves plus added another assist in Saturday’s 3-1 win vs. the Phantoms, which was his 25th victory of the season. Carsen Chubak made 27 saves and assisted on the game-winner as the Tri-City Storm knocked off Green Bay on Friday by the score of 4-3.
USHL Record for Summerhays…Green Bay Gamblers goaltender Steve Summerhays set a new USHL record when he won his 19th consecutive game making 20 saves in the 4-3 overtime win vs. Lincoln on Saturday. He had tied the mark of 18 straight the previous Saturday which was set by Matt Carney of the Des Moines Buccaneers during the 1998-99 season. Summerhays began his streak on November 20th defeating Lincoln, the same club he beat to set the new mark. The native of Anchorage, Alaska is in his second USHL season and leads all goalies with a 2.18 GAA and is tied for the League lead with 25 wins.
Goaltender Duel…The Chicago Steel and Sioux Falls Stampede split their two-game weekend series with both games ending in a 1-0 score as the goaltenders for each club stole the show. Steel goaltender Connor Wilson stopped all 37 shots he faced on Friday, including 18 in the third period, to earn his first career USHL shutout. The following night he turned in a 30-save performance, but it wasn’t enough as Stampede netminder Clay Witt blanked the Steel with 26 saves to record his League best fifth shutout of the season.
Red Light Special...Green Bay forward Anders Lee leads the USHL with 28 goals after scoring in five straight contests, three of which have been the game-winning goal. He has tallied the game-winner in five of the last seven victories for the Gamblers and leads the USHL with nine total, the most in the League since Matt Schepke netted 11 game-winning goals for the Omaha Lancers during the 2005-06 season.
Sweet Home Indiana…The Indiana Ice won their sixth straight home game on Wednesday, a stretch in which they have outscored their opponents 34-12. The team then split a weekend series at Fargo and will play the next three of four on the road. Max Cook scored a goal in Saturday’s 7-4 win pushing his goal streak to six games which tied a club record. Kevin Goumas has dished out nine assists during his five-game assist streak. Nic Dowd recorded a hat trick in Wednesday’s victory and has five goals over his last five contests. Defenseman Anthony Bitetto equaled his own team record, which he set just two weeks earlier, when he had a five-point game (1g, 4a) on Wednesday.
Notes…Fargo Force forward Chase Grant is riding a nine-game point streak (8g, 6a) and leads the team with 23 goals this season…The Lincoln Stars have a point in six of their last seven home games (2-1-4) as they play their next five on home ice…Defenseman Danny Wurden has points (2g, 2a) in each of his last four games for the Sioux City Musketeers…Tri-City defenseman Tyler Amburgey netted a goal in Friday’s 4-3 win vs. Green Bay, his fourth goal over a three-game stretch, while Jaden Schwartz tallied two points (1g, 1a) for his sixth straight multi-point game…Austin Coldwell netted his 10th goal of the season for Des Moines on Saturday, which ranks tied for fifth among USHL defenseman.
Alumni News…In addition to the five USHL alumni playing for Team USA in the Winter Olympics – Brian Rafalski, Ryan Malone, David Backes, Joe Pavelski, and Paul Stastny – two former USHL players are representing the Latvia team during the 2010 Games. Georgijs Pujacs was a defenseman for the Rochester Mustangs during the 1999-00 season and collected 17 points (4g, 13a) in 50 games while also being selected to play in that season’s All-Star Game. Arvid Rekis played defense for the Dubuque Fighting Saints during the 1995-96 season and recorded six points (3g, 3a) in 35 games. Also, current NHL referee and former USHL official Chris Rooney is working as a referee during the Olympics.
The Week Ahead
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its eighth season as the nation’s only Tier 1 junior hockey league in 2009-10. With over 200 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 13 NHL Entry Draft picks currently on League rosters, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com.
It’s not just hockey. It’s the USHL.
