FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 25th, 2015

USHL UPDATE WEEK 26

USHL STANDINGS

SCORING LEADERS

GOALTENDING LEADERS

SCHEDULE

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Streaking to the Record BooksWinning three games in three nights over the weekend put the
Youngstown Phantoms in the record books as they pushed their winning streak to 17 games, the
longest streak in the USHL Tier 1 era (2002-present). The Phantoms have posted a 36-13-5 record
this season, already setting a team record for points in the standings (77) and sit one victory short of
equaling their team record set during the 2012-13 season. The record 17-game winning streak follows
the 2013-14 season in which the Phantoms won just 17 games total. Over their streak that began on
February 6th, they have outscored the opposition 75-30 and have defeated 10 different USHL teams.
Nine of the wins during the streak have been on the road, including all three during the weekend.
Josh Nenadal scored the game-winning goal with just 43 seconds remaining in the third period of
Fridays 2-1 victory over the Waterloo Black Hawks. Chris Birdsall then stopped all 24 shots he faced
in Saturdays 4-0 win against Waterloo to post his third shutout of the season. Kyle Connor netted
the game-winner with just over four minutes to play in Sundays 4-3 victory against the Chicago Steel
to help the Phantoms set the new record. It was the sixth time during the streak that Connor scored
the game-winning goal, and he is now tied for first in the USHL with seven total winners this season.
Playoff ClinchersFour different teams secured their spot in the 2015 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs over
the weekend, filling half of the eight available spots for the postseason. The Tri-City Storm were the
first to do so with their 5-4 overtime win against the Des Moines Buccaneers on Friday, marking the
first playoff appearance for the Storm since the spring of 2012. The Sioux City Musketeers also
clinched a spot with their 6-3 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede, making it consecutive playoff berths
for the Musketeers. Two playoff positions in the Eastern Conference were secured on Saturday night
as the Youngstown Phantoms defeated Waterloo 4-0 to make it three appearances in the
postseason over the last four years for the Phantoms. Despite losing 4-2 on Saturday to Dubuque, the
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders clinched a playoff berth which will be their 14th postseason appearance
in 16 seasons since coming to Cedar Rapids.
Goal OutburstThe offense for Team USAs Under-18 squad exploded on Friday during an 11-3 win
over the Lincoln Stars. It was the most goals by a USHL team since the Indiana Ice scored 11 in a
game during the 2009-10 season (2/17/10 vs. Youngstown). 15 different skaters recorded a point as
the team totaled 29 points in the contest (11g, 18a). Five different players had three-point nights
Jeremy Bracco (2g, 1a), Auston Matthews (2g, 1a), Christian Fischer (2g, 1a), Matthew Tkachuk
(1g, 2a), and Clayton Keller (1g, 2a). Team USA followed up with eight more goals in Saturdays 8-0
shutout of Lincoln and has scored 48 goals over their last seven USHL contests.
Home Sweet HomeA two-game weekend sweep over Des Moines kept the Tri-City Storm on top of
the Western Conference standings. Their 34 victories this season are the most for the team since they
won 36 games during the 2006-07 season. Both wins this weekend were on home ice and they now
lead the entire USHL with 21 victories on home ice, the most for the Storm since winning 24 in the
2003-04 season. Chase Berger was the hero as he netted a shorthanded tally in overtime of the 5-4
victory. It was the first game-winning goal of his USHL career and third goal in a span of four games.

Jake Wahlin then scored the game-winner in Saturdays 4-2 victory over Des Moines. Three of his
last seven goals have been game-winners.
The Five Musketeers...Sioux City Musketeers forward Joel Janatuinen netted a pair of goals in
Fridays 6-3 win against Sioux Falls. The second goal was his 20th of the season, giving the
Musketeers five different 20-goal scorers Robert Carpenter (31), Adam Johnson (30), Sam
Kurker (23), Joe Snively (22), Janatuinen (20). They are the only team with five, followed by the
Youngstown Phantoms who have four 20-goal scorers. No other team in the USHL currently has more
than two. It is the first time during the USHL Tier 1 era (2002-present) that the Musketeers have had
five players on the roster net 20 goals, surpassing the mark of four from the 2006-07 season.
Carpenter and Johnson each scored a goal in both weekend contests, helping them both reach the 30goal mark. It is the first time in the USHL Tier 1 era that the Musketeers have had a pair of 30-goal
scorers and just the 13th time over that span a USHL team has had two players score 30 in a season.
The 30 ClubWaterloo Black Hawks forward Brock Boeser netted his 30th goal of the season in
Fridays 2-1 loss to Youngstown. He is the fourth player to reach the 30-goal mark this season and is
the eighth member of the Black Hawks in the USHL Tier 1 era that has scored 30 goals in a season,
joining a group that includes Taylor Cammarata (2012-13), Zach Stepan (2012-13), Tyler Barnes
(2009-10), J.T. Brown (2009-10), Jordan Samuels-Thomas (2008-09), David Meckler (2004-05),
and Joe Pavelski (2002-03). Six of the previous seven 30-goal scorers for Waterloo have either been
selected in the NHL Draft or have played in the NHL.
Matthew & MatthewsA pair of Team USA forwards are continuing to fill up the scoresheet and both
are riding 11-game point streaks in USHL action. Matthew Tkachuk has produced 21 points (10g,
11a) over that stretch, which has included seven goals over the last six games. Auston Matthews
has 25 points (10g, 15a) over that same period, including at least one assist in all but one of those
games. The 11-game point streaks are tied for the second-longest in the USHL this season.
WOW-ski From DmowskiDes Moines Buccaneers forward Ryan Dmowski has been one of the
hottest players in the USHL as of late. He tallied four goals over three games for the Bucs last week,
including the game-winner in Tuesdays 5-2 victory against the Fargo Force, one day before
celebrating his 18th birthday. Dmowski has netted 10 goals over his last nine games and is currently
second on the Bucs with 22 total goals this season.
Buzzer BeaterMuskegon Lumberjacks forward Matheson Iacopelli is no stranger to scoring goals,
but he scored one of the biggest of the season on Friday. With Lumberjacks trailing 2-1 late in the
third period, they pulled their goaltender in favor of the extra attacker. Iacopelli fired a shot that beat
the Green Bay Gamblers goaltender with just 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock to force overtime.
Muskegon would then go on to win the game 3-2 in the shootout, their 30th victory of the season. It
was the 22nd goal of the season for Iacopelli and sixth tally over a span of eight games.
Malone Makes it ThreeDubuque Fighting Saints forward Seamus Malone scored three goals in a
span of 12:25 of game action during the second period of Saturdays 4-2 win against Cedar Rapids. It
was the first hat trick of his USHL career after having nine two-goal efforts in 155 previous regular
season games for Dubuque. His second goal proved to be the game-winner after scoring the gamewinner in Fridays 3-2 win against Team USA. Malone is one goal shy of 50 for his USHL career.
Trick for NickIt was a weekend to remember for Omaha Lancers forward Nick Rivera. He netted
three goals in Fridays 6-2 win against Fargo to record his first USHL hat trick. His first goal proved to
be the game-winner, his third game-winner of the season, while his second tally was his first USHL
career shorthanded goal. Rivera followed up with another goal in Saturdays 5-4 shootout loss to
Fargo and now has 14 goals over 51 games this season.
Shootout SensationsThe Fargo Force went to the shootout for the 10th time this season, tied for
the second-most in the USHL, during Saturdays 5-4 victory against the Omaha Lancers. It was a
couple of familiar characters coming up big in the extra session for the Force. Denis Smirnov, who
had two goals in regulation, converted his attempt in the shootout. It was the third straight time he has

been successful on his shootout attempt. Also converting was Kyle Sylvester. Despite not scoring a
goal through 46 games this season, he is tied for the USHL lead with seven shootout tallies this
season. He has converted four of his last five attempts and 7-of-10 overall this year. Goaltender
Mathias Israelsson stopped both attempts by Omaha in the shootout to record his League-leading
sixth shootout victory as he has stopped 21-of-25 shooters in the extra session this season.
Here You Go BroPlaying in just his fourth USHL game, forward Nick Poehling netted his first
USHL goal for the Green Bay Gamblers in Fridays 3-2 shootout loss to Muskegon. Earning an assist
on the play was his twin brother Jack Poehling. They were one of two sets of brothers in the lineup
that night for Green Bay, joining Jake Kauppila and Sam Kauppila.
Herd Heading HomeThe Sioux Falls Stampede wrapped a 10-game road stretch on Sunday with a
7-5 victory against the Chicago Steel. Trailing 5-3 early in the third period, the Stampede scored four
goals in a span of 6:47 to complete a comeback victory. Dakota Joshua and Parker Tuomie scored
just 12 seconds apart before Cooper Marody and Mikey Eyssimont scored goals 48 seconds apart a
few minutes later. The Stampede ended the road swing with a 5-5-0 record and now play their next
six contests at home.
NoteworthyDes Moines Buccaneers forward Georgy Gorodetsky had three points (1g, 2a) in
Fridays 5-4 overtime loss to Tri-City. It was the third time during a five-game point streak (2g, 9a) that
he had produced a three-point gameDubuque Fighting Saints forward Robby Jackson dished out
five assists over two weekend contests, plus netted the 40th goal of his USHL careerCedar Rapids
RoughRiders defenseman Clark Kuster netted the winner in overtime of the 3-2 win against Madison
on Friday. The goal was the 20th of his USHL career and was the second time this season that he has
scored the winner in overtimePlaying in just his sixth USHL game, forward Mitchell Mattson scored
his first USHL goal which proved to be the game-winner for the Bloomington Thunder in Saturdays 2-1
victory against Team USAChicago Steel defenseman Carson Vance had a USHL career high threepoint game (1g, 2a) in Saturdays 7-5 loss to Sioux Falls. It was his third straight game with a goal and
gives him nine points (3g, 6a) in eight games since being acquired by the Steel after having eight total
points (1g, 7a) in 44 previous USHL games.
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Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 13 season as the nation's only Tier I junior
hockey league in 2014-15. A record 35 players were chosen in the 2014 NHL Draft and more than 300
players on team rosters this season are committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing the
USHL as the worlds foremost producer of junior hockey talent.

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