MUSKEGON, MI – This Friday and Saturday the Muskegon Lumberjacks will take on the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-17 team in a home and home series. Friday night's game will take place at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI while the teams return to the Lakeshore and Trinity Health Arena for Saturday night.
 

The Matchup

The Jacks and 17s haven't met yest this season, but Muskegon started off on the right foot against the program with a 6-3 win over the 18s at home on September 29^th. Including the big win on Kids Day the Jacks have had a strong start to the season with a 5-2 record heading into week 5 of the USHL regular season. The same can't be said for the program which sits at under .500 with a 4-5 record through their first 9 games. Specifically, the 17s hold on to an 0-4 record. A winless record for them isn't as surprising as it is for other teams considering the roster is made up completely of junior hockey rookies.
 
A season ago the Jacks and 17s split the season series 3-3. The first meeting didn't come until December 9, 2022, when Muskegon eked out a 4-3 overtime win. The Jacks followed up with another win, this time 9-6 on December 30^th on the front end of a weekend series. The next night the 17s got their first win of the season long series 7-3. In the new calendar year, the 17s started out with a 5-4 regulation win on January 20^th before a late February weekend series saw another split. On the 24^th the Jacks won 7-4 while on the 25^th it was the 17s 5-1.
 
With an even record the teams were close in the goal differential department as well. Muskegon found the back of the net 28 times in the 6 games while the program held the advantage with 30 goals. Combined the teams scored 58 goals in the 6 games.
 

About Last Weekend

A trip to the other side of Lake Michigan and Madison, WI brought two games with two different storylines against the Madison Capitols.
Game one on Friday night was tough sledding for a Muskegon offense that was never really able to get moving. After opening the scoring in the first period on the back of the first goal of the season for Ty Henricks (Mission Viejo, CA) the Jacks offense failed to find the back of the net again…. Sort of. David Klee (Castle Rock, CO) appeared to score a goal in the third period to tie the game at 2-2, but after a video review it was determined that the net had come off its position. In the end without a comeback effort the Jacks fell 4-1 for just the second loss of the season. Lukas Swedin (Stockholm, SWE) earned the loss, but saw his save percentage increase by making 44 saves on 47 shots against.
 
Game two on Saturday saw the offense come to life. After a slow start in the first period that allowed the Capitols to build a two goal lead the Jacks went on to score 5 straight. In the first period Cody Croal (North Branch, MN) got the Jacks on the board with his first goal of the game, then added an assist on a goal by Joe Connor (Amherst, NH) to tie the game before the intermission. Another two goals came in the second period. Croal scored his second of the game on an assist from Connor while killing a penalty. Hunter Anderson (Manhattan Beach, CA) intercepted a breakout pass and finished the play by firing a shot to the back of the net. Croal and Connor both added another point each with assists on a powerplay goal in the third period from Henricks to put the game on ice. Croal finished with 4 points on 2 goals and 2 assists while Connor had 3 points on 1 goal and 2 assists. Paxton Geisel (Estevan, SK, CAN) improved his season record to 3-0 with the winning effort in net.
 
Back in Michigan at USA Hockey Arena the 17s welcomed the Sioux City Musketeers. Friday night brought a high scoring affair with the Muskies picking up a 6-5 win. A night later Sioux City matched their goal output from Friday in a commanding 6-1 win for the weekend sweep over the NTDP Under-17 team.
 
 

Jacks in the NHL

A total of 6 former Lumberjacks made opening night rosters in the NHL. Andrei Svechnikov (2016-17) of the Carolina Hurricanes is set for his 6th season in Carolina but is listed on the injured reserve to start the year. After his time in Muskegon "Svech" was selected 2nd overall by the Canes in 2018.
 
Ryan Lomberg (2011-12) is also entering his 6th NHL season, 4th with the Florida Panthers. Last season Lomberg and the Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals as the Eastern Conference Champions.
 
Joey Daccord (2015-16) spent last season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) helping his team to the Calder Cup, and now gets his shot in the NHL as a member of the Seattle Kraken. Jaycob Megna (2010-11) was traded to Seattle last season during a push during the post season and joins Daccord as a member of the Kraken.
 
Conor Garland (2012-13) started the season in a big way by scoring the first goal of the campaign for the Vancouver Canucks. The 6-year NHLer is in his 3rd with Vancouver.
 
The final Jack in the NHL is Nick Seeler (2011-12) is entering his 12th season in the NHL as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Seeler had 56 points in 77 games last year.
 

Player Spotlight: David Klee

Almost every young hockey players dream of growing up and playing in the NHL. Most of them though don't have much experience of pro hockey other than being a fan until they get older and go through the prospect process. David Klee wasn't like most young hockey players. Son of Ken Klee, a 14 year NHL veteran David grew up around the inner sanctity of the NHL.
 
"Being around the room as a little kid was obviously awesome. I don't remember too much of it, but getting to see how they carried themselves as pros is something that taught me a lot." Said David.
 
His father's hockey career didn't only rub off on him. Both of Davids older brothers Mason and Garrett played in the USHL. After a 160 game career ending as the captain of the Waterloo Black Hawks Garrett spent four seasons at Northern Michigan (CCHA) before making the jump to pro hockey and the ECHL. Mason, a 2019 Clark Cup Champion with the Sioux Falls Stampede went on to play four years at RPI (ECAC), and now is spending his fifth year at Ohio State (Big10) as a member of the Buckeyes.
 
Klee added "A lot of kids come into the USHL with the misconception that it's still youth Hockey. Getting to watch both my brothers go through it prepared me mentally for what I was going into."
 
David is on the path the NHL as a 2023 draft pick of the San Jose Sharks. After his Junior Hockey career David is committed to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota along with current teammates Sacha Boisvert and Cody Croal.
"The Decision for me wasn't that tough. It's been a dream school of mine since I was a little kid said Klee. He added "The energy and the amount of people they've pumped into higher levels is something that was a big factor."
 
When asked about playing college hockey alongside Boisvert and Croal Klee said "It's pretty cool to have two other guys, some of your best friends to be going in there with. We are all itching to get out there, but we've got business to handle here first."
 

Over the Airwaves

Friday nights game will only be shown no USAHockey.tv. The stream is available for free for users who register on the site. The free Mixlr radio call with Ezra Gennello will also be available on Friday. Saturday's game will operate as normal on FloHockey and the Lumberjacks Hockey Network on Mixlr.

Catch the action all season long with the USHL's official video streaming partner FloHockey, and with the free radio stream on the Lumberjacks Hockey Network on Mixlr.
 

Upcoming Games

Fri. October 20 | 7:00 pm EDT | at USNTDP Under-17
Sat. October 21 | 7:00 pm EDT | vs USNTDP Under-17
Fri. October 27 | 7:00 pm EDT | vs Green Bay Gamblers
Sat. October 28 | 7:00 pm EDT | vs Green Bay Gamblers
Sun. October 29 | 3:00 pm EDT | vs Green Bay Gamblers
 

Follow the Jacks

Be sure to follow the Muskegon Lumberjacks on social media!
Facebook - Muskegon Lumberjacks
Twitter - @MuskegonJacks
Instagram - @muskegonjacks
Tik Tok - muskegonlumberjacks
 

About the Muskegon Lumberjacks

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud and dedicated members of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league and leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The club's goal is to create an environment where student-athletes develop into successful young men both on and off the ice, which includes playing the game the right way while keeping up with their studies in the classroom and staying actively involved in the West Michigan community. The organization is committed to providing quality, affordable, and top-notch family entertainment while providing positive role models for the youth and the local community.