MUSKEGON, MI. — With a share of first place heading into week three of the USHL regular season the Jacks have just one game on the docket as the CHicago Steel visit Trinity Health Arena on Saturday night as part of the Flaunt Your Flannel Festival.
About Last Weekend
In front of a near capacity crowd at Trinity Health Arena the Lumberjacks opened the doors to Trinity Health Arena for the first time in the 2023-2024 regular season with a morning matchup against the USA Hockey NTDP Under-18 team. The energy brought by students in attendance for the annual Kids Day Game was matched by the players on the ice with an exciting 6-3 win for the Lumberjacks over the Program. Matvei Gridin and Sacha Boisvert both found the back of the net twice. Each had a highlight reel goal as well.
Joe Connor continues his strong start to the season with a pair of assists in the win as well. The USHL's league leader in points during the preseason now has 5 points through the first 3 games of the regular season. Gridin leads the USHL with 7 on 5 goals and 2 assists.
Lukas Swedin made his first career USHL start, and earned his first career USHL win. Stopping 34 of 37 shots fired his way by the NTDP Swedin was clutch in the win including multiple cross-crease saves during a third period 5-on-3 power play for Team USA.
The following night the Jacks hit the road and traveled to Geneva, IL to take on the Steel. While the Jacks were winners on Friday over the u18s the Steel fell 6-5 in a high scoring affair to the Madison Capitols.
Jack Galanek opened the scoring for the Jacks in the first period, and added another goal later in the game for his first multi point performance in the USHL. His first goa was the first of his USHL career.
Sacha Boisvert also scored twice giving him 4 points, all goals in the two games over the weekend. A quality stat line from the projected first round draft pick in the 2024 NHL draft earned him his first USHL Forward of the Week honor of the season.
Paxton Geisel earned the win while starting and playing the whole game for Muskegon. Geisel stopped 23 of the 27 shots sent his way for his second win of the campaign.
Mick Thompson and Joey DelGreco stood out for the Steel combining for a couple of goals in the loss. DelGreco finished the game with 2 goals and an assist for 3 total points.
The Matchup
For the second time in the 2023-2024 regular season the Muskegon Lumberjacks take on the Chicago Steel as part of the annual Flaunt Your Flannel Festival. The second of seven total meetings between the two teams, 95th all-time meeting. The Jacks trail the Steel in the all time matchup with a 40-47-7-0 record, but started the new season on the right foot with a 7-4 win in Geneva last weekend.
Muskegon enters the game with a 3-1-0-0 record after a weekend split at the Fall Classic and a sweep over the NTDP Under-18 team and Chicago Steel last weekend.
On the other side of the ice the Steel find themselves on the other side of the standings as well with a 1-3 record. After opening the season with a come from behind overtime victory over the Sioux City Musketeers the Steel have dropped their last three games including losses to Madison, Lincoln, and Muskegon. Before Saturday night's matchup the Steel are on the road in Youngstown, OH taking on the Youngstown Phantoms on Friday night.
Over the Airwaves
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 Ntetwork on Mixlr.
Upcoming Games
Fri. October 13 | 8:05 pm EDT | at Madison Capitols
Sat. October 14 | 8:05 pm EDT | at Madison Capitols
Fri. October 20 | 7:00 pm EDT | at USNTDP Under-17l
Sat. October 21 | 7:00 pm EDT | vs USNTDP Under-17
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.
