MUSKEGON, MI – For the final time this regular season the Muskegon Lumberjacks (36-21-1-1, 74 pts.) took to the ice at Trinity Health Arena. This time around for the first leg of a home-and-home series against the USA Hockey NTDP Under-18 Team (20-32-2-3, 45 pts.) The eventual 5-3 loss would end the Jacks' 5 game winning streak.
No goals were scored in the first period, but the Program didn't take long to open the scoring in the second. Once they did they doubled up in quick succession. Kamil Bednarik found the back of the net first at the 6:08 mark of the frame before James Hagens followed suite just :59 seconds later to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.
The Jacks wouldn't go into the second intermission trailing though with two goals of their own in the second half of the frame. Both belonging to
Joe Connor (Amherst, NH). First, at the 11:16 mark Connor cleaned up a rebound in front.
Cody Croal (North Branch, MN) hustled to negate an icing and tapped the puck from behind the net to
Matvei Gridin (Kurgan, RUS) at the top of the crease. Normally a dangerous threat with the puck in the offensive zone Gridin fanned on his shot attempt, but that lead to a loose rebound for Connor to bang to the back of the net.
Connor then scored again six minutes later after a clearing attempt from the Jacks' zone went to Gridin at center ice. Gridin gave the puck to Croal who entered the offensive zone. Croal sent the puck to Connor and from the top of the near side circle Connor ripped a shot over the glove of the NTDP netminder for his second goal of the game.
Three goals in the first five and a half minutes of the third period shocked the Jacks' as the teams came out of the second intermission. Teddy Stiga scored two of the goals while Austin Baker scored the other to make it 5-2.
Gridin found the back of the net to make it a 3 point performance with a power play goal in the final 5 minutes to bring the game back to within a pair.
Sacha Boisvert (Trois-Rivieres, QC, CAN) sent the puck to Croal in the far side circle before the captain sent it to the near side for Gridin to rip to the back of the net. His 3 point night gives Gridin a USHL league leading total of 80 with 3 games remaining this season.
Shikhabudtin Gadzhiev (Makhachkala, RUS) (16-9-0-0) earned the loss on his record with 35 saves on 38 shots against. Jack Parsons (8-4-0-1) earned the win with 33 saves on 36 shots.
The teams close the weekend series tomorrow night at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm. The video feed will be shown on USA Hockey TV while the free Lumberjacks Hockey Network Pregame Show will still be available with voice of the Jacks Ezra Gennello.
For schedules, scores, updates, and more visit muskegonlumberjacks.com. Follow the Jacks on social media @muskegonjacks on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for special content throughout the week.
