With the world on its toes regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), the US remains somewhat unfazed at the moment. Some sports teams, businesses, and other organizations around the states are proceeding with caution. One of these leagues happens to be the USHL.
To move past the virus update, we can jump right into our USHL weekly recap.
The DICK’S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic has officially announced that it will be returning to the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, PA. Each USHL team will play two regular-season games during the event and is expected to draw over 400 NHL and college scouts.
“We’re excited to welcome the USHL back to this great facility in Cranberry Township for the fifth straight year. The UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex will again become the hub of United States junior and youth hockey for four days, giving hundreds of scouts – as well as fans- a chance to see some amazingly talented players, including top-ranked prospects for the 2021 NHL Draft. We’re fortunate to have DICK’S Sporting Goods as our corporate partner once again. And, as we’ve seen, the Fall Classic also makes a significant economic impact on Butler County, Allegheny County, and the region,” said President and CEO of the Penguins, David Morehouse.
With their 13th consecutive win the other night, the Chicago Steel have officially clinched a first-round bye. The 6-5 victory over the Saints pushed the Steel to 41-7-1-0 on the year. No other team has clinched a playoff spot thus far and the Steel are already sitting in the second round.
When asked about the victory, Sam Colangelo had this to say, “We’re playing pretty good and when your team is playing good, it’s pretty easy to get points, especially when you’re playing with I’d say, two of the best players in the league in Sean Farrell and Brendan Brisson. They’re two of my best friends so it’s pretty good to play with them. We have great chemistry and hopefully we can keep it going.”
The Steel will look to pad their lead and continue their record-setting season when they take on the Gamblers this Saturday and Sunday.
USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp released the names of 49 American hockey players who will participate in the upcoming event. The 49 players are broken down by 27 forwards, 16 defensemen, and six goaltenders, who will be split into two teams and play in five games. The dates for the camp are March 19 through the 22.
The U-18 Men’s World Championship will take place April 16-26 in Plymouth and Ann Arbor Michigan. 10 different countries will be represented in the tournament and be broken down into two groups. The US team has medaled in the past 16 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship tournaments and will look to make it 17 this year. For a full list of the groupings and schedule, that can be found here.
It is important to note that amid the COVID-19 scare, the IIHF has canceled six upcoming men’s and women’s world championship tournaments. The Men’s IIHF Ice Hockey U-18 World Championship Division II Group A, IIHF Ice Hockey U-18 World Championship Division II Group B, IIHF Ice Hockey U-18 World Championship Division III Group A, and the IIHF Ice Hockey U-18 World Championship Division III Group B. The women’s tournaments are the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division I Group B, and IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division II Group A.
The USHL announced its players of the week last week and there are two new faces on the list. It’s the first time AJ Hodges and Ty Gallagher were named for their respective position, forward and defenseman.
AJ Hodges– For the first time in his two year USHL career, Hodges was named Forward of The Week. He scored two goals and recorded three assists to boast a +4 rating in two games last week. Although the Musketeers split their games, Hodges was the main reason they had any businesses staying in them. He’s committed to play at Union College next year.
Ty Gallagher– The Notre Dame hockey commit had a great week for the NTDP last week. He scored one goal and had three assists for a +2 rating in two games last week. The NTDP split their games but Gallagher was a man on a mission. He’s been on a hot streak of late having recorded five points in his last four games.
Nicholas Grabko– Goaltender Nicholas Grabko went 2-0 last weekend and allowed 1 GAA and had a .968 SV% to help the Gamblers improve to 24-19-2-3 on the year, good enough for third place in the Eastern Conference. He is uncommitted on where he’ll be playing his college hockey.
Western Conference:
Black Hawks: 33-13-2-0 (68 points)
Lancers: 27-14-7-1 (62)
Force: 26-15-4-2 (58)
Storm: 24-17-5-2 (55)
Stars: 23-20-3-2 (51)
Buccaneers: 21-23-1-2 (45)
Musketeers: 16-24-7-1 (40)
Eastern Conference:
x – Steel: 41-7-1-0 (83)
Saints: 32-13-2-0 (66)
Gamblers: 24-19-2-3 (53)
USA NTDP: 25-21-1-1 (52)
Phantoms: 20-22-6-2 (48)
Lumberjacks: 21-24-5-0 (47)
RoughRiders: 19-23-4-1 (43)
Capitols: 12-34-3-1 (28)
Points Leaders:
Mathieu De St. Phalle, Steel, 60
Brendan Brisson, Steel, 59
Sam Colangelo, Steel, 57
Goals Leaders:
Riese Gaber, Saints, 34
Mathieu De St. Phalle, Steel, 30
Sam Colangelo, Steel, 28
Assists Leaders:
Sean Farrell, Steel, 41
Ty Jackson, Saints, 40
Alexander Campbell, Lancers, 36
Wins Leaders:
Victor Ostman, Steel, 25
Gabriel Carriere, Black Hawks, 21
Cole Brady, Force, 20
Save Percentage Leaders:
Jaxson Stauber, Stampede, .918%
Nicholas Grabko, Gamblers, .917%
Erik Portillo, Saints, .915%
Goals Against Average Leaders:
Erik Portillo, 2.11
Logan Stein, Black Hawks, 2.33
Victor Ostman, 2.34
Be sure to check out next week’s USHL update to ensure the league is still operating as usual. Follow me on Twitter at @Nwinansw and check with the @Hockey_OTH account as well.
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