Local Sports Journal

Green Bay’s Nicholas Schilkey scored on a penalty shot with 2:39 remaining in the third period and gave the host Gamblers a 6-5 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

The game drew 5,007 spectators to Green Bay’s Resch Center.

It was the final regular-season game for both teams, who now begin preparations for next week’s USHL playoffs. Muskegon opens its playoff run in Dubuque on Wednesday against the Fighting Saints.

On Saturday, the Jacks fell behind 2-0, fought back for a 3-2 lead, fell behind 5-3 and tied the game at 5-all.

Tanner Pond and Schilkey gave the Gamblers a 2-0 lead by the 9-minute mark of the opening period.

But, goals by Connor Hurley and Cameron Darcy evened it up for Muskegon before the first period ended. For Hurley, it was his first USHL goal in his 11th game for the Jacks.

Mike Brodzinski gave Muskegon a lead at 1:16 of the middle period on a goal that was assisted by Hurley.

Nick Schmaltz scored for Green Bay later in the period and the teams entered the second intermission tied at 3-all.

Green Bay scored the game’s next two goals to take a 5-3 lead before the Lumberjacks came storming back.

Darcy scored a power-play goal at 15:24 that was assisted by Rasmus Bengtsson and Adam Gilmour. The comeback was complete at 16:28 when Ben Storm scored with an assist from Frederik Tiffels.

However, less than a minute later, the Gamblers were awarded a penalty shot and Schilkey scored what proved to be the game-winning goal.

Green Bay outshot Muskegon 31-27 in the game. Lumberjack goaltender Jordan Uhelski suffered the setback in net.

The Lumberjacks completed the 64-game regular season with a 31-23-10 record for 72 points and a fourth-place finish in the USHL’s Eastern Conference.