Waterloo nets a single goal in each period to go with strong goaltending to muscle a victory

By Bryan Fongers
Muskegon Lumberjacks Communications Director

WEST ORANGE, New Jersey
(September 6th)

In the opener of the 2013 USHL Atlantic Challenge, the new-look Muskegon Lumberjacks would battle hard to the end, but would come up short on the offensive end as the Waterloo Black Hawks would find the right bounces and score a goal in each period to grind out a 3-1 victory at the Richard J. Codey Arena.

The Black Hawks would grab the game’s first lead 6:30 into the contest when a shot fired by Patrick Russell from the right faceoff circle in the Lumberjacks’ zone would be initially saved by Jordan Uhelski, but the rebound would be found by Waterloo’s Peter Kreiger in the low left slot in which he would fire it top shelf into the net.

The score would remain the same into the first intermission, and Waterloo would hold the edge on shots, 10-8.

In the second period, the Black Hawks would double their lead to 2-0 at the 9:59 mark right after a Lumberjacks penalty to Connor Hurley would expire.  After a wild scramble in front of the Lumberjacks’ net, the puck would find its way to the top of the faceoff circles where Brandon Montour would slap one home top shelf past Uhelski that was assisted by Dane Cooper.

The Lumberjacks would break out of the scoreless spell to cut the deficit in half to 2-1 at the 17:54 mark of the middle frame when Adam Larkin would blast a slap shot from just inside the blue line past Waterloo Goaltender Cal Petersen that would be assisted by Chaz Switzer.

The score would hold into the second intermission with Waterloo still clinging to the shot advantage, 24-23.

The final period would go the way of the opposing team as the Black Hawks would add an insurance goal at the 12:05 mark on the power play as Tim Lappin would find a loose puck in the low right slot to roof one past Uhelski to increase the lead to 3-1.  Jake Horton would get the lone assist on the goal.

The Lumberjacks could find no more answers in the third period as Waterloo would shut the door while winning the shot battle in the final frame, 13-6.

Waterloo would outshoot Muskegon for the game, 37-29, and Jordan Uhelski would make 34 saves for the Lumberjacks on the net.  Cal Petersen would stop 28 shots for the Black Hawks in the victory, and six different players tallied a point for Waterloo.  Waterloo would go one-for-four on the man advantage, while Muskegon would go empty on three opportunities.

Muskegon continues preseason play in the USHL Atlantic Challenge in New Jersey with a contest against the Sioux City Musketeers tomorrow at 3:30 pm followed by a matchup with the Sioux Falls Stampede on Sunday at 11:00 am.  Next weekend, the Lumberjacks will participate in the USHL Fall Classic East in Indianapolis, Indiana to conclude their preseason against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders next Saturday at 4:45 pm and host Indiana Ice next Sunday at 5:45 pm.