LocalSportsJournal.com
Egor Afanasyev propelled the Muskegon Lumberjacks to an opening season win at the USHL Fall Classic on Friday.
Afanasyev scored three goals and picked up an assist to lead the Lumberjacks to a 4-3 win over the Fargo Force at the FedEx Rink in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
The Lumberjacks are now 1-0 on the season, good for two points in the USHL’s Eastern Conference.
Muskegon will close out play at the USHL Fall Classic on Saturday against the Sioux City Musketeers at 8:00 p.m.
The Lumberjacks opened the scoring with a power play goal from Joey Kile at the 8:16 mark of the first quarter to give Muskegon a 1-0 lead.
The Force tied the game 1-1 at the 13:31 mark of the first stanza on a goal by Tyler Gratton.
Afanasyev scored goals at the 11:05 and 14:51 marks of the second period to give the Jacks a 3-1 advantage heading into the period.
Fargo cut its deficit to 3-2 at the 1:21 mark of the third period on Gratton’s second goal of the afternoon.
Afanasyev completed the hat trick 7:10 into the third period to increase the Lumberjacks lead to a 4-2 advantage.
The Force closed out the scoring with a goal from Josh Nodler at the 18:18 mark of the third period.
Muskegon’s goaltender Brandon Bussi stopped 24 shots in net for the Lumberjacks.
