Tuesday, January 19, 2010

USHL Honors - Week 16

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the 16th week of the 2009-10 USHL regular season.

Congratulations to forward Andrew Ammon of the Lincoln Stars, named Reebok Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Bryce Aneloski of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Matt Skoff of the Sioux City Musketeers who earned honors as the USHL Goaltender of the Week.

Ammon scored five points (4g, 1a) and registered a plus-six rating for the Stars. He scored a goal in the 8-2 loss to Sioux City on Tuesday. The native of Aldie, Virginia then scored three goals to complete his first USHL hat trick in Friday's 5-1 win vs. Indiana. He also dished out an assist to register a four-point night (3g, 1a). The 19-year-old is playing in his first season in the USHL and has collected 12 points (7g, 5a) in 15 games. Ammon has posted an even-or-better plus/minus rating in each of his last five contests.

Aneloski recorded three points (2g, 1a) as the RoughRiders won two of three games during the weekend. The 19-year-old defenseman scored a goal in the 4-3 loss to Green Bay on Friday before scoring two points (1g, 1a) the next evening during the 6-1 win over Chicago. He then helped Cedar Rapids record their fourth shutout of the season as they topped the Lancers 2-0 on Sunday. Aneloski claims the weekly honor for the third time this season. The Pekin, Illinois native leads the RoughRiders in scoring with 34 points (11g, 23a) through 36 games this season which also ranks tops among USHL blueliners.

Skoff posted a 1.30 goals-against-average, .944 save percentage, and one shutout as he won all three starts during the week for the Musketeers. The native of McKees Rock, Pennsylvania turned away 30 shots in the 8-2 victory over Lincoln on Tuesday. He made 21 saves in the 3-2 overtime victory vs. Chicago on Friday. Skoff then recorded his first shutout of the season when he stopped all 17 Indiana shots in the 1-0 victory on Saturday. The 18-year-old is playing in his first USHL season and has posted an 11-10-2 record in 24 appearances. He currently ranks sixth among League goaltenders with a 2.65 GAA.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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