Monday, December 6, 2010

USHL Honors - Week Ten

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the tenth week of the 2010-11 USHL regular season.

Congratulations to forward John Gaudreau of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, named CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Ben Marshall of Omaha Lancers, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Joel Vienneau of the Muskegon Lumberjacks who earned honors as the Reebok USHL Goaltender of the Week.

Gaudreau recorded six points (4g, 2a) and a plus-six rating in leading the Fighting Saints to a pair of weekend victories. He scored his 10th goal of the season and dished out an assist in the 4-3 overtime win against Muskegon on Friday. The 17-year-old then scored a goal in each period, including the game-winning goal, in the 5-4 win over Green Bay on Saturday. It was the second hat trick of the season for the rookie forward and extended his goal streak to four games. Gaudreau is a native of Carney's Point, New York and is playing in his first USHL season. He is tied for the League lead with 13 goals and four game-winning goals and ranks tied for fourth in scoring with 22 points (13g, 9a).

Marshall scored three points (1g, 2a) and posted a plus-four rating as the Lancers earned three of four points in the standings over the weekend. He scored the game-winning goal and dished out an assist in the 5-4 win vs. Sioux Falls on Friday. The defenseman has netted the game-winner in two of the last three wins for the Lancers. Marshall collected an assist in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to Lincoln and had a game high plus-two rating. The 18-year-old native of Stillwater, Minnesota is playing in his first USHL season and has tallied 12 points (3g, 9a) through 19 games. He is tied for third overall in the League with a plus-12 rating.

Vienneau posted a 1.44 goals-against-average and a .959 save percentage in leading the Lumberjacks to a pair of road wins. On Saturday, he made 37 saves and stopped all five attempts in the shootout of the 2-1 victory against Cedar Rapids. The 18-year-old then made 33 saves in the 3-2 win over Chicago on Sunday. It was his sixth straight game making 30-or-more saves. Vienneau is a native of Hearst, Ontario and playing in his first USHL season. It is the second time this season he has earned weekly USHL honors. He has compiled a 6-2-1 record over his last nine starts and overall, the goaltender has appeared in 17 games for the Lumberjacks this season and earned eight victories.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its ninth season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2010-11. With over 200 players this season already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 15 NHL Entry Draft picks currently on League rosters, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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