Monday, October 31, 2011

USHL Honors - Week Five

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the fifth week of the 2011-12 USHL regular season.

Award winners include forward Dylan Margonari of the Youngstown Phantoms, named CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Jordan Young of the Youngstown Phantoms, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and both Gabe Antoni of the Dubuque Fighting Saints and Ryan McKay of the Green Bay Gamblers who share honors as the Reebok USHL Goaltender of the Week.

Margonari scored four goals to lead the Phantoms to a pair of weekend road victories. His first goal of the season was the game-winner on Friday as Youngstown earned their first-ever victory against Tri-City. The 19-year-old then recorded a hat trick, including two goals in the second period, of Saturday’s 5-2 win vs. Omaha. Margonari also posted a game high plus-four rating as the Phantoms also earned their first-ever win against Omaha. The Greensburg, Pennsylvania native is playing in his third USHL season and has scored 17 goals over 85 career games.

Young recorded two points (1g, 1a) and a plus-three rating during the Phantoms road trip. He scored his first career USHL goal to cap the 5-1 win vs. Tri-City on Friday. The second-year defenseman then dished out an assist on Margonari’s third goal of the game in Saturday’s 5-2 victory against Omaha. Young is currently tied for eighth in the USHL, fourth among defensemen, with a plus-seven rating this season. The 19-year-old from Cave Creek, Arizona collected 11 assists in 40 games for the Phantoms last season.

Antoni was in net for both Dubuque victories posting a combined 1.00 goals-against-average and .957 save percentage to help the team extend their winning streak to six games. He made 18 saves in the 3-1 win vs. Sioux City on Friday before making a season high 26 saves in the 4-1 victory at Fargo. The rookie netminder is unbeaten in four appearances (4-0-0) during his first USHL season. All four wins for the 19-year-old from Lansdale, Pennsylvania have been on the road and he currently leads USHL goaltenders with a 1.05 GAA.

McKay earned both wins on the road during the weekend and helped the Gamblers remain the only unbeaten USHL team away from home this season (5-0-0). He stopped 26 shots in the 4-1 win at Fargo on Friday and made 18 saves in the 4-1 victory at Sioux City on Saturday. The 19-year-old from Palatine, Illinois is currently third among League goaltenders in both goals-against-average (1.60) and save percentage (.939). It is the third season with the Gamblers for McKay who has won 43 regular season games during his USHL career.

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

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