Tuesday, January 3, 2012

USHL Honors - Week 14

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the 14th week of the 2011-12 USHL regular season.

Award winners include forwards Sean Kuraly of the Indiana Ice, named recipient of CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Jordan Schmaltz of the Green Bay Gamblers, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Jon Gillies of the Indiana Ice and Adam Wilcox of the Tri-City Storm who share honors as Reebok USHL Goaltender of the Week.

Kuraly scored four points (3g, 1a) and recorded a plus-five rating in leading the Ice to three wins to end 2011. He netted the game-winner with just 14 seconds remaining in overtime of the 3-2 victory vs. Muskegon on Wednesday. The 18-year-old forward then scored the game-winning goal in Friday’s 5-2 victory over Youngstown. Kuraly rounded out his week with a goal and one assist in Saturday’s 3-0 win against Youngstown which extended his goal streak to five games. The Dublin, Ohio native is currently tied for second in the USHL with 18 goals and is fifth overall in scoring with 31 points (18g, 13a).

Schmaltz tallied four points (2g, 2a) as the Gamblers won two of three games to close out the calendar year. The defenseman helped limit Dubuque to just 18 shots on goal in Green Bay’s 3-2 win on Wednesday. He dished out one assist in Friday’s 6-2 loss to Cedar Rapids. Schmaltz then equaled a USHL career high with a three points in Saturday’s 10-1 win over Chicago. He scored a power play goal and then later scored his first USHL career shorthanded goal. The 18-year-old native of Verona, Wisconsin leads all League defenseman with eight goals and is tied for second with 16 points (8g, 8a) in 24 games this season.

Gillies posted a 1.30 goals-against-average and a .949 save percentage as he was in net for all three Indiana Ice victories during the week. He made 23 saves in the 3-2 overtime win vs. Muskegon on Wednesday then stopped 25 shots in the 5-2 victory over Youngstown on Friday. The 17-year-old then turned aside all 26 shots he faced in Saturday’s 3-0 win against Youngstown to record his second shutout of the season. It was also his 16th win of the season which leads all USHL goaltenders. Gillies is a native of South Portland, Maine and currently leads the League with a .926 SV% and is third with a 2.32 GAA.

Wilcox compiled a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .957 save percentage to lead the Storm to a pair of weekend victories. He made 33 saves in the 4-3 win vs. Sioux City on Friday. The 19-year-old then stopped all 34 shots he faced in the 3-0 victory against Omaha on Saturday. It was his 10th win of the season for the native of South St. Paul, Minnesota and it was his third shutout which ties for the lead among USHL goaltenders. Wilcox is currently fourth among League netminders with a .918 SV% and ranks fifth with a 2.42 GAA.

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

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