Tuesday, March 13, 2012

USHL Honors - Week 24

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the 24th week of the 2011-12 USHL regular season.

Award winners include forwards Tim O’Brien of the Sioux City Musketeers and Mark Naclerio of the Waterloo Black Hawks, named co-recipients of CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defensemen Seth Jones of Team USA and Michael Holland of the Sioux City Musketeers, selected as co-winners of CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Mathias Dahlstrom of the Chicago Steel who earned Reebok Goaltender of the Week.

O’Brien scored four goals and recorded a plus-six rating over two victories for the Musketeers. He scored his first USHL career shorthanded goal and then added the game-winner in Friday’s 7-2 victory against Waterloo. The 19-year-old also had a game high plus-four rating to help Sioux City snap a four-game losing streak. O’Brien had his second consecutive multi-goal night when he netted a pair in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Dubuque. His first goal was the 20th of his USHL career. The native of Chicago, Illinois was playing his first games since mid-February. He has collected 15 points (8g, 7a) in 29 games this season.

Naclerio collected six points (2g, 4a) over two games for the Black Hawks. The 19-year-old dished out an assist in Friday’s 7-2 loss to Sioux City. He then had a career night with five points (2g, 3a) in Saturday’s 6-2 win over Sioux Falls. Naclerio scored two goals on the power play and assisted on the game-winning goal. The five-point night equaled a USHL season high for points in a game and was the most by a Black Hawks player this season. The Milford, Connecticut native has compiled 29 points (12g, 17a) in 38 games this season, ranking tied for fourth in team scoring.

Jones recorded four points (2g, 2a) and posted a plus-three rating over three victories for Team USA’s Under-18 squad. He scored a goal in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime win against Muskegon. The 17-year-old then scored the fifth goal of his USHL career and dished out an assist on the overtime-winner in Saturday’s 4-3 victory against Youngstown. He also posted a game high plus-three rating. Jones then completed the week with an assist in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Chicago. The native of Plano, Texas has put up 10 points (4g, 6a) in 15 USHL games this season.

Holland registered three points (1g, 2a) and a plus-four rating over two victories for Sioux City. He scored his first goal in a Musketeers uniform during Friday’s 7-2 win against Waterloo. The Atkinson, New Hampshire native then dished out two assists in Saturday’s 3-0 shutout of Dubuque. Holland was part of a defensive unit that successfully killed off 9-of-10 (90%) of the opponent power plays during the weekend. The 20-year-old has compiled six points (2g, 4a) and 92 penalty minutes over 40 games during his second USHL season which began with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Dahlstrom posted a 0.94 goals-against-average and .964 save percentage while collecting two victories for the Steel. He stopped 14 shots in Friday’s 3-1 victory over Muskegon. The native of Smedjebacken, Sweden then made 35 saves in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Team USA. It was his third consecutive victory and 13th win of the season. Dahlstrom closed out the weekend stopping all five shots he faced in a relief appearance in Sunday’s 5-1 loss to Team USA. The first-year USHL goaltender has allowed just one goal in five of his last seven victories.

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

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