Monday, March 26, 2012

USHL Honors - Week 26

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the 26th week of the 2011-12 USHL regular season.

Award winners include forward Daniil Tarasov of the Indiana Ice, named recipient of CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Ryan Obuchowski of the Indiana Ice, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Zane Gothberg of the Fargo Force who earned Reebok Goaltender of the Week.

Tarasov scored six points (5g, 1a) and posted a plus-four rating in leading the Ice to three victories in three nights. He scored a goal in Friday’s 3-2 win against Cedar Rapids, tying his total of 37 from a season ago. The 20-year-old then scored two goals in the second period of Saturday’s 5-2 win over Youngstown. Tarasov’s second goal was his eighth game-winning goal of the season which leads all USHL players. On Sunday, he scored his 40th goal and then tallied his 41st to tie the game late in the third period as the Ice had the goaltender pulled in favor of the extra attacker. Indiana would go on to earn a 5-4 shootout victory over Team USA. The five-goal weekend helped Tarasov break his own team record for goals in a season. The Moscow, Russia native is currently riding a seven-game point streak (8g, 6a) and is second in USHL scoring with 76 points (41g, 35a) through 54 games this season.

Obuchowski collected five points (1g, 4a) and posted a plus-two rating over the three wins for the Ice. He scored his seventh goal of the season and dished out an assist in the second period of Saturday’s 5-2 win against Youngstown. The Canton, Michigan native then set a USHL career high when he recorded three assists in Sunday’s 5-4 shootout win against Team USA. Obuchowski is tied for second among all USHL defensemen in scoring with 36 points (7g, 29a). His 29 assists currently lead all League blueliners. Playing his second USHL season, the 19-year-old defenseman is second on the Ice with a plus-16 rating. It is the second time this season he has captured the weekly USHL honor.

Gothberg posted a 1.00 goals-against-average and .964 save percentage while in net for two Force victories. He stopped all 25 shots he faced in Friday’s 2-0 win against Des Moines which was his second consecutive shutout and gave him a League-leading six for the season. The 19-year-old then extended his personal winning streak to three games when he made 28 saves in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Des Moines. It was the 24th win of the season for Gothberg, tying him for third among USHL goaltenders. He is currently second among League netminders in both GAA (2.29) and SV% (.919). It is the third time this season that the Thief River Falls, Minnesota native has won the weekly goaltending award after earning the honor in consecutive weeks in January.

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

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