Monday, February 25, 2013

USHL Honors - Week 22

Press Release

  Today, the United States Hockey League announced the CCM and Reebok player awards for the 22nd week of the 2012-13 USHL regular season.

Award winners include Thomas Forgione of the Sioux Falls Stampede who has been named CCM Forward of the Week; Jimmy Mazza from the Youngstown Phantoms, selected as CCM Defenseman of the Week; and Sean Romeo of the Youngstown Phantoms, earning honors as Reebok Goaltender of the Week.

Thomas Forgione, F, Sioux Falls Stampede: The South Burlington, VT native had a big week for the Stampede, tallying three goals and two assists in three games.  Friday night in Fargo, the second-year forward had a three-point game when he dished out two assists and netted a goal in the 6-3 victory.   After being held off of the score sheet in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Omaha Lancers, the 19-year-old bounced back with a two-goal performance in Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Green Bay Gamblers and also finished with a game high plus-three rating.  Forgione has seven points (5g, 2a) over his last four games and is currently fifth on the team in scoring with 35 points (18g, 17a) through 46 games.  Five of his goals this season have been game-winners, tying for third in the USHL.

Jimmy Mazza, D, Youngstown Phantoms: The rookie defenseman tallied his first USHL career goal and assisted on the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks, helping the Phantoms to a weekend sweep.  His goal late in the third period sealed the win for the Phantoms, and finished the game with a plus-one on-ice rating.  The 18-year-old from Kings Park, New York was also part of a defensive unit that held Muskegon to just three goals over the two weekend games, snapping their four-game win streak.  Mazza currently has seven points (1g, 6a) in 40 games this season, fifth-most among the Phantoms defensemen, and has posted an even-or-better plus/minus rating in seven of his last eight contests.

Sean Romeo, G, Youngstown Phantoms: The Cary, NC native backstopped the Phantoms to two huge wins over the weekend, posting a 1.47 goals-against-average and .947 save percentage.  On Saturday, he turned aside 30 shots to lead Youngstown to a 3-1 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks and capture his 20th win of the season.  The Cary, NC native then blocked 24 shots through 65 minutes of play before coming up with two huge saves in the shootout to complete the sweep of Muskegon with a 3-2 shootout win on Sunday.  Romeo is 5-1-0 over his last six starts and has not allowed more than two goals in any of those five victories.   He ranks third amongst USHL goaltenders with 21 wins this season.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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