Monday, October 7, 2013

USHL Honors - Week Three

Press Release

 The United States Hockey League today announced the CCM and Reebok player awards for the third week of the 2013-14 USHL regular season.

Award winners include J.J. Piccinich of the Youngstown Phantoms, named CCM Forward of the Week; Mark Friedman of the Waterloo Black Hawks, selected as CCM Defenseman of the Week; and Jacob Johansson of the Tri-City Storm,  named Reebok Goaltender of the Week.

J.J. Piccinich, F, Youngstown Phantoms: The Paramus, New Jersey native scored four points (3g, 1a) and posted a plus-two rating over a pair of road losses for the Phantoms.  On Friday night, Piccinich recorded his first multi-goal game in the USHL with a two tallies in Youngstown’s 4-3 loss to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.  The next night, the 17-year-old Boston University commit notched a goal and an assist in the 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Waterloo Black Hawks.  Piccinich is tied for second on the team in points this season with nine (6g, 3a), which is also currently tied for second in USHL scoring.  He has recorded points in five of his six games played this season, four of which are multi-point efforts.

Mark Friedman, D, Waterloo Black Hawks: The defenseman was a key piece in Waterloo’s 6-3 win over Youngstown on Saturday night, recording a goal and three assists along with a plus-two on-ice rating.  The four-point night established a new USHL career high for the second-year defenseman.  He was also a part of a penalty kill unit that was a perfect 4-for-4 while shorthanded.  The 17-year-old from Toronto, Ontario lit the lamp for the first time this season late in the third period after having recorded an assist in each period.  The Bowling Green State University commit currently is the team leader in points with five (2g, 3a) which also leads all USHL defensemen.

Jacob Johansson, G, Tri-City Storm: The Stockholm, Sweden native posted a 1-0-1 record with a 0.48 goals-against average and .988 save percentage to help the Storm earn three of four points in the standings over two games.  He faced 10-or-more shots in five of the six regulation periods played. He turned out a 44-save performance in Friday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Sioux City Musketeers.  It was the most saves by a USHL goaltender this season.  The next night, he stopped all 35 shots in the 1-0 win over the Des Moines Buccaneers, earning the first shutout of his USHL career.  The 20-year-old has allowed just two goals over three games this season and currently ranks third in the USHL in both GAA (0.63) and SV% (.983).

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

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