Lumberjacks making their move
Three-game winning streak energizes Granite City

January 22, 2008

Lumberjacks captain Tyler Sura has been as vauable off the ice as he has on it. PHOTO/ESP1000.com

Winners of three in a row, the Granite City Lumberjacks are starting to make a push up the congested Minnesota Junior Hockey League standings.

“Not only were those wins big in terms of picking up points, but guys are coming together as a team,” said Lumberjacks coach Cale Finseth, whose team improved to 19-15-4.  “They’ve bought into everything we’ve been working on and have started to believe in each other.”

After wins over the Twin Cities Northern Lights and the Minnesota Flying Aces in which they scored 14 goals in the two games, the Lumberjacks kept the offense coming last week with an 8-1 triumph over the Lights on Tuesday.

Kent Kirby tallied two goals and an assist in the win, while Tyler Wahl added a goal and two assists.  Between the pipes, Justin Lochner turned aside 22 shots.

“The guys have showed up to play,” said Finseth.  “They work hard for the whole 60 minutes and do the small things that win hockey games.  They’ve started to play more physical and are taking care of the d-zone.

“That and the line combinations have been working; each line has a specific responsibility and they’ve been doing their job.”

With Granite City’s top-three scorers - Wahl, Tyler Sura and Brady Borer - providing much of the offense all season, newcomers Kirby and Sean Kenny, who also scored in Tuesday’s win over Twin Cities, have wasted no time finding the scoresheet with consistency.

Kirby, a 19-year-old from St. Louis, had seven points (six goals) in his first six games with the team, while Kenny, an 18-year-old Reno, Nev., native, had five goals for seven points in his first eight games.

“They’ve been two great additions to our team,” said Finseth.  “Kent is a mature older player that works hard and understands the game of hockey. Sean is a young explosive player who has been well coached in the past.”

The Lumberjacks have also been helped recently by strong goaltending from the duo of Lochner and Tyler Venne.

“You’re not going to find two goaltenders who work harder than Tyler or Justin,” said Finseth.  “They come to practice with a purpose of getting better and the desire to move on.

“Tyler and Justin practice with team in the morning and then practice at night with our goalie coach.  These guys understand the dedication it takes to make it to the next level.”

Finseth also credits his captains, Sura among them, and his junior veterans for helping his club develop a team-oriented enviroment.

“I explained to the team that I’ve laid the foundation, but they’re the ones who need to continue to work hard and self-manage each other,” said Finseth.  “They’ve started to hold each other accountable for their play and have bought into their individual roles.

“The players are always making strides to improve; they practice with the same intensity as they do on game day.”

The coach has seen constant improvement since September, and, with a month left in the regular season, he’s counting on that to continue as the postseason nears.

“We need to be running on all cylinders when the playoffs start,” said Finseth.  “We need to stay healthy and continue to win hockey games.”

The Hudson Crusaders remain red hot, picking up five out of six points last weekend, starting with a 3-2 victory over the Flying Aces on Friday.  Trevor Aubrecht tallied the game-winning goal for Hudson, with Colin Barnauskas and Reed Zweber scoring the other Crusader markers.  In goal, Randy Johnson turned aside 21 shots.

The next night, the Crusaders lost a 6-5 overtime decision to the Minnesota Ice Hawks.  Matt Mosell struck for two goals for Hudson, with goaltender Adam Buegler steering aside 32 shots.  For the Ice Hawks, Brandon Rohrig scored the game-winner in the extra session, while Jason Rein notched two goals of his own.  Minnesota goaltender Ricky Doyen made 24 saves.

Brett Weber, Alex Johnson and Scott Liebsch all lit the lamp as the Crusaders downed the Wisconsin Mustangs in overtime on Sunday, 4-3.  Barnauskas picked up two assists, while goaltender Sam Foley made 40 saves.  Matt Borndale rang up two goals for Wisconsin.

The Flying Aces skated to a two-game sweep over the St. Paul Lakers last weekend, beginning with a 5-1 triumph on Saturday.  Tim Benner scored two goals for Minnesota, with Chris Hardie notching the game-winning marker.  In goal, Aaron Carter turned aside 36 shots. 

The next day, Benner connected for two more goals and four assists as the Flying Aces thumped the Lakers, 10-2.  Jonathan Feavel, Josh Swancutt and Robert Koppelman also scored two goals each in the victory, while goaltender Jake Vatnsdal stopped 35 shots.

The Mustangs opened their weekend with an 8-4 victory over Twin Cities on Friday.  Marcus Makinen tallied two goals for Wisconsin, including the game-winner, while Jake Calleja added two goals and an assist.  Between the pipes, Jeremy Casselberry and Brian Dalbec combined to stop 18 shots. Artie Peckskamp rang up two goals for the Lights.

Calleja and Ben Smoot (game-winner) scored Wisconsin’s goals as the Mustangs skated to a 2-1 triumph over the Owls on Saturday.  Dalbec stopped 25 shots between the pipes, while Adam Allenson scored Minnesota’s lone marker.

The Owls did manage to pick up two victories last weekend, including a 9-4 decision over the Lakers on Friday.  Nick Follmer recorded a hat trick, including the game-winner, and an assist, while Pat Olson added two goals of his own.  Goaltenders Phil Poeschl and Jack Duffy combined to stop 22 shots.  Tim Goth notched two goals for the Lakers.

On Sunday, Follmer rang up another hat trick as the Owls disposed of the Northern Lights, 7-1.  Dan Liedl put home two goals for Minnesota, while Justin Neis recorded a goal and two assists.  Poeschl made 41 saves in the nets.