General Game Notes: Tonight the Lumberjacks had a second period burst of goals that really made the difference in the game. They were able to capitalize on special teams and carry the momentum when they had it. The other two periods were one goal difference periods, showing the significance of the second.
| Leo Gruba | Fargo Force | USHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 209 | Minnesota | 2024 | Lake Elmo, MN | 2003 | 2023-2024: F 2022-2023: B- 2021-2022: B- |
Game Grade: A-
Gruba earned 18:03 in ice time (3rd among D) including 5:58 on the PP (2nd among D) and 2:03 on the PK (1st among D). He finished tied for a game worst -3, with 1 goal, 4 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 2 PIMs (Dzone hook after being beaten off the wall), 1 hit, received 1 hit, had 1 shot blocked, 6 giveaways, 5 takeaways and for the season he is winning 57% of his 50/50 battles.
Comments: Gruba is a defenseman with fast, strong skating. Couple times tonight he would stop on a dime and get moving equally as quick showing his agility against pressure. Moves the puck well and is very useful as a playmaker on the powerplay. Showed his vision by completing cross ice passes and compressing shot blockers to him, only to move the puck around them. Has a strong shot but more quick, used it on the power play to get pucks to the net for his forwards to battle.
| Lee Parks | Fargo Force | USHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 219 | UMass Lowell | 2024 | Stittsville, ON | 2004 | 2023-2024: C+ 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: A-
Parks earned 17:53 in ice time (3rd among fwds) including 6:48 on the PP (4th on team). He did not play PK. He finished -2 with 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 1/1 on face-offs, received 1 hit, 3 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 44% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Parks is a skilled offensive forward who exhibits the creativity and determination to will the puck to the back of the net. His work ethic was on display constantly winning puck battles and being first on the puck. He did a good job at generating scoring chances through creating and directing plays with extending his possession and finding open teammates. He could benefit from simplifying his game, awareness and responsibility defensively, and becoming more consistent in his efforts. Tonight he was involved twice as much offensively than he was defensively.
| Brasen Boser | Fargo Force | USHL | L | D | 5’11” | 179 | Miami (Ohio) | 2024 | Minot, ND | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B
Boser earned a game high 25:49 in ice time including 3:46 on the PP (3rd among D) and 1:12 on the PK (4th among D). He finished -1 with 1 assist, 6 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 2 PIMs (a neutral zone trip), 1 hit, 7 giveaways, 13 takeaways (game high) and for the season he is winning 59% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: A fairly small defenseman with strong skating and impressive on-ice vision. He broke the puck out by himself and used the net well to beat forecheckers on top of him. He is creative with the puck, not afraid to make the skilled pass and created chances offensively this way. Couple times he would attack down the wall and find the slot shot off his backhand showing that he reads the game well and is really valuable on the man advantage. Has a quick release that he was able to get off from the blue line with screens in front.
| Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | G | 6’2″ | 170 | Makhachkala, RUS | 2004 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Played his angles well tonight showing hard cross crease pushes and finding himself in position to make a saves and for sure goals. Needed to be more active on second chances tonight as a couple slipped out of his hands and defenseman lost battles. Looks to plays the puck to his defenseman well and make short passes but it was the hard rims that needed to get to the blue line that he had some trouble with. Overall got the win by staying involved and making the stops that he needed to make.
| Brian Lonergan | Fargo Force | USHL | R | D | 5’11” | 170 | Michigan | 2025 | Montvale, NJ | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Lonergan earned 9:33 in ice time (6th among D) including 1:56 on the PK (2nd among D). He did not play on the PP. He finished even with 0 points, had 2 shots blocked, 2 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 47% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Eddie Revenig | Fargo Force | USHL | L | D | 5’10” | 176 | Bemidji State | 2024 | Edina, MN | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Revenig earned 6:10 in ice time (7th among D) including 0:09 on the PP. He did not play on the PK. He finished -1 with 1 hit, 3 giveaways, 0 takeaways and for the season he is winning 50% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Mac Swanson | Fargo Force | USHL | L | F | 5’7″ | 157 | North Dakota | 2024 | Anchorage, AK | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Swanson earned 19:15 in ice time (2nd among fwds) including 7:50 on the PP (game high). He did not play PK. He finished -3 (tied for game low) with 0 points, 2 shots, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 1/1 on face-offs, received 2 hits, 2 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 49% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Sacha Boisvert | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | C | 6’2″ | 179 | North Dakota | 2025 | Trois-Rivieres, QC | 2006 | 2023-2024: A- |
Game Grade: A-
Boisvert earned 15:46 in ice time (2nd among fwds) including 3:02 on the PP (1st among fwds) and 0:26 on the PK (9th among fwds). He finished tied for a game high +3 with 1 assist, 1 shot, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 7/18 on face-offs, 1 hit, 2 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 43% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Boisvert has really good hip mobility that he uses in the offensive zone to be elusive with the puck. The deception he has with his skating causes defenders to keep their length in their gap and this allows him more ice to work with. He does a good job at attacking the net and making himself big at the net front. He drives the puck to the goalie and makes him fight for the puck.
| Ethan Whitcomb | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | RW | 6’4″ | 209 | Connecticut | 2024 | St. Catherines, ON | 2004 | 2023-2024: C+ 2022-2023: C+ 2021-2022: C+ |
Game Grade: A-
Whitcomb earned 13:33 in total ice time (6th among fwds) including 3:02 on the PP (3rd on team) and 0:08 on the PK. He finished +2 with 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 PIMs (1 Dzone hook & 1 Nzone trip), 1 hit, 4 giveaways, 5 takeaways and for the season he is winning 41% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Whitcomb plays well below the goal line where he is able to take his time to find that slot pass or more often tonight, release pressure up to his defenseman for a point shot. He did a good job at establishing a net front presence where he was able to take contact and still manage to get a couple whacks at the goalie in hopes for a rebound. He will play physical and caught a couple guys with their head down looking to create space in the neutral zone.
| Cody Croal | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | LW | 5’11” | 173 | North Dakota | 2024 | North Branch, MN | 2003 | 2023-2024: Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Croal earned 13:46 in ice time (5th among fwds) including 0:40 on the PP (6th among fwds) and 3:14 on the PK (5th among fwds). He finished +2 with 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 2/7 on face-offs, had 1 shot blocked, 4 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 46% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Croal has a great burst of speed through the neutral zone with the puck. A couple times tonight he was able to weave through the neutral zone coverage with his head up and enter the offensive zone uncontested. He is always looking for the next play and likes to make plays by zipping passes to keep speed. He defends well with his stick and does a good job at bearing down on the puck wanting to win the next battle.
| Joe Connor | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | C | 5’10” | 174 | Northeastern | 2024 | Amherst, NH | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: A
Connor earned 15:19 in ice time (3rd among fwds) including 3:02 on the PP (4th on team) and 3:08 on the PK (6th among fwds). He finished +3 with 4 goals, 4 shots, 3 grade “A” opportunities, 3 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 6 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 45% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Clear player of the game tonight with a four goal performance. Connor got the job done with skill and little bit of puck luck, being in the right place at the right time. Connor used his speed and stability tonight to hold on to the puck for an extra second which backed off defenders and he was able to attack scoring areas with the space given. His quick release not only caught defenders off guard looking to block shots, but obviously the goalie too. Regardless where the puck was passed to him, he would catch it in his feet or skates, he was able to get it in a shooting position quickly.
| Bauer Berry | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 196 | Grand Forks, ND | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B+
Berry earned 16:10 in ice time (6th among D) including 3:37 on the PK (3rd among D). He did not play on the PP. He finished +1 with 1 assist, 4 PIMs (2 for crosschecking, 2 for hooking after getting caught too far wide in defensive transition), 2 hits, received 1 hit, had 1 shot blocked, 5 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 59% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Bauer showed his larger size and noticeable strength which allows him to push guys around at he net front. It was hard for smaller forwards to drive net because he did a good job tonight at boxing out early and playing the body when smaller forwards were looking to play with speed. He does not have the best foot speed but a long reach and this helps with his lack of agility. Makes it simple on the ice, gets rid of the puck quickly, probably at times when he could hold on to it longer, but makes a safe play none the less.
| Justin Solovey | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | C | 6’2″ | 210 | Harvard | 2024 | Holmdel, NJ | 2004 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: A-
Solovey earned 13:55 in ice time (4th among fwds) including 0:40 on the PP (5th among fwds) and 5:05 on the PK (2nd among fwds). He finished +2 with 1 goal, 3 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 1 hit, received 1 hit, 7 giveaways, 5 takeaways and for the season he is winning 43% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Solovey is a skilled playmaker. What he did well tonight was play the body and sets up plays nicely thanks to his excellent vision, hockey sense and versatile skill-set. He is not the biggest but finishes his checks, multiple times tonight he would cutback on a defenseman, and with the extra time, pick his head up and scan the ice. He has patience and combines it with his great offensive skills to open the defense up and create better plays. Has a solid shot and will drive the net for a rebound. Still has work to do in his defensive game and needs to use his size and strength to contain the bigger players.
| Filip Nordberg | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 212 | Stockholm, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: B- |
Game Grade: B+
Nordberg earned18:04 in ice time (4th among D) including 3:29 on the PK (4th among D). He did not play PP. He finished +2 with 1 assist, 1 shot, 2 PIMs (Dzone hold after a fwd drove wide on him), 2 hits, received 1 hit, 3 giveaways, 8 takeaways and for the season he is winning 54% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Moves his feet well and gets back for pucks as quickly as he gets up the ice. He can be a one man breakout machine and did this a couple times tonight using his speed to beat multiple forecheckers. He looks to provide some type of offense every shift that he is out there. This usually is shown through lateral movement along the blue line where he can create shot lanes, or a rush from his own end where he beats the coverage and looks to set up the second wave if he does not take it himself. Has a unique combination of size and mobility.
| Matvei Gridin | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | F | 6’1″ | 185 | Michigan | 2024 | Kurgan, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Game Grade: A-
Gridin earned 16:01 in ice time (1st among fwds) including 2:58 on the PP (4th on team) and 0:11 on the PK. He finished +2 with 3 assists, 3 shots, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 5 giveaways, 9 takeaways and for the season he is winning 47% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Gridin was the beneficiary of Connors four goal night as he did a good job at setting up scoring chances. He sees the ice well and does not panic under pressure, rather invites the pressure only to look to beat players in tight. He has a larger frame that he uses well to protect pucks and space, and looks like he plays with confidence. Skilled on the power play where he has that extra second to show how creative he can be with the puck.
| Cameron Aucoin | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 176 | Notre Dame | 2025 | Hinsdale, IL | 2007 | Not yet rated |
Aucoin is a 2007 left shot defenseman who tendered with Muskegon. He earned 16:18 in ice time (5th among D) including 0:17 on the PK. He did not play on the PP. He finished +2 with 1 assist, received 1 hit, 2 giveaways, 9 takeaways (tied for team high) and for the season he is winning 62% of his 50/50 puck battles. This 50/50 winning percentage huge a huge indicator of his future success in the USHL and beyond.
| Xavier Veilleux | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 190 | Harvard | 2024 | L’Ancienne-Lorette, QC | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Veilleux earned 22:59 in ice time (team high) including 0:44 on the PP (2nd among D) and 7:43 on the PK (Game high). He finished +1 with 0 points, received 2 hits, 5 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 60% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Jack Galanek | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | C | 5’11” | 173 | UMass Amherst | 2024 | Hopkinton, MA | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Galanek earned 13:23 in ice time (7th among fwds) including 1:01 on the PK (8th among fwds). He did not play on the PP. He finished -1 (1 of 3 on Muskegon who finished minus) with 0 points, 1 shot, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 4/10 on face-offs, 1 hit, 3 giveaways, 1 takeaway and for the season he is winning 48% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Teddy Spitznagel | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | F | 6’2″ | 187 | Michigan | 2025 | New York, NY | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Spitznagel earned 10:55 in ice time (11th among fwds). He did not play on either special teams unit. He finished even with 2 shots, 1 grade “A”, 2 PIMs (hooking the backcheck), 1 hit, received 1 hit, had 1 shot blocked, 5 giveaways, 1 takeaway and for the season he is winning 42% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Ben Marshall