Game played on 11/01/2024.
General Game Notes: The game featured a variety of scoring chances , but ultimately the Madison Capital’s Caleb Heil was outstanding between the pipes and the top end skill of their first line proved to be the difference makers. Mason Moe opened the scoring, in the second period, on a one time shot into the top right corner of the net. Five minutes later, Madison scored again, this time on the power-play. The goal was Ronan Buckberger’s first USHL goal. He was able to get a cross ice pass from Egor Barabanov and one time it past the goalie’s outstretched pad. Ryker Lee gave Madison a 3 goal lead just over two minutes later while the teams were playing 4 on 4 hockey. Ryker exploded through the middle of the ice beating the defenseman and going in on a break-away. Six minutes into the third period Youngstown finally got on the board with a goal scored by Michael Coleman ( his first in the USHL). Youngstown had a flurry of chances to bring the deficit to 1 goal but Heil made a couple sprawling saves. Youngstown pulled their goalie with 2 minutes left in the game. Madison forced the puck out and Aidan Long was hauled down while in alone on the empty net but was rewarded with a goal after the penalty with an empty net. Madison won the game by a score of 4-1.
Ronan Buckberger (D, L, 5’11”, 186, Madison Capitols, 03/03/2006, Ohio State)
Grade: B+
Comments: Ronan scored his first USHL goal on the power-play. His goal put the Capitals up 2-0. On the powerplay he was playing on his one timer side on the flank. Barbanov made a seam pass in his wheelhouse and he one-timed the cross ice feed into the bottom half of the net. He seemed to gain confidence from scoring his first goal and played the game with more jump. After making break passes he used his skating ability to join in on the offense and get in the second wave of offense.
Ryker Lee (RW, R, 6’0″, 182, Madison Capitols, 11/08/2006, Michigan State)
Grade: A
Comments: Ryker made an impact offensively every time he was on the ice. He found pucks in the offensive zone and stick handles and used head fakes effectively. He was able to get shots off quickly. He moved the puck into shooting positions. Ryker was creative offensively. He drove into the offensive zone and made a spin move into a pass to the middle lane drive. In the neutral zone he came back and supported the defenseman and made a one touch pass to his center driving up the middle. This sprung his linemates on a 2-1. Ryker earned his first point of the game when he was battling for the puck in front of the net. He was able to chop the puck loose and Moe one-timed the feed into the top corner. Lee added a goal of his own to put the Capitals up 3-0. While playing 4 on 4, he skated to the middle of the ice and beat the defenseman. He went in on a breakaway and held the puck on his backhand. He made a quick move to his forehand and fired a wrist shot over the goalie’s pad. Ryker continually held off opponent , shielding the puck with his body and showing poise for the play to progress.
Charlie Michaud (D, L, 5’11”, 183, Madison Capitols, 08/12/2006, Miami (Ohio))
Grade: B+
Comments: Off a power-play faceoff Charlie drew the inside winger up to him and made a good pass underneath the penalty killer for a one time shot for his guy on the flank. On the penalty kill in the 2nd period he stepped up on a player cutting the middle and put his shoulder right in the forwards chest, laying a big hit inside the blue line. Charlie moves along the offensive blueline with his head up and opens up shooting lanes and passing lanes with his movement.
Ian Scherzer (C, L, 5’11”, 192, Madison Capitols, 07/03/2005, Miami (Ohio))
Grade: B
Comments: Ian had a good scoring chance on a rebound after driving the net. He read the play offensive zone as the high third guy and did not get caught out of position and instead found dead areas away from the defenseman to open up the offensive zone. On the penalty kill he made a good read to go in on a mini breakaway but was unable to cash in. He did add an assist on the empty net goal to seal the game for the Capitals.
Mason Moe (C, L, 6’1″, 189, Madison Capitols, 03/26/2007, Minnesota)
Grade: A-
Comments: While on the power-play in the first period, Madison gave up a 2-1 the other way. Madison put his head down and got back to break up the scoring chance. He played a 180 foot game all night. He was first in on the forecheck and the first forward back into his own zone. Mason scored the first goal of the game. A centering attempt was broken up and Ryker Lee was able to chop the puck into the slot. Moe was waiting there at the top of the circles and unleashed a one timer high over the goalie’s glove. Throughout the game he was able to pull the puck enough to get shot through defenders attempting the block shots.
Landan Resendes (RW, R, 5’10”, 183, Youngstown Phantoms, 12/10/2005, Boston College)
Grade: B-
Comments: Landon kicked a puck up from his skates to his stick and ripped a wrist shot off the post during his first shift of the game. Later in the game, he drove the middle lane on a rush and got a pass from the wide guy. Instead of forcing a play into the middle, he pulled up low and moved the puck from low to high for a shot on net with net front presence.
Luke Osburn (D, L, 6’1″, 172, Youngstown Phantoms, 09/09/2006, Wisconsin)
Grade: B+
Comments: Luke used his crossovers and head fakes to beat guys up the ice on the rush. Even when it looked like he was beat, his skating helped him get back into position and close plays down. While breaking the puck out he made defenders miss by using escapes. His explosiveness out of escapes gave him a step on the attackers and he moved the puck to open players.
Justin Kerr (C, R, 6’5″, 204, Youngstown Phantoms, 01/08/2004, Bowling Green)
Grade: B+
Comments: The big right handed Kerr was held off of the score sheet but was involved in the offense all night long. In the first period he toe dragged the defenseman and made a move to his forehand but was stopped by the pad of the Captial’s goalie. On the penalty kill he was able to outcompete two opponents along the wall and find an open line-mate in the slot for a short handed scoring chance. He was able to create a handful of chances while on the penalty kill. He seemed to take advantage of the opposing power-plays desire to look for offense in situations. He would attack the power-play whenever he got the chance leading to short handed opportunities. Late in the game he created another grade A scoring chance when he beat the defender to the outside and made a back door feed that Heil sprawled across and made the save of the game.
Michael^Burchill|
Grade: B
Comments: Michael was adept at creating offense in this game but ended up with no points. In the offensive zone he made a play behind his back off of the wall to beat a defender and attacked the inside and got a scoring chance from the tops of the circles. He created another good scoring chance while short handed. He used his speed to create a rush and attacked the power-play defender and passed the puck to his line mate for a chance right in front of the Madison net.
Kuzma Voronin (RW, L, 5’10”, 157, Youngstown Phantoms, 07/27/2006, Maine)
Grade: B
Comments: In the first period he used his speed to go outside in on the defender and went in on a breakaway but he hooked and drew a penalty. He continued to play and won the puck back and took a shot on net from inside the house. Later in the game, he protected the puck below the goal line and found his teammate in the slot for a chance late in the game.
Michael Coleman (RW, R, 6’0″, 172, Youngstown Phantoms, 04/30/2005, UMass Amherst)
Grade: B+
Comments: Michael played physical in on the forecheck to start the game. In the second period he took a checking from behind penalty and was assessed a 2 and 10 minute penalty. Because of the penalty Michael did not get a lot of ice time in the second period. However, he was able to score his first USHL goal, and the only goal for Youngstown. He picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and went in on a 2-1. He pulled the puck in slightly and fired a wrist shot high far side over the goalie’s glove.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images