USHL 2021-2022 Thread

[JMCx4]

 

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[NTDP]

So besides watching every NTDP game so far this year I also made time to watch all 6 Youngstown Phantoms games as they are my favorite USHL club team and only an hour and a half away from me. Besides their two wins vs the U-17 group (which they were lucky they played them in the US first USHL games) the Phantoms haven't looked good at all. The offensive game is slow moving and they're forced to play a dump and chase style of play and crash for garbage goals. They sometimes set a play up and get a good look on net with guys like Ingraham and Ryan Alexander but they don't look good offensively. Kenta Isogai however has taken another step this year and his confidence shows. He takes pucks to the net and tries to make more of an impact.

The goaltending has been good between Owen Bartoszkewicz and Kyle Chauvette. They have some better D than last year with Cole Teleki and Chase Pietila who can work a power play. Bayard Hall has improved in his overall game and is more noticeable. But the team as a whole just looks really sloppy.

Lastly, Shane LaChance has been invisible. He showed some flashes at the Fall Classic of being a heavy body on pucks and created some turnovers to produce for his teammates, but he really hasn't done much else. Forget about point production, everyone is so stat focused, just watch the game and see how they actually play. Against the U-17's he had a few turnovers and was pushed off the puck, and vs Madison this weekend he just seemed disinterested. There was a play where he slowly moved it up ice, dumped it in, and then lost the puck battle down low. He was on the 4th line in last night's game. I'm not really trying to point someone out this early but when you have an NHL drafted player in the USHL they should be one of the better guys on the team and noticeable every game.

 

[JMCx4]

... Lastly, Shane LaChance has been invisible. He showed some flashes at the Fall Classic of being a heavy body on pucks and created some turnovers to produce for his teammates, but he really hasn't done much else. Forget about point production, everyone is so stat focused, just watch the game and see how they actually play. Against the U-17's he had a few turnovers and was pushed off the puck, and vs Madison this weekend he just seemed disinterested. There was a play where he slowly moved it up ice, dumped it in, and then lost the puck battle down low. He was on the 4th line in last night's game. I'm not really trying to point someone out this early but when you have an NHL drafted player in the USHL they should be one of the better guys on the team and noticeable every game.

I think you're heaping too many expectations on a player like LaChance. He's just 18 years old, he was a 6th round pick, and it's a pretty good bet that EDM took a flyer on him based on his first rounder father. Other factors could include an injury or illness you don't know about; knowledge that the Phantoms will be out of contention this season, and deciding to coast (which may be why the coaches moved him to the 4th line); a desire to avoid injury now that he's been drafted; or thinking ahead to playing next year @ BU. As a teenager still, there's a lot you cannot predict nor understand about him.

 

[NTDP]

I think you're heaping too many expectations on a player like LaChance. He's just 18 years old, he was a 6th round pick, and it's a pretty good bet that EDM took a flyer on him based on his first rounder father. Other factors could include an injury or illness you don't know about; knowledge that the Phantoms will be out of contention this season, and deciding to coast (which may be why the coaches moved him to the 4th line); a desire to avoid injury now that he's been drafted; or thinking ahead to playing next year @ BU. As a teenager still, there's a lot you cannot predict nor understand about him.

yeah those are good points, I didn’t consider that angle, thanks for the reply on that. I’ll for sure look at it with a different lense

 

[JMCx4]

Week #3 now in the books. Here are the early conference standings with team stats to date ...

 

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R.I.P. ... Age 60 ...

From: The Fargo Force

FORCE MOURN LOSS OF FOUNDER & OWNER ACE BRANDT
By Force Staff, 10/18/21, 9:15AM CDT
October 18, 2021

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Ace Brandt’s passing, owner of USHL’s Fargo Force in Fargo, ND. He courageously fought his battle with cancer for several months, but unfortunately succumbed to the disease October 16, 2021.

Ace founded Brandt Holdings Co. in December, 1992 with modest business holdings. His strong entrepreneurial spirit, energy and drive for growth propelled the company into what it is today. Ace always credited the employees when he was complemented by business people over the years. “I’ve surrounded myself with the very best people”, was a common response. Despite his business success, Ace remained a humble leader that empowered and trusted his employees.

After learning of his diagnosis, Ace continued to maintain his positive outlook and attitude. Through his strength, will, and unmatched determination, he was committed to ensure that plans were in place to perpetuate his businesses.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Ace’s family.

 

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From: USHL.com

Upton, Capitols Off to Historic Start

10/29/2021, 1:30PM CDT
By Brent Meske

TOM UPTON HAS MADISON OFF TO BEST START IN CLUB HISTORY

The road to the best start in Madison Capitols history started long before this offseason, tracking back as far as 2006 when now General Manager and Head Coach Tom Upton was just a freshman at University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point. From there, Upton began coaching, and his coaching tree grew, eventually leading to his third stay in the United States Hockey League (USHL), but first as a Head Coach. Even if it was delayed a season. ...

Upton didn’t get to coach the Capitols in his first season with the team as, shortly after his hiring, Madison announced it would be one of two USHL Member Clubs not participating in the 2020-21 season. The Capitols were facing COVID restrictions from the county in which they play, meaning Upton’s start as a USHL Head Coach would be delayed a year. In that season, the players that would have made up Upton’s first roster in Madison were dispersed throughout the league, including a pair of Clark Cup Champions as goaltender Simon Latkoczy and forward Quinn Finley raised the Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel. Meanwhile in the Western Conference, forwards Tyler Haskins and Reid Pabich each finished in the top-10 amongst Sioux Falls Stampede scorers with 27 and 22 points, respectively. ...

This season, it’s been a collective team effort on the offensive side of the puck. Four skaters, including Haskins and Horbach are tied for the team lead with 11 points through the first nine games while another pair of skaters follows closely behind with 10 points in that span. The players with 11 points so far account for four of the top-14 spots in league scoring and are collectively tied for fifth among all scorers. On the other end of the ice, Latkoczy and Marino Ramirez have been nearly unbeatable between the pipes as Latkoczy carries a 6-0-0-0 record with a 2.49 goals against average and 0.916 save percentage, while Ramirez is 1-0-1-0 with a league-leading 0.99 GAA and second-best 0.952 SV%. ...

Read more at: Upton, Capitols Off to Historic Start

 

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Borrowing a theme from the "other Minor Pro Leagues" forum, here is how the USHL standings stack up as November blows in. Early days yet, but patterns are emerging - some familiar, others not so much ...

 

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So how did the grandson of the great Buddy Ryan, and nephew of several other NFL coaches, end up coaching hockey for the Lumberjacks?

James Ryan, 28, always preferred hockey to the official family sport, and turned to coaching at a young age after a teenage bout with cancer

By Steve Gunn/MuskegonSports.com
November 9, 2021

MUSKEGON – Considering his bloodline, it’s no surprise that James Ryan went into coaching.

But he’s not coaching the sport you might expect him to coach, and he entered the profession at an unusually young age, following a scary bout with cancer during his high school years.

Ryan, a second-year assistant coach with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, is the grandson of Buddy Ryan, who gained great fame as the innovative defensive coordinator of the 1986 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, led by legendary head coach Mike Ditka.

He’s also the nephew of former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan, current Baltimore Ravens assistant coach Rob Ryan, and the cousin of current Detroit Lions assistant wide receivers coach Seth Ryan.

Given those kind of family roots, how in the world did he end up in hockey? ...

Read more at: So how did the grandson of the great Buddy Ryan, and nephew of several other NFL coaches, end up coaching hockey for the Lumberjacks?

 

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[Teemu]

Gotta imagine this means they're basically bankrupt

 

[spintheblackcircle]

what a mess

 

[JMCx4]

... Gotta imagine this means they're basically bankrupt

I'm sure the Lancers' ownership would prefer to call it: "fiscally challenged."

 

[mk80]

Gotta imagine this means they're basically bankrupt

Interesting, I saw their broadcaster recently took a job with the NAHL league office, but just figured it was simply someone switching jobs like normal. Now I'm thinking that is surely connected to what's going on here.

Seems like they have another interim coach for however long
https://twitter.com/SchlossmanGF/status/1461431632322306052?s=20

 

[mk80]

Update as of tonight from the league

 

[JMCx4]