USHL Honors - Week 27

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the 27th week of the 2011-12 USHL regular season.

Award winners include forward Jamie Hill of the Waterloo Black Hawks, named recipient of CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defensemen Jordan Schmaltz of the Green Bay Gamblers and Kenney Morrison of the Omaha Lancers, selected as co-recipients of CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Matt Skoff of the Sioux City Musketeers who earned Reebok Goaltender of the Week.

Hill scored seven points (1g, 6a) and posted a plus-four rating to lead the Black Hawks to three victories in three nights. He assisted on half of the team’s 12 goals during the weekend, including a USHL career high three assists in Friday’s 4-2 win over Tri-City. The third-year Black Hawks forward added two assists in Saturday’s 4-1 victory against Muskegon and then had his third straight multi-point game with two points (1g, 1a) in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Lincoln. Hill is a 20-year-old native of Glassboro, New Jersey and has collected 33 points (8g, 25a) in 50 games this season. His 25 assists are the second most on the team.

Schmaltz collected five points (1g, 4a) and posted a plus-five rating over three wins for the Gamblers. He recorded an assist in Friday’s 4-1 win against Youngstown and then dished out two more assists in Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Youngstown. The defenseman from Verona, Wisconsin scored his 10th goal of the season and added one assist in the 6-1 victory against Muskegon on Sunday. The 18-year-old also helped the Gamblers successfully kill off 10-of-11 opponent power plays during the three-game stretch. Schmaltz is currently tied for second among USHL defensemen in scoring with 37 points (10g, 27a) in 51 games this season.

Morrison recorded five points (2g, 3a) and a plus-three rating as the Lancers earned a weekend split with rival Lincoln. He scored two goals, including his first game-winning goal, plus added an assist for a USHL career high three points in Friday’s 5-2 win at Lincoln. The defenseman then dished out a pair of assists in the 5-4 loss to Lincoln on Saturday. Morrison is now tied for the lead among USHL defensemen with 15 goals while ranking sixth in scoring with 33 points (15g, 18a) in 54 games. Twelve of the goals for the 20-year-old from Lloydminster, Alberta have come on the power play, which is the third highest total among all players in the USHL.

Skoff posted a 0.97 goals-against-average and .968 save percentage in leading the Musketeers to three victories in three days. He stopped 33 shots in Friday’s 4-1 win at Des Moines. The 20-year-old then turned away all 28 shots he faced in the 3-0 victory over Fargo on Saturday. It was his sixth shutout of the season, second most in the USHL. Skoff then made 29 saves and denied both attempts he faced in the shootout in the 3-2 shootout victory against Des Moines on Sunday. The win clinched a playoff berth for the Musketeers and was the 24th win of the season for Skoff, setting a new USHL career high. The McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania native has won each of his last five starts.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)