The East Division win's very tight USHL All Star Game in OT

The 2010 USHL All Star Game turned out to be a very tight back and fourth affair where the game was very close and neither side was out of it at all for the entire night. In the end, it was Indiana's Nick Bailen, the physical forward who's been with the team since 2005 has racked up more then 300 penalty minutes in his junior career is the unlikely hero for the East Division back on Tuesday night.

Press Release from the United States Hockey League Website: www.ushl.com

Des Moines Buccaneers forward Ryan Walters registered the fourth hat trick in USHL All Star Game History, but it was defensemen Nick Bailen who was the hero for the East Division to win in the final seconds of OT to win the All Star Game for the East Division.

In a game that saw the clubs trade goals all evening, it was only fitting that it needed more then 60 minutes to decide the outcome. It was a night full of goals, saves, great passes, and several big hits in a night that saw everything and then some. Nate Condon (Fargo Force) opened the scoring just under 3 minutes into the contest to give the West Division a 1-0 lead. Tom Serratore (Youngstown Phantoms), a late All Star Addition, and Max Cook of the Indiana Ice responded with a pair of goals in favor of the East Division. Ryan Walters (Des Moines Buccaneers) scored the first of his 3 goals to even the contest heading into the first intermission.

Walters gave the West their second lead of the game early in the 2nd period. Shane Berschbach was the 2nd Indiana Ice player of the night to tally a goal when he evened the game later in the frame with a brilliant pass from Ice teammate Max Cook.

Tyler Barnes (Waterloo Blackhawks) helped the East Division regain the lead, but Ryan Walters finished off his hat trick a little more then 6 minutes later to tie the score again.

After 60 minutes of play, the game went into OT with each team skating 4 players a side. It appeared to be heading into a shootout but defensemen Nick Bailey (Indiana Ice) fired a puck that found the back of the night with just 13 seconds remaining in the OT period to give the East Division the 5-4 win.

Troy Grosenick (Cedar Rapids Roughriders) earned the victory in net making 14 saves after entering the game midway through the 2nd period.

Nate Condon was named the player of the Game for the West Division, while Nick Bailen was honored as the player of the game for the East Division. The game's MVP went to Ryan Walters with his 3 goal performance.

As for Omaha Lancers forward and Dallas Native C.J. Ludwig, he had no points in the game and was a -2 for the night. He also fired off 2 shots on goal, in all, not a great night but he will defiantly remember this experience and he will benefit against playing against the league's best.


Game Summary

West Division 4 East Division 5 (OT) (2-2, 1-1, 1-1, 0-1)
1-0: Nate Condon (Schmidt) 2:55 1st
1-1: Tom Serratore (Seckel) 4:02 1st
1-2: Max Cook (Berschbach, Holmstrom) 11:11 1st
2-2: Ryan Walters (White) 15:32 1st
3-2: Ryan Walters (Schwartz) 3:54 2nd
3-3: Shane Berschbach (Cook, Aneloski) 12:46 2nd
3-4: Tyler Barnes (Lee) 7:16 3rd
4-4: Ryan Walters (Voran) 13:26 3rd
4-5: Nick Bailen (Furne, Anthoine) 4:47 OT

SOG: West 37 East 26
PIM: West None East None

Goalies
West: Jeff Teglia 9 SVS on 11 Shots Clay Witt 12 SVS on 15 Shots
East: Steve Summerhays 19 SVS on 22 Shots Troy Grosenick 14 SVS on 15 Shots

ATT: 2226

C.J. Ludwig makes 2010 USHL All Star Game

This year's rosters for the United States Hockey League All Star Game came out back on January 8 and this year, they is a local connection that will represent the West Division as C.J. Ludwig of the Omaha Lancers is among 6 Lancer Players as Omaha rolls into the mid point of the season with the league's best record with a strong 24-7-2 through 33 out of 60 games so far. So far this season for Omaha, Ludwig is 2nd in defensive scoring for the Lancers with 17 points (6G 11A, +5).

He's also the only player for the Lancers so far this season to play in every game so far this season, and will be looking help the Lancers to get back to the USHL Clark Cup Championships after the Lancers beat the Waterloo Blackhawks in 5 games to win the 2008 USHL Clark Cup. And the Lancers think they can get back after a Division Semifinal Loss against the Fargo Force last year.

Other Lancer Players to join Ludwig for the All Star Game which will take place in Indiana on January 26 include follow defensemen Dennis Brown, forwards Seth Ambroz, Erik Haula, and Matt White who's leading the entire league in scoring with 53 points (22 G 31A, +23). Also goaltender Jeff Teglia is heading to Indiana as well at the end of the month.

Elsewhere in the league, Green Bay who is leading the East by 12 points and just 1 point of league leading Omaha will also get to send 6 players to the game. As well as the USNTDP who originally going to send Matthew Nieto, Rocco Grimaldi and Robbie Russo, however, because of the USNTDP schedule which is set long before the USHL Regular Season schedule, they are unable to send anyone to represent the East Division Team to the All Star Game.

In all, 21 players were selected for both sides as the league has grown from 12 to 14 teams this season with the addition of the Youngstown Phantoms and the USNTDP over the off season last year.

East Division


Goaltenders

Steve Summerhays, (Anchorage, Alaska) Green Bay Gamblers

Cab Morris, (Wilmette, Illinois) Indiana Ice


Defensemen

Bryce Aneloski, (Perkin, Illinois) Cedar Rapids Roughriders

Mac Bennett, (Warrick, Rhode Island) Cedar Rapids Roughriders

Kevin Lind, (Homer Glen, Illinois) Chicago Steel

David Makowski, (Wildwood, Missouri) Green Bay Gamblers

Nick Jensen, (Rogers, Minnesota) Green Bay Gamblers

Nick Mattson, (Chanhassen, Minnesota) Indiana Ice


Forwards

Jeff Costello, (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Cedar Rapids Roughriders

Mark Anthoine (Lewiston, Maine), Chicago Steel

Andrei Kuchin (Elektrougli, Russia), Chicago Steel

Ryan Furne, (Oakdale, Minnesota) Green Bay Gamblers

Anders Lee, (Edina, Minnesota) Green Bay Gamblers

Reed Seckel, (Melvin, Minnesota) Green Bay Gamblers

Shane Berschbach, (Clawson, Michigan) Indiana Ice

Max Cook, (Frankfort, Illinois) Indiana Ice

Bryon Paulazzo, (Redwood City, California) Indiana Ice

Tyler Barnes, (Eagan, Minnesota) Waterloo Blackhawks

Brock Montpetit, (Somerset, Wisconsin) Waterloo Blackhawks

Nick Czinder, (West Broomfield, Michigan) Youngstown Phantoms

Taylor Holstrom, (Yorba Linda, California) Youngstown Phantoms


West Division


Goaltenders

Jeff Teglia, (Bloomingdale, Illinois) Omaha Lnacers

Clay Witt, (Brandon, Florida) Sioux Falls Stampede


Defensemen

Austin Coldwell, (Vancouver, Washington) Des Moines Buccaneers

Eammon Mcdermott, (Shaker Heights, Ohio) Fargo Force

Nate Schmidt, (St. Cloud, Minnesota) Fargo Force

Dennis Brown, (Cypress, California) Omaha Lancers

C.J. Ludwig, (Little Elm, Texas) Omaha Lancers

Chad Ruhwedel, (San Deigo, California) Sioux Falls Stampede


Forwards

Connor Brickley, (Everett, Mass.) Des Moines Buccaneers

T.J. Tynan, (Orland Park, Illinois) Des Moines Buccaneers

Nate Condon, (Wausau, Wisconsin) Fargo Force

Matt Leitner, (Los Alamitos, California) Fargo Force

David Gerths, (Ankeny, Iowa) Lincoln Stars

Seth Ambroz, (New Prague, Minnesota) Omaha Lancers

Erik Haula, (Pori, Finland) Omaha Lancers

Matt White, (Whittier, California) Omaha Lancers

Stephan Vigier, (Norte Dame, Manitoba) Sioux City Musketeers

Matt Lindblad, (Winnetka, Illinois) Sioux Falls Stampede

Michael Voran, (Livonia, Michigan) Sioux Falls Stampede

Radoslav Iiio, (Bystrica, Slovakia) Tri-City Storm

Jaden Schwartz, (Wilcox, Saskatchewan) Tri-City Storm

My Interview with Ryan Daugherty and C.J. Ludwig of the Omaha Lancers

Before I start my post on my recent interview with Ryan Daugherty and C.J. Ludwig, D/FW Natives and Omaha Lancer Teammates. I would like to think Omaha Lancers Head Coach Bliss Littler and Dan Fremuth who's the head of communications for the Omaha Lancers.

I asked them questions ranging from the early season success, Omaha Lancers Head Coach Bliss Littler, the college plans and so much more when I got a chance to speak with both of them last Friday.

On the Fast Start to the Season.

With the Lancers currently at 15-2-0 so far this season and having the best record in the USHL right now. Both players didn't expect to get out to this fast and a start to the season and both players think it's taken Coach Littler by surprise a little bit as well. Ryan and C.J. were expecting great season after a rebuilding year last year.

But right now, the team has no reason in the locker room that the Lancers can have a shot at contending for home ice and the Clark Cup Championship during the playoffs.

Ryan also told me that individually, he was looking for a big improvement in his scoring totals this season after having 16 points in 46 games last season. So far this season, he already has 11 points in 14 games so far and he's fells great about his play, he doesn't have any personal goals regarding how many goals he can score this season.

He mentioned he wants to have a shot of getting the critical goals that can change the flow of a game, put the game away, or that are a part of a come back when they are behind.

On Coach Bliss Littler

Both Ryan and C.J. mentioned that you see both sides of Coach Littler as he's a quiet guy when mentioning player to coach issues off the ice. However, when they are on the ice. However if you make a mistake, Coach Bliss Littler can expect to be very demanding during practice or a game to magnify the mistake and make sure you don't make the same mistake or do something else again.

They told me that Coach Littler plays more of an offensive style of play, but he expects the defense to support the offense. On the other hand, he expects one of the forwards to get back on defense, kind of similar to what Marc Crawford does in Dallas. But, everyone on the team has a lot of faith in his style as the team won the Clark Cup back in the 2007-2008 season and is a regular in the USHL playoffs.

Ryan Daugherty and C.J. Ludwig being Teamates

Both Daugherty and Ludwig have been teammates when they in the midget ranks and they got interest as a duel package when the Lancers were recruiting. Ryan told me "They were interested in both of us playing for Omaha". Since arriving in Omaha, both players were targeting this season to make a big impact both for the Lancers and the hopes of playing D1 College Hockey.

Speaking of NCAA, both C.J. Ludwig and Ryan Daugherty have both signed with the Northern Michigan Wildcats. Just like the recruiting for the Omaha Lancers, they were recruited as a duel package and they are excited to continue being teammates in the NCAA.

They were wanted because the coach thought they would be a great fit for the system and they needed to fill some holes, which will allow both them to penitential get some more playing time then what they would get at most schools.

I asked C.J. about updates from the team, and he told me that when he gets chances to check out news items and scoring updates. He wants to make Northern Michigan a winner when both Ryan and C.J. arrive next year, the team has been has been struggling recently.

Just 7th in CCHA right now, but both players are not worried about that as he focused on contuine to play well during the Lancers season, then think about playing for Northern Michigan when both Ryan and C.J. arrive next season.

Growing up on and off the Ice

Both players mentioned that you learn a lot more off the ice then on it at this level. From living far away from home, the work habits from the weight room and conditioning. However, the bigger part is how you spend your little off time you get, anything from taking care of your selves to doing charity work with kids in the area.

Billet Families

Both C.J. and Ryan mentioned that the team tries hard to match them up with the same host families throughout their junior careers. Both players mentioned that the billiet families play a huge part of the junior hockey experience. They are a big part of the junior hockey experience from attending nearly every home game, to promoting the team in the Omaha Area.

Media Coverage

The Teams don't deal with the media that much, maybe something like a couple of newspapers after the game, but that's about it. Both Ryan and C.J. told me about how they wish they would get more to help promote the team and bring awareness of junior hockey to those that don't know that much about the level of hockey.

Quick Hits

What you miss from Dallas:
C.J. His Family Ryan: The Warm Texas Weather

Best and Worst Roadtrip:

Best: Both said Lincoln

Worst: Ryan said Youngstown Phantoms C.J. Didn't say