MUSKEGON – No teams have jumped out to a hot start in the USHL’s Eastern Conference through the first six weeks of the season.

The standings are packed at the top, with Chicago in first place with 16 points, followed by Team USA (15), Green Bay (13) and Muskegon and Cedar Rapids (12).  Teams get two points for a win and one point for an overtime loss.

That means the Lumberjacks have a great opportunity, with two home games against Green Bay this weekend, to start making a push for first place.

“If someone in our division gets hot, there’s a huge opportunity to create some separation early in the year,” said Lumberjacks coach Mike Hamilton. “Hopefully we’re that team.

Muskegon’s Ethan Whitcomb (11), who scored his sixth goal of the season on Saturday. Photo/Jeremy Clark

“I think there’s a lot of balance in the conference. Right now every team looks capable of beating one another on any given night.”

Of course, to earn points in the standings, you have to play games, and because of the league schedule the Jacks haven’t played very many lately.

They’ve had two single-game weekends – and played a total of four games – in the past three weeks. That’s unusual in the USHL, and has left the Jacks with limited opportunities to move up in the standings.

That’s about to change. Beginning this weekend with the two home games against Green Bay, the Jacks will play at least two games every weekend for the rest of the calendar year, which is an opportunity they welcome, particularly since they’ve been playing pretty well.

The Jacks were a bit frustrated following their recent road trip to Madison, when they won both games against the Capitols, then had to wait a full week to play another game, last Saturday at home against Youngstown, with no typical second-night rematch.

Lumberjacks goalie Conor Callaghan, who played well on Saturday but had his five-game winning streak snapped. Photo/Tonya Pardon

They would have loved to have another shot at Youngstown after losing to the Phantoms 4-2.

“You definitely want to keep going (when you’re playing well),” said Hamilton, whose team is 6-5 on the season. “Last Saturday was our Game 1 of the weekend, and we blew the game and left some points on the table. When you play again the next night, the guys usually come out pretty pissed with a lot of fire.

“We played four games over three weeks, and that also stinks when it comes to trying to get guys in the lineup. There’s lots of frustration about that, but that’s the schedule that the league handed to us.”

A chance to rebound and get revenge

The Lumberjacks were definitely not happy with their performance on Saturday.

They led 2-0 after one period, then lost 4-2, bringing their three-game winning streak to an end.

Forwards Jake Richard and Ethan Whitcomb scored their team-leading sixth goals of the season in the loss. Gavin McCarthy collected his 10th assist.

The Lumberjacks’ Gavin McCarthy (14), who already has 10 assists this season.

“There were opportunities to put that game way,” Hamilton said. “We had a few chances to make it 3-1 and we didn’t get it done. There were some lessons involved there. When you have opportunities to put teams away you have to take full advantage. Across the board, from the staff to the players, we weren’t happy about it.”

The ugly loss only adds fuel to the Lumberjacks’ determination to play well this weekend against the Green Bay Gamblers.

They will also be looking for a bit of revenge against the Gamblers, who swept Muskegon by identical 6-3 scores on Oct. 14-15 in Green Bay.

“We went to Green Bay and got our butts kicked,” Hamilton said. “We’ve got something to prove to ourselves, and to Green Bay, that we can play with them. It’s exciting to have them coming. We’re hoping to get a lite revenge.”

Jacks hosting a special Military Night on Friday

The Lumberjacks will be going all out this year to honor our area’s military veterans during Friday night’s game, which is the annual Military Night.

Most seasons Military Night is on a Saturday, but Friday is Veteran’s Day and the Lumberjacks wanted to honor the people who fought and served on the actual holiday.

One highlight of the night will be the unfurling of a giant flat on the ice during the National Anthem, hoisted by dozens of volunteers.

Taps will be played, and there will be a recorded 21-gun salute, to honor those who gave their lives in service to our nation.

The Lumberjacks will also be wearing special Military Night jerseys to honor the veterans.