Muskegon, Mich. – The Muskegon Lumberjacks’ exhibition slate began with a full-circle sort of victory, 3-1 over the Indiana Ice at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night.

 

After taking a convincing 2-0 lead into the first intermission, the Jacks’ bounced back from a rough middle frame to pull away and, for the second straight season, opened exhibition play with a victory.

The Jacks will turn around to host another Eastern Conference rival, the Youngstown Phantoms, at West Shore Community Ice Arena tonight at 7 p.m. The game will be a fundraiser for the West Shore Amateur Hockey Association, and tickets - while limited - can be purchased at the game. Tickets can be purchased in advance at either Port City Candy in Manistee or Gordy’s Skate Shop in Ludington. Port City Candy is open every day but Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can be reached at (231) 887-4333. Gordy’s Skate Shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop’s phone number is (231) 845-9100. Fans may also call the Lumberjacks’ office at (231) 724-JACK (5225) for more information.

 

Friday night, Spring Lake native Lance Fredrickson banged the puck past Jon Gillies from the slot just 3:24 into play, giving assists to Mike McNicholas and Tyler Murray. Fredrickson, a fearless, physically imposing wing who is committed to the Miami University (Ohio), spent countless hours refining his shot during the offseason.

"He's a very hard-working player," Jacks Assistant Coach Steve Palmer said. "When you work as hard as Lance, you'll get bounces like he did. But it's another thing to cash in on it. I was very happy with the way Lance played."

 

Josh Henke doubled the Jacks’ lead when he slipped a loose puck past Gillies from the weak side after it eluded the netminder let it trickle away to his right.

 

Muskegon’s power play struggled in the second period and the Ice scored on the heels of back-to-back two-man advantages. After the Ice pulled even on a Daniil Tarasov marker with 11:00 remaining, Eden Prairie, Minn., native Ryan Bullock weaved the puck through traffic from the blue line and past Dalton Izyk. Bullock, a rookie defenseman, is committed to Dartmouth College.

 

“Ryan had a very nice game altogether and that goal was the product of hard work,” Lumberjacks Head Coach and General Manager Kevin Patrick said.

 

Tyler Heinonen, the record holder for career goals at Delano-Rock High School, backhanded the puck into the empty net with 40 seconds left to seal the win for Muskegon (1-0-0).

 

Lumberjacks returning goaltender Paul Berrafato entered with 7:36 left in the second and was immediately greeted by three shots – two of them from point-blank range. The Williamsville, N.Y., native snared the final shot after it changed directions mere feet in front of the netminder. Berrafato stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced and picked up the win. Blake Voth, who began the game between the pipes for the Jacks, was saddled with a no-decision after stopping six of seven shots.