Maybe Lumberjacks winger Dakota Klecha got a boost from his future school, Ferris State University, making its first-ever trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. Maybe he wanted to match his goal total with his jersey number.
Or maybe the native of Taylor, Mich., was inspired by seeing the Waterloo Black Hawks on the schedule, a team he burned for two gorgeous goals back in late October.
No matter what spurred him on, Klecha's pair of highlight-worthy tallies over the weekend provided moments of excitement in what otherwise was a difficult weekend on the road for your favorite USHL team.
No. 17 started this season, his first in the country's best junior league, with seven goals and nine points in the opening 10 games. He has rebounded from a slow midseason stretch, scoring 14 points (seven goals) in his last 20 tilts.
Klecha is now tied for fifth on the team in points with 26, plus he has only missed two games all year. Only Jon Padulo, who has skated in all 56, has been more durable to this point. Klecha has also scored the Jacks' only hat trick of the season and has four multi-goal games to lead the club.
However you look at it, the guy born on Christmas 1991 has been a gift to the Lumberjacks in their second USHL season.
Also included in this week's highlight package is a sweet goal off the rush by Michigan recruit Max Shuart and a shorthanded breakaway goal from future MSU Spartan Matt DeBlouw: (Note: Travis Walsh's goal from Sunday in Green Bay didn't record on my computer, but kudos to him for his second score while playing as a forward this year!)
As a bonus, here's a pregame interview I did with first-year defenseman Ryan Bullock last Friday. The Minnesota native has 28 points, placing him ninth among USHL rearguards:
Fellow rookie blueliner Alex Smith joined me prior to Sunday's game in Green Bay. From Brownstown, Mich., Smith picked up an assist Saturday to give him 15 points in 43 games:
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