USHL Honors - Week 19

Press Release

The United States Hockey League announced the CCM and Reebok player awards for the 19th week of the 2012-13 USHL regular season.

Award winners include Joseph Manno of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, who has been named CCM Forward of the Week; Nolan Valleau of the Chicago Steel, selected as CCM Defenseman of the Week; and Alex Lyon of the Omaha Lancers, nabbing honors as Reebok Goaltender of the Week.

Joseph Manno, F, Dubuque Fighting Saints: The Montreal, QC native was an instrumental piece in Dubuque’s two wins over weekend, notching a pair of goals in each contest, including the game-winner in both.  On Friday, he netted a first and second-period marker to lead the Fighting Saints to a 4-0 win over the Indiana Ice.  He also finished the night with a game high plus-three rating.  The 20-year-old again lit the lamp in the first and second periods on Saturday, lifting Dubuque to a 5-2 win and weekend sweep of Indiana.  Through 14 games this season, Manno has tallied 14 points (8g, 6a).  He is tied for fifth on the team in goals and second with three game-winning goals on the season.

Nolan Valleau, D, Chicago Steel: The 20-year-old tallied a pair of goals on the weekend and played the role of hero on Saturday. On Friday, Valleau potted a third-period marker to help the Steel to a 5-0 win over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and their first shutout of an opponent this season.  The Novi, MI native scored on the power play seven minutes into the third period on Saturday which proved to be the game-winner as the Steel held on for a 4-3 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Valleau has three goals in his four games since being acquired from the Des Moines Buccaneers. Overall, he has tallied eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points this season, tying for sixth in the USHL in defenseman scoring.

Alex Lyon, G, Omaha Lancers: The Baudette, MN native backstopped the Lancers to three wins last week going 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.  Lyon turned aside 32 of the 35 shots he faced to lead the Lancers to a 5-3 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede on Wednesday.  He was back between the pipes on Friday, stopping 37 shots to take down the Fargo Force, 5-2.  On Saturday, the 20-year-old put together a season high 44-save performance to edge Fargo by a 2-1 margin.  He has now won seven of his last eight starts and ranks second among USHL goaltenders with 19 victories this season.  Lyon is second with a .920 SV% and currently fifth with a 2.54 GAA.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)