The United States Hockey League announced the CCM Forward, Defenseman and Goaltender of the Week for Week 21 of the 2015-16 season. San Jose Sharks prospect Karlis Cukste won his first weekly honor with Chicago Steel teammate Jake Gessert. Goaltender Jake Kielly won his second weekly distinction after finishing an impressive win streak. CCM Hockey is the official equipment partner of the USHL.
Forward: Jake Gessert – Chicago Steel
1 GP: 2 goals, 2 assists, +1 rating
Gessert led the Chicago offense in a 7-0 win Friday night with two goals and two assists. The two-goal night was the forward’s second this season after scoring twice nearly one month ago. The Novi, MI native is skating in his first USHL season with the Chicago Steel after playing three seasons with the Kenai River Brown Bears. After scoring 19 points in 30 games for Kenai River this season, Gessert was called up to the Chicago Steel where he has scored 10 points in 15 games. Gessert is committed to Brown University and previously played for Kenai River Brown Bears (NAHL), Compuware (HPHL) and Honeybaked (T1EHL). Gessert was undrafted in the USHL.
Defenseman: Karlis Cukste – Chicago Steel
1 GP: 0 goals, 3 assists, +2 rating
Cukste dished out three assists in a 7-0 Chicago Steel win Friday night. It was the third multi-point performance for the defenseman this season. Cukste has 11 points in 27 games with Chicago this season. The Riga, Latvia native was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 2015 NHL Draft in the 5th round, 130th overall. Cukste previously played for HK Riga (MHL) and the Latvian National Team prior to playing in the USHL.
Goaltender: Jake Kielly – Tri-City Storm
2-0-0-0, 0.94 GAA, .968 SV%
Kielly won back-to-back games, including an overtime 34-save performance. Kielly is 9-0-1-0 in his last 10 starts and has allowed one goal or fewer in five of those starts. The Eden Prairie, MN native has a 1.86 GAA and .942 SV% in his last ten starts. Kielly has helped the Tri-City Storm climb to second in the Western Conference. The Clarkson University commit previously played for the Austin Bruins (NAHL), Victory Honda (T1EHL) and Eden Prairie High (USHS). Kielly was a 2012 USHL Phase I Draft pick in the 6th round, 88th overall
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