Muskegon Lumberjacks' comeback bid falls a goal short, 6-5

The Lumberjacks overcame a 6-0 deficit but couldn't complete the comeback against the Sioux City Musketeers.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Muskegon Lumberjacks staged an impressive comeback after falling behind 6-0 in the first period, but ultimately fell short, losing 6-5 to the Sioux City Musketeers. The Lumberjacks scored five unanswered goals in the second and third periods, but couldn't find the equalizer in the final minutes.

Why it matters

The Lumberjacks' comeback attempt was one of the most dramatic in team history, showcasing their resilience and ability to battle back from a large deficit. However, the slow start proved too much to overcome, raising questions about the team's consistency and ability to avoid early deficits as they push for a playoff spot.

The details

The Musketeers scored six goals in the first 6 minutes of the game, chasing the Lumberjacks' starting goaltender. But Muskegon battled back, scoring three power-play goals in the second period to cut the deficit to 6-3. They added two more goals in the third period to make it a one-goal game, but couldn't find the equalizer late.

  • The Musketeers scored six goals in the first 6 minutes of the game.
  • The Lumberjacks scored three power-play goals in the second period.
  • The Lumberjacks scored two goals in the third period to make it a one-goal game.

The players

Muskegon Lumberjacks

A junior ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League (USHL) based in Muskegon, Michigan.

Sioux City Musketeers

A junior ice hockey team in the USHL based in Sioux City, Iowa.

Drew Stewart

A forward for the Muskegon Lumberjacks who scored two goals in the game.

Niles Benson

A forward for the Muskegon Lumberjacks who scored a power-play goal.

Carter Sanderson

The captain of the Muskegon Lumberjacks who scored a breakaway goal in the third period.

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What they’re saying

“That was the start that nobody wanted. They (Sioux City) came out humming and playing hard and it took us too long for us to get back into it.”

— Taylor Ward, Lumberjacks assistant coach (LocalSportsJournal.com)

“When we lose it is a time we really need to learn. We need to get everybody on the same page. We have learned a lot of great lessons this month, and when it comes to playoff time, we are going to show how much we learned.”

— Taylor Ward, Lumberjacks assistant coach (LocalSportsJournal.com)

What’s next

The Lumberjacks will look to get back on track with a three-game road swing starting Wednesday morning against the first-place Youngstown Phantoms.

The takeaway

The Lumberjacks' dramatic comeback attempt showcased their resilience, but also highlighted the need for the team to avoid early deficits and play a more consistent 60 minutes as they push for a playoff spot in the competitive USHL Eastern Conference.