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Dylan McLaughlin’s stick-between-legs USHL goal is flippin’ awesome (VIDEO)

neate sager

Sometimes English soccer announcers will describe a manoeuvre as "cheeky." After seeing the goal that Cedar Rapids RoughRiders rookie Dylan McLaughlin scored in a USHL game last Saturday, I submit that expression needs to get traction in hockey.

McLaughlin had no angle at all to shoot after his teammate led him a little too far with the pass, so he got inventive. The 17-year-old put his stick between his legs and got enough mustard on his shot to flip into the top corner past stunned Green Bay Gamblers goalie Richard Sabol. You sometimes see a player pull off the between the legs move, but not that far from the net and from such a tight angle.

All together: goal of the year in the USHL.

From Chris Peters:

Alright, so let's get this straight… On the rush, below the faceoff dot, puck and stick go between legs and then he roofs it to the top-left corner? OK, then.

Sure, it's a spot of bad goaltending, but you can't deny the skill with which a play like that requires. I mean… on the rush? Between the legs? Roof shot? (United States Of Hockey)

Who knows, perhaps a vulcanized-rubber virtuosity gone viral will help McLaughlin's prospects. He is thriving with change of scenery to Cedar Rapids after struggling to produce much in his age-16 year with the Sioux Falls Stampede. He's presently without a NCAA commitment after deciding not to attend Northeastern University in Boston, but that could change if it he keeps finding ways to put the puck in the net.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.