Chicago Loses Penalty Filled Contest To Green Bay

By: Steve Jankowski
Bensenville (October 11, 2008) - The Chicago Steel built up a four-goal lead in the third period, but it was not enough as the Green Bay Gamblers came back to defeat Chicago, 7-6 at the Edge Ice Arena.

Green Bay scored the only goal of the first period as Reed Seckel's shot from the top of the circle deflected off a defenseman's skate and over the blocker of Steel goalie Hudson Stremmel.

Stremmel stopped 21shots in the loss.

Chicago's offense kicked into high gear early in the second, scoring three goals in a 2 minute, 30 second stretch.

Eric Alexander (Ferris State) got the Steel on the board while Green Bay's Michael Forney was serving a high-sticking minor. Max Nicastro (Boston University, Detroit Red Wings) fired a shot from the point which Green Bay goalie Reid Ellingson stopped. Alexander picked up the rebound at the top of the crease, and lifted it over Ellingson to even the game at one for his third goal of the year.

The Steel took their first lead of the night 27 seconds later when Mark Goggin (Dartmouth University, Boston Bruins) took a pass from Andrew Miller (Yale University) and beat Ellingson glove side with a wrist shot. It was Goggin's first goal this season.

Exactly one minute later, Charlie Thauwald scored his first goal this year after taking a feed from Jak Knelman and firing a shot past Ellingson's glove to give Chicago a 3-1 lead.

After Green Bay got back within one with a short-handed marker, Andrew Miller forced a turnover inside Green Bay's blue line, and fed a pass to Max Nicastro. Nicastro's shot from the point was re-directed past Ellingson by Ryan Schnell, which was his first goal of the year.

Chicago would extend its lead early in the third, when Eric Alexander scored his second power play goal of the game. Rob Linsmayer found Alexander in front of the crease and he beat Ellingson for his fourth goal in the season's first three games.

A minute and two seconds later, defenseman Ben Hughes poked a loose puck past Ellingson to give Chicago a commanding 6-2 lead with 13:52 remaining in the game.

The game got chippy midway through the third, and with just under 10 minutes to go in the game, Green Bay was given a 5-minute, 5-on-3 advantage, and they wasted no time taking advantage.

William Rapuzzi scored from the slot for Green Bay to halve Chicago's lead at the 10:43 mark.

Then Michael Forney scored three straight 2-man advantage goals just over 2 minutes apart to tie the game at six.

Rapuzzi scored the deciding goal at the 14:58 mark with Green Bay still skating up two men.

The Steel will play their first two road games next weekend against the Sioux City Musketeers and the Sioux Falls Stampede. They return home on October 24 and 25 with back-to-back games against the Tri-City Storm. Game time for both games is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be ordered by calling 630.594.1165.