Steel Fall 5-3 in Season Opener against Sioux City

By: Steve Jankowski
Bensenville (October 4, 2008) –   The Chicago Steel opened their 2008-09 campaign with a 5-3 loss at home against the Sioux City Musketeers.

After the Musketeers opened the scoring at 12:48 of the first, Andrew Miller (Yale University) evened things up for Chicago on the power play at the 14:08 mark. Max Nicastro (Boston University; Detroit Red Wings) sent Eric Alexander (Ferris State) in all alone on Sioux City goalie Steve Thompson. Thompson stopped Alexander but left a rebound, which Miller deposited into the back of the net for his first of the year.

Just over two minutes later, the Steel took their first lead of the year on Eric Alexander's first goal of the season. Andrew Miller sent a cross-ice feed to Alexander, who one-timed it past Thompson to make the score 2-1.

The Steel would take that 2-1 lead, and a 1:45 power play into the beginning of the second period, but they could not extend their lead. They would also fail to capitalize on two other early 2nd period man-advantages, and it would cost them as the Musketeers would score twice in less than two minutes to take a 3-2 lead.

Drew Daniels scored off an assist from his twin brother, Justin, to tie the game at 2 at the 12:40 mark of the second. Donnie Hallmark would give Sioux City the lead for good at 14:05 on an unassisted goal, his second of the night, after a giveaway in the Chicago zone.

Early in the third, Jake Johnson extended the Musketeers lead to 4-2 at the 4:22 mark. The Steel climbed back within one when defenseman Mike Walsh (Air Force Academy) scored at 6:56. Andrew Miller picked up his second assist and third point on the night on Walsh's first of the season.

Sioux City closed out the scoring at the 11:21 mark with a goal by Alex Stuart. Drew and Justin Daniels assisted for the Musketeers.

The loss was Chicago's third straight loss in the home opener, dating back to the 2006-07 season. Their last win in a home opener was in the 2005-06 season, when they beat the Green Bay Gamblers 4-2.

The Steel return to action next Friday night, October 10 at the Edge in Bensenville vs. the Cedar Rapids Roughriders.  Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 and you can order tickets by calling 630.594.1165.