Chicago Makes Push Towards Clark Cup Playoffs

Bensenville, IL (March 24th, 2008) -- The Chicago Steel need only one point in their last five games to clinch a spot in the 2008 Clark Cup Playoffs thanks to a week of high powered offense. On Wednesday the Steel took on the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets, the team which is trailing them for the fourth and final playoff spot in the east division.  The Steel started off sluggish and Ohio took full advantage of it scoring a goal 3 minutes into the game.  Simon Olsson was able to spark his team though by scoring two goals, with the second goal scored while shorthanded, before the 1^st period would end.  Drew LeBlanc (St. Cloud State) and Brian O’Neill (Yale) assisted on the first goal while O’Neill and Tim Buttery (Michigan State) had assists on the shorthanded goal.  The Olsson, O’Neill, and LeBlanc line would have continued success when LeBlanc tallied his 17^th goal of the season with assists from Olsson and O’Neill.  The top line would end the night with another goal when O’Neill put one past Junior Blue Jackets goaltender Pasquale Terrazzano with assists from LeBlanc and Olsson.  

Chicago welcomed the second place Waterloo Blackhawks to The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville Friday night.  Unlike Wednesday the Steel came out full of energy in front of 1,012 fans.  Simon Olsson continued his hot streak, lighting the lamp 10 minutes into the game with assists from O’Neill and Steel captain Mike Walsh. The fans were treated to a second period of 13 penalties and 6 goals. Waterloo would get on the board first putting a puck past Steel goaltender Nick Pisellini. Future Boston University defenseman Max Nicastro would add a powerplay goal with assists from Luca Cunti (St. Cloud State) and Andrew Miller (Yale).  The Blackhawks would add a powerplay goal for themselves with under four minutes to go but Tim Buttery would put the Steel back in the lead less than 30 seconds later with Miller and Cunti getting the assists.  Waterloo would end the period with one more to end the finish second period tied 3-3.  The third period was a battle between the two east division rivals but Simon Olsson was able to provide his USHL leading 6^th game winner of the year with an assist from Drew LeBlanc. 

Saturday night the East division leading Indiana Ice came into Chicago.  The first two periods saw one goal scored by Jak Knelman with an assist by Simon Olsson.  The third period was pact full of goal scoring beginning with a Drew LeBlanc goal 30 seconds in. Simon Olsson added another point to his stats with an assist on the goal.  Tim Buttery would follow up with his second goal in three games with assists from Olsson and John Moore (Colorado College).  Mark Anthoine (University of Maine) would put the Steel up 4-0 when he lit the lamp with assists from Luca Cunti and Aaron Schmit.  The Ice made a valiant comeback scoring three goals in under four minutes.  The Steel would hold off the Ice though.  Anthoine recorded his second goal of the game, assisted by Luca Cunti and Andrew Miller with 36 seconds left to secure the win and put the Steel one point away from clinching a playoff spot. 

On Sunday the Steel called the United Center home as they took on the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets. The Steel fell behind as the Junior Blue Jackets took full advantage of the powerplay slipping two past Chicago.  Luca Cunti would score a highlight reel goal with 1:41 left in the first to put the Steel behind by one heading into the first intermission.  Andrew Miller and Tim Buttery assisted the goal.  Ohio would start the second with two more goals before Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Will Weber (Miami of Ohio) was able to fire one into the net on the powerplay with assists from Andrew Miller and Max Nicastro.  The third period saw the same trend the first two did with Ohio getting scoring two goals to put them ahead 6-2. Tim Buttery would score the final goal of the night with assists from Drew LeBlanc and Corey Chakeen. 

The Chicago Steel would like to thank all of the fans that attended our games this weekend. The Steel’s next game is this Friday, at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, against the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets.  Tickets and family four packs are still available and can be purchased by calling (630) 594-1165.