NEWS STORY
Chicago Looking to Bounce Back
Bensenville, IL (December 12th, 2009) -
For the Chicago Steel and their fans, the holiday break
can’t seem to come soon enough. The Steel continue to
reel following their most recent home loss on Saturday
night to the Fargo Force 5-3.
The loss is Chicago’s fifth straight and the team has
collected a cumulative record of (2-7-1) in their last
ten. Fargo, on the other hand, was thought to be an
also-ran in the Western Division in part because of
their slow start but more due to the blazing pace the
Omaha Lancers have set (19-4-1). Fargo though, has
picked it up the last month and a half, sporting a 7-3
record in their last ten.
In the first period Mac Olson capitalized on crisp
passing from Jay Camper (New Hampshire) just 36 seconds
into the game to give Chicago a quick 1-0 lead. For
Olson, the goal was his third.
Fargo would answer back with two goals by forwards
Colten St. Clair and Matt Leitner to give the Force a
temporary 2-1 lead.
Before the horn sounded to end the first period, the
Steel’s Alex Carpenter recorded his eighth goal to tie
it at two’s. New comer Michael Gunn recorded his first
assist on the play.
It was 2-2 after one period of play from the Edge where
1,652 came out to see the game.
The second period opened with Fargo’s Nate Condon
beating the Steel defense for his 14th goal
of the season. The goal leaves Condon third behind the
Steel’s Mark Anthoine (Maine), who has 16, and Matt
White who leads the way for Omaha with 17.
There are few players in the United States Hockey League
playing better than Chicago’s Andrei Kuchin. In his last
five games Kuchin posses three goals and four assists.
One of those came in the second period when Kuchin beat
Fargo’s Ryan Massa.
It was knotted 3-3 heading into the second
intermission.
In the third, Fargo put it away with two unanswered
goals of their own. Chicago placed a time out with under
a minute to play. The Steel pulled goalie Nick Pisellini
(Western Michigan) hoping to create some offense.
Chicago had their opportunities in the Fargo zone but
Massa turned them away again and again.
The 5-3 loss to Fargo drops Chicago into a points tie
with Youngstown for the fourth and final playoff spot in
the Eastern Division. Chicago now has this week to
prepare for the league best Omaha Lancers this Friday
and Saturday December 18th and 19th
at the Edge Ice Arena.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the
Chicago Steel box office at (630) 594-1165.
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