NEWS STORY
Tough Weekend For Steel
Bensenville, IL (March 21st, 2010) -
Chicago’s
chances of making the playoffs were to be determined in
large part this past weekend by how they fared against
Team USA and Green Bay. Team USA’s 18 year olds were
11-5-2 against USHL opponents coming into their game
against the Chicago Steel.
From the Edge Ice Arena, in the first period, Team USA
struck quickly with a goal just under a minute into the
game for a 1-0 lead. The kids from Ann Arbor would get
another goal past Chicago’s Connor Wilson to extend the
lead by two before the Steel’s leading scorer Andrei
Kuchin recorded his 17th goal of the year on
a penalty shot. Chicago’s Alex Carpenter received a nice
feed from Billy Latta (Connecticut) for his 13th
goal and the second for the Steel, tying the game at
twos heading into the first intermission.
Team USA managed the only goal of the second period on a
power play goal by Mathew Nieto to break the tie, 3-2 in
favor of Team USA.
Kuchin, again, beat Team USA Goalie Jack Campbell in the
third hoping to keep pace with USA’s offense. Chicago’s
Connor Wilson had a rough go-stopping only 16 shots as
Team USA added two more for insurance en route to a 5-3
loss for the Steel. Despite outshooting Team USA Chicago
couldn’t keep pace and, coupled with a surprising win by
Waterloo, dropped back further in the standings.
The Steel had little time to worry about past games
because Green Bay, the Eastern Division Champions, were
coming to town as part of a one-and-one with the Steel.
The two have played it close this season with each
game’s outcome separated by only a goal.
On Saturday Green Bay cruised from the start. The
Gamblers recorded two goals in the first and another in
the second for a 3-0 lead. The Gamblers outshot Chicago
by 13, 24-37. Chicago Forward Darik Angeli broke the
shutout halfway through the third period; Angeli’s goal
was his 13th. The 3-1 loss brings Chicago’s
record to 5-5 in their last ten. Wilson took the loss
for Chicago 34/37, his ninth.
On Sunday in Green Bay things took a turn for the
offensive, both on the score board and in the penalty
box, when Chicago and Green Bay concluded their ’09-’10
regular season slate. Forwards Brendan Woods
(Wisconsin) and Jay Camper (New Hampshire) brought
Chicago even at 2 after Green Bay jumped out to the
early lead.
In the third, Chicago’s Cole Gunner (Air Force) gave the
Steel a temporary lead with his 8th goal of
the season before the Gambler’s Anders Lee drew the
equalizer for Green Bay. For the game, the two teams
drew 99 penalty minutes on 15 infractions but it was in
OT were things got really interesting. Steel Goalie Nick
Pisellini (Western Michigan) and Green Bay Goalie Nick
Summerhays were both ejected for fighting-putting the
load squarely on Connor Wilson’s shoulders.
A Dan Kolomatis goal was all Chicago would muster in the
shootout; failing to match Green Bay, dropping the
season finale 4-3.
Chicago is home march 24th against the
Indiana Ice. The puck drops at 7:30 and tickets can be
purchased by calling the Chicago Steel box office at
(630) 594-1165. |
