USHL Chicago Steel

Chicago Set for Thanksgiving Weekend Matchup in Fargo

Published on November 22, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Following a weekend that saw the team secure four of six points, the Chicago Steel will face its toughest test to date, traveling to North Dakota to take on the league-leading Fargo Force on Friday, November 24 at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday, November 25 at 6:05 p.m.

The trip will mark Chicago's first visit to Scheels Arena since the Steel defeated the Fargo Force in the Clark Cup Final in May 2021.

The Steel (5-9-1-1) comes off its best weekend of this season, winning its Nov. 17 game 5-3 over Cedar Rapids and grabbing a 2-1 overtime win over Youngstown on Nov. 18 before falling to Youngstown on Nov. 19.

A different Steel skater scored each of the five goals in the win over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, and four players recorded two points. Price Grimes and Michael Hage each had two assists in the win.

Chicago returned home following its road win and continued with the winning ways thanks to Charlie Major's second overtime game-winning goal of the season to knock off the Youngstown Phantoms 2-1. Hage had the only other goal for the Steel. Steel netminder Louka Cloutier had a heroic outing, making 42 saves on 43 shots to backstop the Steel to its fourth straight win.

The Phantoms spoiled the weekend sweep, winning 5-2 on Nov. 19. Major stayed hot, scoring a goal and an assist, while Mick Thompson added the only other score for Chicago. Sunday's loss ended a five-game point streak for the Steel.

Joey DelGreco, Hage, and Major have all been catalysts in the Steel's newfound success.

DelGreco, who was last week's USHL Forward of the Week, had nine points in his five-game point streak that ended on Sunday. Five of those nine points came in one game, a 9-7 win over Madison on Nov. 10 where the rookie forward scored a hat trick and had two.

One of two Michigan commits on the roster, Hage had a three-game point streak where he had eight points and also had a five-point game on Nov. 10. In the last seven games, Hage has scored 11 points and leads the team in assists (12) and points (18).

Major was the overtime hero on Nov. 18 and scored another on Nov. 19 to claim the team lead for goals (8). Skating in his second season with the Steel, Major has already surpassed his goals total from last season (6) and has scored five goals in his last four games.

The Fargo Force (14-1-1-0) has been one of the league's hottest teams, winning 14 of its 16 games and registering a point in all but one of them.

Fargo comes off one of its toughest weekends of the young season with games against USA Hockey NTDP U18 and U17 in Michigan. Fargo fell in its game against the U18s on Nov. 17, 5-4, but came back with a 3-2 shootout win on Nov. 18 against the U17s to finish the weekend with a win.

Friday night's loss was the first regulation loss for the Force this season.

The story behind Fargo's domination this year has been suffocating its opponents across the board.

The Force ranks first in the league in shots for and against, averaging just under 36 shots per game and allowing an average of only 20 per game. Piggybacking off the shots counter, Fargo has allowed the least goals per game as well, an average of just two.

Forward Zam Plante, who played with the Steel from 2021-2023, leads the team in points (20) and goals (9). The son of former NHLer Derek Plante ranks tied for third in the league in overall scoring and owns the league's longest point streak this season, a ten-point streak that stretched over nine games from Oct. 14 to Nov. 11.

Fargo defenseman Leo Gruba is tied for fourth in the USHL in points (19), leads the league in defensemen scoring and goals (7), and ranks second in assists (12).

The strong back end for Fargo doesn't stop there. Goaltenders Hampton Slukynsky and Anton Castro rank first and second, respectively, in goals against average in the league (1.92 and 2.14).

Slukynsky has yet to lose a game in regulation this season, posting a perfect 7-0-0-0 record. Castro has posted similar numbers, a 7-1-1-0 record. Each goaltender has posted one shutout.

The Steel are 16-9-2-1 all-time against Fargo. The teams last met at the USHL Fall Classic to begin the 2022-23 with the Steel winning 3-1. The Steel are 8-5-1-0 on the road all-time against the Force.

The Steel will play another away game on Friday, December 1 at 7:05 pm CT against the Madison Capitols before returning home Dec. 2 and 3.

Saturday, Dec. 2 is the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the movie Elf, and Sunday, Dec. 3 is a Celebration of Inclusion presented by Rising Lights Project and Laura Henrikson-Realtor that will feature sensory rooms, limited loud music, no goal horns with ASL celebrations and other accommodations.

Sunday's game is a Steel Family Pack game with a special deal for four or more. Fans can get four tickets, four hot dogs, four chips, four sodas/waters, and four chuck-a-pucks for just $60.

Single-game tickets are on sale now, starting at just $10. All Steel tickets are digital, and fans are encouraged to purchase online in advance at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Season ticket plans are on sale now, starting at just 5 games for $50. Season ticket plans are built on flexibility as fans have the option of choosing their own games throughout the season with multiple benefits including season ticket gifts and special events.

Group tickets and experiences, suites and other premium areas, including the team's new Ice Side Tables, are also on sale now.

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Friday, November 24 at Fargo Force (7:05 pm CT)

Saturday, November 25 at Fargo Force (6:05 pm CT)

Friday, December 1 at Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT)

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2023


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