Chicago Steel Weekend Preview
February 21, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
BENSENVILLE, Ill (February 21, 2014) - This coming weekend the Chicago Steel have a full slate of games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday night the Steel are on the road to take on the Des Moines Buccaneers. Saturday and Sunday the Steel return home to host the Muskegon Lumberjacks and the Youngstown Phantoms. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 3:15 p.m. on Sunday.
Friday's game against the Buccaneers will be the third this season between the two teams. The Steel have beaten Des Moines in the previous two meetings. The most recent game on Dec. 28 was decided in a shootout. Des Moines' top two scorers against the Steel this season are Danny Elser and Marcel Godbout. In two games, Elser has a goal and two assists while Godbout has a goal and an assist. Billy Christopoulos has been in net for both games, posting a 0-1-1 record.
The Buccaneers are 2-1-2 over their last five games and 16-21-5 overall. This season the Buccaneers have been led on offense by Tanner Karty, Ryan Galt, and Danny Elser. Karty and Galt are tied with the lead. Both players have appeared in 42 games recording 26 (12g, 14a) points. In the 40 games he has appeared in, Elser has 24 (9g, 15a) points. Elser is the only Buccaneer averaging better than a point per game in his last five. The goaltending duties for the Buccaneers have been split evenly this season with Ryan Ruck and Christopoulos both starting 21 games. Ruck is 11-7-3 with one shutout while Christopoulos is 5-14-2 with two shutouts.
Saturday's game will be the second meeting between the Lumberjacks and Steel in a week. The Steel defeated Muskegon 8-2 on Feb. 15. Against Muskegon, the Steel are 2-0-1 this season. The Lumberjacks have three players, Matt Iacopelli, Mason Jobst, and Trevor Morbeck, averaging a point or more per game against the Steel. Iacopelli has scored three goals in two games against the Steel. Jobst and Morbeck have played in all three contests against the Steel. Jobst has scored two goals and an assist while Morbeck has three assists. Jordan Uhelski has been in net for all three games against the Steel.
The Lumberjacks are 20-20-4 overall and 2-3-0 in their last five games. The Lumberjacks have been led offensively this season by Iacopelli, Jobst, Matt Mendelson and Morbeck. Iacopelli, a Western Michigan recruit, is averaging a point per game over the Lumberjacks' last five games. On the season, he has appeared in 42 games scoring 31 goals and adding 15 assists. Jobst is second on the team this season with 28 (8g, 20a) points. Mendelson and Morbeck are tied for third. Mendelson, a Penn State recruit, has 13 goals and 14 assists while Morbeck's 27 points come from 10 goals and 17 assists. Eric Schierhorn has served as the primary goaltender this season posting an 11-12-1 record. Uhelski has appeared in 21 games earning a 9-8-3 record.
Sunday sees another Eastern Conference foe visit the Edge Ice Arena. In four previous matchups with the Phantoms, the Steel have posted a 3-1 record, while Kyle Connor and JJ Piccinich have been the leaders on offense for Youngstown. Connor has scored twice and dished out three assists. Piccinich has found the back of the net three times and added one helper. Both of the Phantoms' goaltenders have seen action in the season series. Colin Augustine is 1-0-1 in his two outings while Sean Romeo is 0-2-0. Augustine's single victory was a shutout.
The Phantoms have gone 2-3 over their last five games moving their season record to 11-27-5. Along with Connor and Piccinich, Maxim Letunov rounds out the top three scorers for the Phantoms. Connor, a Michigan recruit, leads the way with 20 goals and 33 assists in 39 games. His 53 points are currently third in the league this season. Piccinich is averaging a point per game this season. He has 20 goals and 23 assists through 43 games. Letunov has 30 (14g, 16a) points in 43 appearances. Both Piccinich and Letunov are Boston University recruits. Each of Youngstown's two goalies has recorded a shutout this season and both currently have five victories.
The Steel enter this weekend just a single point out of the playoffs. The Steel have gone 4-1 in their last five contests including a sweep of their three games this past weekend. In two games against Des Moines, Artem Artemov has three goals for the Steel. Last Saturday's game against Muskegon was highlighted by Victor Bjorkung's 4 (1g, 3a) point outing. Bjorkung's next game will be number 90 in his United States Hockey League career. Mason Bergh (4g, 4a), Alec Vanko (2g, 4a), and Robbie Payne (2g, 3a) are all averaging a point per game or better in the Steel's last five games. Bergh exploded for seven points last weekend. Vanko's 21 (8g, 13a) points have him in the top ten for scoring defensemen in the USHL. Payne has seven goals in seven games against this weekend's opponents this season.
Tickets for this weekend's two home games are still available. They can be purchased online at tickets.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com or by calling 630-594-1161.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2014
- Roughriders Slice Past Lumberjacks in Wire-To-Wire Victory - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Hawkey Posts Shutout As Lancers Edge Saints, 1-0 - Omaha Lancers
- Phantoms' Offense Explodes in Victory - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stampede Fall 3-2 in Overtime at Sioux City - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm Ride Poganski to Win in Lincoln - Tri-City Storm
- Hawkey Stops 22 to Lead Lancers to 1-0 Victory Friday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Worden Commits to Army - Omaha Lancers
- Three Ice Players Named Midseason All-Stars - Indiana Ice
- Chicago Steel Weekend Preview - Chicago Steel
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