USHL Chicago Steel

Dubuque Fights Off Season Sweep With 4-1 Win

Published on January 30, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (24-13-0-0, 48 points) skated to a 4-1 victory over Chicago (16-18-3-3, 38 points) Saturday, defeating the Steel 4-1 in front of 1,120 fans at Fox Valley Ice Arena. It was Chicago's only loss to the Fighting Saints in the four-game season series.

Brett Boeing got the Fighting Saints on the board first in the opening frame. Gordie Green played a backhand pass from behind the Steel net, bouncing off the skate of a Chicago defenseman to Boeing positioned outside the goal crease. Boeing placed a wrist shot past the left skate of Steel goaltender Daniel Vladar at 3:09 to give Dubuque a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

The Fighting Saints doubled their lead in the second period. The Steel fought off a five-minute major penalty called on Ruslan Rakhmatov for cross-checking midway through the second frame. Moments after Chicago returned to full-strength, Dubuque forward Colin Theisen carried the puck along the left wing and attempted a centering pass in the direction of Dallas Gerads. Steel defenseman Trevor Hamilton made a diving effort to break up the play, but the puck deflected off his stick and over the right shoulder of Vladar at 13:49. Chicago went into the locker room trailing 2-0.

Steel forward Jack Gessert cut the lead in half in the third period. Jaremko took a wrist shot from along the right boards just inside the blue line. Dubuque netminder Jaxon Castor could not control the rebound and Gessert jammed a bouncing puck over the goalie to get Chicago on the scoreboard and back into the game at 13:37. The Fighting Saints took back the two-goal lead less than two minutes later. Evan Smith gathered a long pass along the right wall putting him one-on-one with Vladar. Smith veered towards the Steel's goal and buried a quick wrist shot beneath the stick hand of the Chicago netminder at 15:55. Dubuque's Petter Makitalo put the game away, scoring an empty net goal with 43 seconds left in the contest as Dubuque left Fox Valley Ice Arena with the 4-1 win.

Castor stopped 22 of the Steel's 23 total shots on the night. Chicago finished its four-game homestand taking five of a possible eight points.

The Steel will travel out west next weekend to take on the Sioux City Musketeers on Friday, Feb. 5, and then the Omaha Lancers on Saturday, Feb. 6. Both games will have a 7:05 p.m. puck drop. Chicago's next home game will be on Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. for Steel Your Heart Night with a Valentine's Day special against Sioux City. Plus, it's College Night. Students with a valid ID receive a special $12 ticket in the Steel College Zone that includes a $5 beverage voucher. Tickets are available at the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2016


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