Fontaine, Steel Drop USA in Overtime of Monday Matinee
Published on January 21, 2019 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Sixty minutes was not enough for the Chicago Steel and Team USA U-17 on Monday afternoon as it took overtime for the Steel to find the winner in a 4-3 final at USA Hockey Arena. With 1:42 gone in the overtime period, Steel (22-12-1-0, 45 pts.) left wing Gunnarwolfe Fontaine retrieved the puck at the far boards and howled a wrist shot over the glove of Team USA (13-13-1-3, 30 pts.) goaltender Aiden Campbell.
The goal was Fontaine's third game-winner during the team's current five-game winning streak. It was also his fourth game-winning goal this season, tying him with defenseman Matteo Pietroniro for the team lead.
Team USA opened the scoring midway through the opening frame as forward Ty Smilanic took advantage of a turnover and fired a forehand shot past the blocker side of Steel goaltender Reilly Herbst. Smilanic was alone in the slot and collected a loose puck off a broken Chicago outlet pass just steps away from where he eventually beat Herbst.
Team USA doubled its lead early in the second when Luke Tuch finished off a net-front scramble on the first powerplay opportunity of the game. After forward Dylan Peterson carried into the zone, the puck was cycled back to the point where Smilanic fired towards the front of the net and Tuch eventually pounded home a third rebound chance.
Minutes later, Fontaine rang a shot off the post over the left shoulder of Campbell in an attempt to cut the deficit in half. But at the midway mark of the game, left wing Josh Groll succeeded in putting Chicago on the board as he rifled a tough-angle wrist shot from the goal line past Campbell and into the far corner of the net. Referees did not originally call for the goal on the ice, but the call was overturned by video review.
Chicago would rally to tie the game late in the second period as Pietroniro scored his 12th of the season with 43 seconds remaining in the middle frame. Right wing Travis Treloar found Pietroniro at the point where he faked a shot and moved around a USA skater to create space before firing a wrist shot over the glove of Campbell.
Team USA would regain the lead 2:01 into the third period when forward Thomas Bordeleau scored his team-leading seventh of the season. The goal, his third against Chicago this season, came shorthanded as Bordeleau powered past a Steel defenseman before sneaking a shot past Herbst.
It appeared Team USA would make it a two-goal lead with less than eight minutes to play in the game as Tuch had a wide-open net but sent a one-time shot off the post.
Less than a minute later, Chicago left wing Robert Mastrosimone tied the game as he finished off a beautiful play from center Nick Abruzzese. Abruzzese, who moved into a tie for third in the USHL with 44 points (14-30-44) this season, carried the puck into the offensive zone as he and Mastrosimone swapped sides. Abruzzese then fed a perfect pass that Mastrosimone finished with a blistering one-time shot.
Herbst picked up the win in net, stopping 26 shots as the Steel were outshot 29-26.
The Steel return to the Fox Valley Ice Arena for a pair of weekend games against the defending Clark Cup Champion Fargo Force on Saturday, Jan. 26 and Sunday, Jan. 27. Saturday, Jan. 26 is Game of Thrones Night, celebrating the matchup between the last two Clark Cup Champions. It's also a Raising Cane's Kids Day with a $10 deal for kids that includes a Red Zone ticket, Steel drawstring backpack and free Raising Cane's kids combo card. Sunday, Jan. 27 is a Steel Family Pack game on Trains, Trains, Trains day presented by Wausau Homes North Aurora. The Steel Family Pack includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $48. The Steel Family Pack must be purchased in advance.
Tickets for all Steel home games are on sale now starting at just $10 and stadium seating on the glass is available for just $20. Parking is always free.
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2019
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- Two Bucs and One Affiliate Named to NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Twenty NTDP Players Named to Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings - U.S. National Team
- Firstov, Blumel Ranked by NHLCS - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Fontaine, Steel Drop USA in Overtime of Monday Matinee - Chicago Steel
- Central Illinois Falls to Madison, 4 to 3 - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- 72 Players with USHL Ties Named to NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings - USHL
- Moe's Week Gets High Marks - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Ben Meyers Named USHL Forward of the Week - Fargo Force
- USHL Names Players of the Week for Week 17 - USHL
- Fighting Saints Acquire Luke Robinson - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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