Gamblers Score Six to Split Weekend Series
December 9, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, IL - Green Bay scored five unanswered goals after trailing 2-1 in the second period, including a hat trick from Michael DeAngelo as the Chicago Steel (8-13-1-1, 18 pts.) fell to the Gamblers (16-6-1-1, 32 pts.) 6-2 at Fox Valley Ice Arena Saturday night.
The Steel received scoring from Mick Thompson and Lukas Sawchyn in the first and second periods to take a 2-1 lead before the Gamblers offense came to life.
There was plenty of carryover from Friday night's game, as the animosity between the two teams in the first 20 minutes of action was clear.
Early in the opening frame, the Gamblers had a great chance after a Steel turnover in neutral ice, but Chicago netminder Christian Manz stayed collected in the blue paint and made a difficult stop.
Two minutes following the Gamblers' chance, Charlie Major snuck behind the Green Bay defense and was tripped on a breakaway resulting in a penalty. The Steel did not convert on the power play.
Just after the halfway point of the frame, Michael DeAngelo got the Gamblers on the board with his sixth goal of the season to give Green Bay its first lead of the weekend.
The Gamblers' lead did not last long, as Mick Thompson created a turnover in the neutral zone and roofed a shot over Green Bay goaltender Adam Gajan just :14 after Green Bay's score to tie the game at one.
Thompson's goal marked the third straight game he recorded a goal and was his ninth of the season.
Shots stood even after the opening period, nine to nine.
Chicago continued to test Gajan in the game, and Ben Yurchuk was the next to challenge him early in the second period. Yurchuk dragged through the goal crease and whipped around to the left post to get a shot away, but Gajan stretched out to rob Yurchuk of a goal.
The Steel pressure paid off as they got one by Gajan later in the frame.
Chicago jumped in front at 7:29 of the second frame as Lukas Sawchyn fired on net where Gajan got a piece of the puck, but it trickled in for Sawchyn's fourth goal of the year and second in as many games.
Hans-Martin Ulvebne had the primary assist on the score after saucing a great pass to Sawchyn at the left wing. Jordan Brisson added an assist on the goal to mark consecutive games the third-year Steel forward recorded a point.
The Gamblers stayed on the heels of Chicago and, two minutes following Sawchyn's goal, got another score from DeAngelo after his initial shot on goal offered a rebound in front of Manz, who thought he had the puck frozen.
Green Bay exerted heavy pressure in Chicago's zone late in the period and capped off the effort with a wrist shot from Ben Poitras that sailed over Manz's shoulder and into the net with 1:02 remaining in the period to give Green Bay a 3-2 lead heading to the third.
The road squad stayed heavy on the attacking front and expanded its lead to two goals four minutes into the third period when Jason Galluci took a shot from the point that deflected off the stick of a Steel defenseman and past a sliding Manz for a goal.
With 6:27 to play, Chicago had trouble getting out of its own end and the Gamblers took advantage as William Hughes pounced on an available puck in the slot and sent it home to make it a 5-2 Green Bay lead.
DeAngelo completed the the hat trick late in the game to give the Gamblers a 6-2 win. Steel goaltender Christian Manz stopped 21 of 27 shots in defeat. Chicago outshot Green Bay 38-27.
The Steel will play three road games next week before heading to the league's holiday break. Chicago will travel to Michigan to take on the USA Hockey NTDP U18 team on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 9:30 am CT. The Steel will stay in Michigan and face the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16, with both games starting at 6:10 pm CT.
Chicago returns to home ice on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 6:05 pm for a Steel Bucket Hat Giveaway (first 500 fans) presented by Meyer Signs and Graphics.
Dec. 30 features a post-game Skate with the Steel, where fans can bring their own skates or rent a pair and hit the ice with the team after the game.
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. For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Wednesday, December 13 at Team USA NTDP U18 (9:30 am CT)
Friday, December 15 at Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:10 pm CT)
Saturday, December 16 at Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:10 pm CT)
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