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USHL Chicago Steel

Jackson Blake Scores Twice in 5-3 Win over Green Bay

January 7, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (20-5-5-0; 43 pts.) reached the 20-win plateau with a 5-3 victory over the Green Bay Gamblers (12-13-0-1; 25 pts.) Friday night at Resch Center in Wisconsin.

Led by a pair of goals from Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jackson Blake, Chicago never trailed in the Eastern Conference matchup.

Steel netminder Gibson Homer posted his eighth 30-plus save performance of the season stopping 32 shots in the victory.

It was a Steel defenseman who ignited the scoring with a skilled individual effort early on in the opening frame. Lukas Gustafsson fought off checks from three different Gamblers as he carried the puck into the offensive zone, enduring a heavy slash while mustering enough strength to get a shot away, scoring his sixth goal of the season.

After going at it alone on the game's first goal, five minutes later Gustafsson sprung Jayden Perron with an outlet pass as Perron criss-crossed with Adam Fantilli in the Steel offensive zone. Perron wrapped a pass around himself, drifting away from the net but putting the puck into the wheelhouse of the USHL's leading goal-scorer, Adam Fantilli. Fantilli one-touched the puck from almost point-blank range to extend the Steel lead to 2-0 with his 23rd marker on the year.

Green Bay earned a golden chance with just over a minute left in the first as Greg Spitznagel took off with a breakaway down the right side of the ice. Before Spitznagel could get a shot away, Homer made just enough contact with a poke check to move the puck away from danger.

The Gamblers tried to reel in the Steel during the second period but Chicago had a response for each Green Bay goal in the middle frame.

Green Bay cut the deficit in half with a marker from Matt DeBoer just over two minutes into the second. On a 2-on-1 rush, Jackson Hallum hit DeBoer with a feed that was sent past Homer for DeBoer's seventh goal of the season.

Chicago answered, extending its lead to two goals with a quick tally from Jackson Blake. The University of North Dakota commit gathered a puck on the doorstep of the crease with enough time to dust it off and spin home his first goal of the night.

Brody Lamb pulled the Gamblers again within one with a power play goal. Cameron Lund put a shot on net that was initially turned away by Homer but ended up on the stick of Lamb who beat Homer, making the score 3-2.

Jayden Perron put Chicago ahead by a pair of goals once again just past the midway point of the second. Starting the play with the puck, Perron hit the right circle in the offensive zone before turning to connect with Jake Livanavage cutting down the middle of the ice. Perron lost his defender and drifted to the front of the net, getting his stick on a pass from Livanavage to extend the lead to 4-2.

Nicholas VanTassell added a marker for Green Bay in the opening minutes of the third, cutting the Steel lead to 4-3 just before the Gamblers earned their second and final power play of the game.

Homer and the Steel defense successfully cancelled off the infraction, leading to the play of the game from Jackson Blake.

After gaining control of the puck, Blake danced around a Green Bay skater, putting the puck between the Gamblers defenseman's legs and gaining control to make a backhand-forehand move to beat Green Bay goaltender Bo Buckley for Blake's 15th goal of the season.

With the Gamblers net empty, Homer turned away three final shots on goal from Green Bay to seal the 5-3 road victory.

The Steel and Gamblers are set to rematch on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 7:05 pm CT at Resch Center in the finale of the two-game weekend slate.

The next chance for Steel fans to see the team on home ice is a two-game weekend on home ice with Olympics Night on Friday, Jan. 14 and Star Wars Night presented by Meyer Signs and Graphics on Saturday, Jan. 15. After the Saturday matchup, fans are invited to ice level for a post-game skate. Both contests are slated for a 7:05 pm CT puck drop against the Youngstown Phantoms.

Tickets start at just $10 and are available in person at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL and online at chicagosteelhockeyteam.com. The Steel now offer single-game ticket discounts for kids 12 and under and military.

Steel games may be heard on Mixlr at http://mixlr.com/chicago-steel/ (AUDIO) and video may be streamed on available devices through HockeyTV at www.hockeytv.com (VIDEO).

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Home Games presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Friday, January 14 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Olympics Night

Saturday, January 15 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Star Wars Night presented by Meyer Signs and Graphics | Post-Game Skate

Friday, January 21 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Special Jersey Auction for Geneva Academic Foundation presented by FONA International

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2022


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