USHL Chicago Steel

Matt Coronato Sets Single-Season Goals Mark; Muskegon Tops Steel

March 6, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN - Matt Coronato claimed sole possession of the Chicago Steel single-season goals record but the Steel (25-9-3-0; 53 pts.) fell 7-5 to the Muskegon Lumberjacks (22-12-1-2; 47 pts.) on Saturday night at Mercy Health Arena in Michigan.

Coronato, who notched his 100th career point with a goal Friday night, scored a power play goal in the second period for his 33rd goal in 35 games this season, topping Andrew Miller who had 32 goals in 58 games during the 2008-2009 season.

The record-setting goal gave Chicago a short-lived two-goal advantage as the Lumberjacks scored four of the last five goals in the game including a hat trick from the club's leading scorer, Danil Gushchin, as Muskegon pulled within six points of the conference-leading Steel.

In a first period with scoring opportunities hard to come by for both teams, the Steel defense limited their opponents in chances and shots on goal. Halfway through the first, the Lumberjacks were credited with just one shot on goal and six shots total in the opening period.

Steel forward Mackie Samoskevich broke the scoreless tie, recording the first Steel power play marker of the weekend. Samoskevich, committed to the University of Michigan, gained control of the puck after a clearing attempt from Muskegon. Samoskevich deked out Lumberjacks forward Tanner Kelly, working to his right to release a wrister, his eighth goal of the season.

Muskegon got its first goal of the night from Nick Portz, a wrister that beat netminder Jack Stark on his blocker side just over two minutes later.

Jack Harvey extended his goals streak to three games as the Stacy, Minn., native put his club back in front. The Boston University commit helped initiate an offensive zone possession, feeding the puck to the middle of the ice after gaining the blue line. Harvey circled behind the net as the puck bounced from Jack Babbage to Andon Cerbone then eventually back to Harvey who fired a wrister into an open cage. The point-blank marker pushed the Steel lead to 2-1.

Chicago was credited with 18 shots on goal in the second period compared to Muskegon's eight shots in the middle frame.

Former Youngstown Phantom Bradley Marek tied the game at 2-2 shortly into the second, lifting a backhander past Stark from just outside the Steel crease, Marek 's tenth marker of the season.

The Steel responded with two goals just past the halfway point of the game.

Josh Doan notched his 22nd goal and 50th point of the season after a brilliant effort on the forecheck from Samoskevich and Erik Middendorf. Both forwards were credited with helpers as Doan skated to his left and shot right, lighting the lamp for a 3-2 score in favor of the Steel.

Chicago showed its quick-strike ability under a minute later when Coronato ripped a wrister past a Muskegon defender and Reid for the milestone tally.

Gushchin scored his first goal of the game just over a minute later, pulling the Lumberjacks back to within one goal at the 14:54 mark of the second.

The Lumberjacks tied the game 4-4 early in the third period when Gushchin, the Lumberjacks leading scorer and San Jose Sharks prospect, gathered a puck from Kyle Aucoin and flashed a lightning-quick forehand backhand move to beat Stark.

Sean Farrell took the lead back for Chicago 33 seconds later. The Montreal Canadiens prospect found a sliver of daylight through Reid as he scored on an opportunity just below the left circle.

The advantage was short-lived as Hank Kempf, a Chicago, Ill., native, tied the game for Muskegon with his fourth goal of the season. The Cornell University commit collected a puck and let go a wrister from the left circle, deflecting off traffic in front of the net to draw his team even at 5-5.

Gushchin's third goal of the night less than a minute later proved to be the game-winner. With his linemates driving both sides of the net, Gushchin put a shot on net from almost the same location as Kempf, a puck that found its way past Stark for the first Lumberjacks lead of the weekend set with just over 11 minutes remaining in the third.

Despite allowing 18 Chicago shots in the second, the Lumberjacks held the Steel to just six shots on goal in the third period. Christophe Tellier sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the late stages. Stark suffered his first loss between the Steel pipes, making 15 saves in the loss. The netminder from Chaska, Minn., is now 6-1-0-0 on the season.

The weekend concludes with Chicago's eighth consecutive road contest, a 3:00 pm CT clash against Team USA (U18) at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., on Sunday, March 7.

Chicago Steel games can 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).

Chicago Steel Upcoming Games presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Sunday, March 7 at Team USA (U18) (3:00 pm CT)

Friday, March 12 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) presented by Christ Community Church

Saturday, March 13 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) presented by Christ Community Church

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

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