Offensive Fireworks Secure 10-3 Steel Victory
February 16, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - With five goals in a fast and furious first period, the Chicago Steel (34-7- 1-0, 69 pts) powered their way to a 10-3 victory against the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (22-17-1-0, 45 pts) at Fox Valley Ice Arena on Sunday afternoon.
With the win against Team USA U17, Chicago sealed its second consecutive 3-game weekend sweep, earning victories in their last six matchups dating back to Feb. 7.
"I think we've been very consistent in our game, tonight was a tough challenge," said Steel Head Coach Brock Sheahan. "That team is really skilled. When you give them chances, they can score goals as we saw last night. I thought we stuck with our gameplan."
For the second straight matchup, Team USA opened the scoring against Chicago. On this afternoon, it was Sasha Pastujov who lit the lamp for the visitors when he gathered a puck near the end line and beat Chicago netminder Victor Ostman to take a 1-0 lead.
After Saturday's game when the Steel responded to USA's opening goal with five straight goals, on Sunday Chicago responded with an offensive flurry of seven straight tallies.
Forward Matt Coronato tucked home the first of the seven consecutive goals when he roofed a wrister from the goal line. Despite appearing to have no angle to score, the Harvard-bound forward beat Team USA netminder Kaidan Mbereko top shelf for the first of his two goals in the game.
The team leader in goals and points, Matty De St. Phalle, ended a lengthy power-play drought for the Steel when he cranked home a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle in the first period. The marker with the man advantage was the first for the Steel since Feb. 1.
Defenseman Ryan Ufko got his second goal of the season when he unleashed a one-timer from the left point with four minutes to go in the first.
"We've had a lot of motivation behind these games against (Team USA), especially since we dropped one earlier to them earlier in the year, " said Ufko.
Coronato added his second marker of the night when he picked up a loose puck on the rush in front of the Team USA crease, his third goal in the last two games.
Before the buzzer sounded on the opening 20 minutes, Mackie Samoskevich was the recipient of perfect passing from De St. Phalle and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine that left Samoskevich with a tap-in to an open cage from the right side.
The five-goal opening frame matched a season-best first period output for the Steel this season.
After the break, Sam Colangelo and Liam Devlin added to the lead.
Colangelo secured a second power-play goal for the club just shy of five minutes into the middle frame. The marker gave Colangelo goals in back-to-back contests and 21 tallies on the season.
On the right side of the crease, Devlin powered a puck home just a minute and a half later, extending the Chicago advantage to 7-1.
All seven goals came in a stretch of just over 19 minutes ranging from the first period to the second, before Team USA picked up its first goal since the opening tally.
Ethan Straky reached the scoreboard with his second goal of the season and Ryan St. Louis tucked home his seventh in his 23 games played but that was all visiting team would manage.
Just 38 seconds into the third period, Samoskevich made his mark on the game once again, registering his career-best fourth point with an assist on another De St. Phalle goal.
Samoskevich took a pass and weaved through two defenders before dishing a pass to De St.
Phalle waiting on the left side doorstep to make it 8-3.
"I think it's playing with speed that makes the game way easier," said Samoskevich "If you have confidence with it, it'll make it that much easier."
Colangelo added his second goal of the game with just under five minutes remaining in the game and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine notched his career-best 21st goal before time ran out, giving the Steel a 10-3 margin of victory, the third time this season Chicago scored in double-digits.
Chicago sits alone in first place in the USHL with 34-7-1-0 record (69 pts) including a 16-5-1-0 mark at the Fox Valley Ice Arena this season.
Chicago hits the road for its next four matchups but returns to Fox Valley Ice Arena on Sat., Feb. 29 for Teddy Bear Toss presented by Geneva Family Dental. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to toss onto the ice after the team's first goal to be donated to charity.
Chicago 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). Chicago Steel Upcoming Games: Sat., Feb. 22 at Waterloo Black Hawks 7:05 pm Sun., Feb. 23 at Madison Capitols 3:05 pm Wed., Feb. 26 at Youngstown Phantoms 9:30 am
For more information and to purchase Steel tickets, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2020
- Herd Falls 3-2 in Shootout with Omaha Lancers - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Offensive Fireworks Secure 10-3 Steel Victory - Chicago Steel
- Storm Complete Sweep of Capitols in 5-0 Shutout Win - Tri-City Storm
- Capitols Shutout in Weekend Finale - Madison Capitols
- Preview: Storm Seek Weekend Sweep over Capitols - Tri-City Storm
- Four Second Period Goals Spark Steel To Fifth Straight Win - Chicago Steel
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
