Steel Close Preseason with 6-2 Loss to Flying Aces
September 22, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - In the final tune-up before the regular season begins this coming Thursday, the Chicago Steel (1-2-1-0, 3 pts. preseason) fell 6-2 to the Central Illinois Flying Aces (3-2-0-0, 6 pts.) Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena. Steel goaltender Reilly Herbst made 40 saves overall including 30 through the first two periods. Nick Abruzzese and Owen Power scored for Chicago.
Central Illinois opened the scoring 5:44 into the game when forward Jeremy Davidson pounced on a rebound and sent the puck past Herbst.
Abruzzese tied the game with a power play goal midway through the period. After defenseman Matteo Pietroniro's shot just missed the crossbar, the puck careened off the end board and back to the front of the net where Abruzzese batted it out of midair and into the back of the net.
The Flying Aces struck twice in quick succession in the final two minutes of the period to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. Max Ellis scored during a long stint of four-on-four play with 1:34 to play in the first and Tate Singleton finished off a net-front scramble 57 seconds later.
After a successful 5-on-3 penalty kill by the Steel, the Flying Aces' Ellis extended his team's lead to 4-1 when he struck on the power play 7:02 into the into the second period.
Chicago defenseman Power brought the score within two with 16:03 to play in the third period, whipping a snap shot from the near faceoff dot under the blocker of Central Illinois goaltender Mitchell Gibson. Left wing Jake Schmaltz started the play with a blocked shot in his own zone before right wing Treloar skated the neutral zone and sent a cross-ice pass to Power.
The Flying Aces regained the three-goal lead 2:32 later when forward Cal Kiefiuk finished off a pretty tic-tac-toe play with Singleton and forward Trevor Janicke. They would extend the lead to 6-2 with 1:15 to play in the game.
The Steel struck for a power play goal in their second-straight game while the Flying Aces added one of their own in the contest.
The Steel open the regular season this coming Thursday at the USHL Fall Classic in Cranberry Township, Penn. Chicago will take on Des Moines on Thursday, Sept. 27 and Lincoln on Friday, Sept. 28.
Opening Weekend at Fox Valley Ice Arena is October 5 and 6. The home opener is Friday, Oct. 5 presented by McCue Chevy and the first 500 fans will receive Touch Screen Gloves when the Steel host Cedar Rapids. On Saturday, Oct. 6, the Steel host Green Bay and the first 500 fans will receive a Magnet Schedule courtesy of 95.9 The River. It's the first Steel Family Pack Game of the season with a special deal for four tickets, hot dogs, sodas and chuck-a-pucks starting at just $48.
Tickets for all Steel home games are on sale now starting at just $10. Season ticket plans, starting at just 5 games for $45 are on sale now and fans are encouraged to participate in Mini Plan Mania with great weekly prizes through September 28.
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from September 22, 2018
- Saints Close Preseason with Loss to Green Bay - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Steel Close Preseason with 6-2 Loss to Flying Aces - Chicago Steel
- Stampede Close out Preseason with OT Win over Fargo - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hawks Win Final Preseason Tilt - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel Ground Flying Aces with 5-2 Win - Chicago Steel
- Tri-City Drops Final Game of Preseason to Lincoln - Tri-City Storm
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