USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Erase Three-Goal Deficit, Best Cedar Rapids 6-4

Published on December 10, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - In an early candidate for USHL 'Game of the Year', the Chicago Steel (16-4-4-0; 36 pts.) completed a three-goal comeback to take down the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (9-11-0-0; 18 pts.) by a 6-4 final at ImOn Ice Arena in Iowa on Friday night.

Cedar Rapids scored the game's first three goals and held a 4-1 advantage after the first period, but Adam Fantilli jumpstarted the Steel comeback with a shorthanded goal in the middle frame, the first of five straight Steel markers. Fantilli was one of five Steel goal-scorers in the game. Joe Miller extended his career-best point streak to 11 games with a goal and two assists while netminder Christian Manz turned away all 19 shots faced in a relief appearance over the final two periods.

Cedar Rapids' scoring binge began on a power play with Conor Lovett in the right place at the right time, tucking home a rebound off the pad of starting Steel netminder Gibson Homer for the first goal of the game.

The Steel deficit doubled with a quick strike just over a minute later from Nate Hanley. The RoughRiders forward gained control of a loose puck after multiple close-range follow up chances from Cedar Rapids, beating Homer for his fifth of the season.

Hanley doubled down with his second goal of the night late in the first, a breakaway from the blue line in, besting Homer on his glove side to make it 3-0.

Led by an effort to initiate the physical aspect of the game, Adam Fantilli accounted for two big hits leading to the first Steel goal of the game from Joe Miller. Fantilli took RoughRiders forward Cole Burtch off his feet in the neutral zone, gaining possession for the Steel. After Jayden Perron drew a delayed Cedar Rapids penalty, the Steel added the extra attacker and took advantage as Jake Livanavage left a puck deep in the offensive zone for Miller who wristed home his 10th goal of the year.

The Chicago momentum was short-lived with Cedar Rapids netting its fourth goal of the game exactly one minute later, Robert Flinton picked up his fourth of the year with under a minute to play in the opening frame.

Entering the second period, Steel netminder Christian Manz took over in net for Homer and along with tighter defensive coverage, the Steel offense took flight.

On a penalty kill just past the halfway point of the middle frame, Adam Fantilli pickpocketed a RoughRiders skater in the Steel defensive zone, leading an odd-man rush with Miller. Fantilli fed Miller who sent the puck back to Fantilli, potting his league-leading 18th goal of the year.

Chicago benefitted from special teams once again late in the second period, this time with Jackson Blake netting a power play tally. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect used a quick giveand-go setup with Sam Lipkin who parked himself in front of the Cedar Rapids crease as Blake found the empty cage to cut the deficit to one.

Before the RoughRiders could catch their breath, Steel defenseman Lukas Gustafsson lit the lamp with his fifth of the year, bringing Chicago all the way back from a 4-1 deficit to a 4-4 tie just 30 seconds after Blake's power play goal. Controlling a feed from Andon Cerbone, Gustafsson let fly a one-timer from just above the left circle to beat Cedar Rapids goaltender Connor Hasley.

After flipping the momentum from the first period to the second, Chicago took the lead for the first and final time early in the third.

Off an offensive zone faceoff win, Sam Lipkin made his way to the front of the night while Jake Livanavage worked the puck around the perimeter to Joe Miller who breezed to the right side of the crease. Miller dished a pass to Lipkin who flipped a shot past Hasley for his 15th of the year, the second-most on the team.

The best chance for Cedar Rapids to mount a comeback of its own came on a man advantage halfway through the third. From the left point, forward Travis Shoudy wired a shot that rang off the post to the right of Manz but out of danger for Chicago.

With both teams physically and emotionally spent, Hasley vacated the RoughRiders net with just under two minutes remaining to gain an extra attacker.

On a zone entry in the final minute of play, Jackson Blake picked off a pass and sent an empty net goal the length of the ice to seal a brilliant 6-4 comeback win for the visiting team.

The Steel win was the first in Cedar Rapids since December 7, 2019 when Chicago prevailed in a 4-3 battle, another comeback victory.

The first-place Steel return to home ice on Saturday, Dec. 11 when Chicago takes on the Muskegon Lumberjacks for Winterfest presented by Illinois Aviation Academy with a Special Jersey Auction to benefit Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association.

The Steel will be wearing one-of-a-kind red jerseys with white shoulders and a white border on the waist that turns into snowflakes as it raises towards STEEL spelled out of metal plates with a string of Christmas lights intertwined. The game-worn jerseys will be signed by each individual player and awarded to the highest bidder with the online auction running from Thursday, Dec. 9 through Thursday, Dec. 16. After the game, fans are invited for a Post-Game Skate on the Fox Valley Ice Arena ice surface.

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:

Saturday, December 11 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (7:05 pm CT) Winterfest presented by Illinois Aviation Academy with Special Jersey Auction to Benefit Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association | Post-Game Skate

Saturday, December 18 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT) Scooby-Doo Night | Family Pack Game

Thursday, December 30 vs. Madison Capitols (6:05 pm CT) GIVEAWAY - Steel Lunchbox Cooler

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2021


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