Sports stats

USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Fall To Lumberjacks 10-8 In Wild Season Opener

November 15, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The 2020-2021 Chicago Steel season started with offensive fireworks Saturday night as the Steel (0-1-0-0, 0 pts.) fell to the Muskegon Lumberjacks (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.) by a score of 10-8 at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

In a game that featured 18 goals, 12 of which were scored before the game's halfway point, Muskegon forwards Tyler Dunbar and Danil Gushchin each notched hat trick s and Dunbar's game- winning goal with less than three minutes to play spoiled Chicago's opener.

The Steel were an impressive 5 of 6 on the powerplay in defeat.

The Steel fell shorthanded just 24 seconds into the contest but were able to cancel out the slashing infraction called on Sean Farrell. The Montreal Canadiens draft pick would make good on his mistake later in the contest with a multi-goal effort.

Just short of five minutes into the game, the Steel got their first marker from defenseman Jack Babbage. The Tully, New York, native deposited a pass from Mackie Samoskevich on a 2-on-1 rush beating Muskegon netminder Christian Stoever on his blocker side.

Farrell reached the scoresheet just over two minutes after Babbage. The Harvard University commit fired home a one-timer off a pass from blueliner, Ryan Ufko. The power-play tally extended the Steel lead to 2-0.

Soon after, the Lumberjacks got their first marker of the night from John Farinacci, a goal scored on the Muskegon power play, to quickly cut the early deficit in half.

After the Lumberjack tally, Steel forward Matt Coronato capitalized on a scramble in front of the net. Coronato, celebrating his 18th birthday, found himself behind Stoever to tap home a rebound off a shot from Farrell for another Steel power-play goal.

Despite the early barrage from Chicago, the Lumberjacks were able to change the momentum to end the period thanks to Gushchin. The 2020 San Jose Sharks draft pick showed his scoring touch with two goals just 47 seconds apart, sending the teams into the first intermission tied 3-3.

The flow of the game favored the visitors to open the middle frame as the puck took an unpredictable bounce past Chicago goaltender Ian Shane to give Muskegon a 4-3 edge before Farrell answered for Chicago.

The 5-foot-9, 174-pound forward notched his second power-play marker of the night with a wrister from the right circle, besting the new Muskegon netminder, Jan Skorpik, who relieved Stoever late in the first period.

Despite the Steel fighting back to tie the game, the Lumberjacks attempted to pull away. The next two goals were scored by Muskegon - a tally from Cameron Berg and a power-play marker from Hank Kampf, the Wilmette, Ill., native.

Coronato then forced a turnover for the Steel at the Muskegon blue line and broke in all alone, beating Skorpik through the five-hole to cut the deficit to one halfway through the second period.

Just over a minute later, Ryan Ufko hammered a shot that went bar down from just above the circles. The power-play goal gave Ufko his third point of the night (1G, 2A), a career-best.

The back-and-forth scoring battle continued with Muskegon jumping in front once again. Dunbar put the visitors ahead by an 7-6 margin when he tucked home his first goal of the game, a marker with just 17 seconds left in the second period.

As the final period of play began, the scoring kept up a blistering pace. Steel forward Erik Middendorf tied the game when he fired home a slapshot from the right circle. The Scottsdale, Ari., native beat Skorpik's glove for his first marker of the year.

Dunbar added his second goal of the night just two minutes later, giving the Lumberjacks their fourth one-goal lead of the contest.

With under eight minutes left, Chicago rookie forward Jackson Blake scored his first USHL goal.

Samoskevich initiated the play, out-striding two Lumberjack defenders from his own blue line to break in all alone on Skorpik. A diving poke check from the netminder jarred the puck right to a trailing Blake who tapped home the game-tying goal for the home team.

Tied 8-8, it was Dunbar who capped his hat trick with a game-winning goal that came with just over two minutes left in regulation. With under a mninute to play, Gushchin was able to find an empty Chicago net to seal a 10-8 victory for Muskegon.

Chicago netminder Ian Shane stopped a total of 32 shots between the Steel pipes, just one shy of his career best. Chicago kept pace with the Lumberjacks despite being outshot by a 41-27 margin.

The Steel return to action on home ice against the Green Bay Gamblers, the first of three matchups versus Green Bay over a six-day span.

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:

Friday, November 20 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)

Saturday, November 21 @ Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)

Wednesday, November 25 @ Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)

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

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2020


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.

Other Recent Chicago Steel Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central