USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Finish Road Trip with 5-1 Loss against Youngstown

Published on October 31, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Chicago Steel (8-2-3-0; 19 pts.) finished their three-game weekend with a 5-1 loss against the Youngstown Phantoms (4-6-0-1; 9 pts.) on Sunday afternoon at Covelli Centre in Ohio.

It was the first time since Feb. 14 & 19, 2021 that the Steel lost back-to-back regulation games. Phantoms netminder Kyle Chauvette made 24 saves to earn the victory while Kyle Bettens, Grant Porter, Jaden Grant, Ryan Alexander and Justin Varner scored goals for Youngstown.

Steel forward Adam Fantilli scored the lone Chicago goal, a marker on a man advantage.

Youngstown sandwiched goals in the first minute of the opening frame and last minute of play, taking a 2-0 cushion to the dressing room after the first.

The first Phantom goal came after a fortuitous bounce off a partition behind the Steel net. A loose puck bounced out in front past Steel netminder Gibson Homer, within the reach of Kyle Bettens who buried his third goal of the season.

Chauvette made his presence felt early with a timely stop to keep the momentum on the side of his team. Chauvette maneuvered from his left to right, stopping a one-time shot from Mick Thompson just past the halfway point of the first.

Grant Porter closed the first for Youngstown by scoring his first goal of the season with just under a minute to play.

With both teams playing their third game in as many days, fatigue became a factor as the pace slowed in the middle frame.

The teams combined for just 16 shots with Jaden Grant scoring the only goal of the second, a re-direct off a shot from the point with just under three minutes remaining in the period.

Ryan Alexander helped the Phantoms separate even further with a wrist shot off a two-on-one rush, giving Youngstown a 4-0 lead, its largest margin of the evening.

Outdoing his own save in the first period, Chauvette dazzled with a point-blank, glove save on Steel rookie Zam Plante to snuff out any hope of a comeback for the Steel with six minutes to play.

Fantilli charted his sixth goal of the season, a goal on a power play, with just under three minutes left to erase the shutout bid for Chauvette.

Phantoms forward Justin Varner popped the empty net to cap the scoring for the home team. Chicago returns to home ice on Friday, November 5 at 7:05 pm CT against the Green Bay Gamblers for Hockey is for Everyone Night and Saturday, November 6 at 7:05 pm CT for Top Gun Night against the Dubuque Fighting Saints with an Aviator Sunglasses Giveaway for the first 500 fans. After the Saturday night game, fans are invited to take the ice for a post-game skate.

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:

Friday, November 5 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Hockey Is For Everyone

Saturday, November 6 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) Top Gun Night | GIVEAWAY - Steel Aviator Sunglasses (First 500 fans) | Post-Game Skate

Saturday, November 13 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (7:05 pm CT) Superheroes and Villains | Family Pack Game

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2021


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