Steel First USHL Team to Clinch Playoff Berth
April 3, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL) - Chicago Steel News Release
DUBUQUE, IOWA - With a 7-2 win against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday night at Mystique Community Ice Center, the Chicago Steel (31-11-3-2; 67 pts.) became the first team in the USHL to clinch a berth in the 2021 Clark Cup Playoffs.
The Steel punched their ticket into the postseason for the fifth consecutive season, the longest active streak in the league.
Chicago's playoff run began in 2016-2017 when the Steel were the top seed in the Eastern Conference and defeated the Youngstown Phantoms, Dubuque Fighting Saints and Sioux City Musketeers to win the first Clark Cup Championship in team history.
The following year, the Steel defeated the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the First Round of the playoffs before falling to Team USA in the Conference Semifinals.
In 2018-2019, Chicago defeated the Cedar Rapids Roughriders and Muskegon Lumberjacks to win the Eastern Conference before losing to the Sioux Falls in the Clark Cup Final.
The playoff streak includes the 2019-2020 season which was canceled prior to the playoffs due to COVID-19. At the time the season was canceled, Chicago was the only USHL team to have already clinched a playoff spot and the Steel were awarded the first Anderson Cup in team history for winning the regular season championship.
This season, the top four teams from both the Eastern and Western Conference will compete for the Clark Cup with three rounds of postseason series to determine the champion.
The Conference Semifinals will be a best-of-three series with all three contests played at the venue of the higher (better) seed from Friday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2. The Steel could secure home ice advantage for this round by finishing first or second in the Eastern Conference.
The Conference Finals will be a best-of-three series with either a 1-1-1 or 1-2 format, as chosen by the higher seed, played from Thursday, May 6 through Monday, May 10.
The Clark Cup Final is scheduled to be a best-of-five series with a 2-2-1 format contested from Friday, May 14 through Tuesday, May 25, if necessary.
The Steel return to Fox Valley Ice Arena for a three-game homestand against the Youngstown Phantoms, Friday, April 9 at 7:05 pm CT, Saturday, April 10 at 7:05 pm CT and Sunday, April 11 at 3:05 pm CT. All three games are presented by McCue Chevy.
Tickets for all remaining regular season home game are on sale now by calling 855-51-STEEL, visiting ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com or at the Steel Box Office open at 10 a.m. on the day of each home game.
Chicago Steel games can be heard on Mixlr at http://mixlr.com/chicago-steel/ (FREE AUDIO) and video may be streamed on available devices through HockeyTV at www.hockeytv.com (STREAM).
Chicago Steel Upcoming Games presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Friday, April 9 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) presented by McCue Chevy
Saturday, April 10 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Military Appreciation Night with special jersey auction to benefit Wounded Warrior Project, presented by McCue Chevy
Sunday, April 11 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) presented by McCue Chevy
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2021
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- Storm Sweep Stampede for Sixth Straight Win - Tri-City Storm
- Stars Get Revenge against Musketeers, Win 3-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Des Moines Tops Hawks, 4-0 - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel's Offensive Prowess Overshadows Saints - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Steel Beat Dubuque 7-2 to Clinch Playoff Berth - Chicago Steel
- Steel First USHL Team to Clinch Playoff Berth - Chicago Steel
- Storm Set to Battle Stampede for Final Time this Season - Tri-City Storm
- Lumberjacks Head Coach Signs Contract Extension - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lancers Blank Force, 4-0 - Omaha Lancers
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