Steel Host RoughRiders for Tuesday Night Showdown
December 3, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel will put their seven-game winning streak on the line when the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders come to town Tuesday night.
The Steel (11-7-1-0, 23 pts.) come into the Tuesday night matchup with the win streak that dates back to November 10. Chicago and Cedar Rapids (10-9-2-0, 22 pts.) meet for the fourth time this season as the Steel lead the season series 2-1-0-0 and have won the last two match-ups.
In the last meeting between the teams, Chicago scored three unanswered goals to erase a Aiden McDonough goal just 71 seconds into the game en route to a 3-1 win on Friday, Nov. 23. Forwards Christian Sarlo, Neil Shea and Travis Treloar scored in the win as goaltender Justin Robbins made 12 saves on 13 shots faced in the win.
The teams split the first two meetings with the road team winning both games. The Steel won an overtime thriller on Saturday, Oct. 27 as forwards Robert Mastrosimone and Cole Quisenberry each scored twice to lead the Steel to a 4-3 win. Chicago tied the game three times before Mastrosimone struck 35 seconds into overtime. Cedar Rapids won the first meeting of the season as they spoiled Chicago's Home Opener when Blake Pietilla saved all 29 shots he faced in the shutout win.
Forward Nick Abruzzese, who was named USHL Forward of the Week on Monday, leads the Steel with three points (0-3-3) this season against the RoughRiders. Forwards Mastrosimone (2-0-2), Quisenberry (2-0-2), Treloar (1-1-2) and Shea (1-1-2) as well as defenseman Luke Reid (0-2-2) all have two points against Cedar Rapids this season.
The Steel will be without Mastrosimone, who is representing Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge, for six games beginning with Tuesday night's game. The Steel will also be without forward Josh Groll who is serving a one-game suspension stemming from an altercation during Saturday's game against Central Illinois.
The RoughRiders are currently led by forwards Liam Walsh (7-7-14) and Nathan Smith (2-12-14) who each have 14 points in 21 games this season. The other four skaters with double-digit point totals are all forwards as the leading defenseman Will Zmolek (1-7-8) has eight points this season. Cedar Rapids will be without leading goaltender Blake Pietila who has played in 18 games this season and currently has a 9-7-2-0 record with a 2.99 goals against average and .901 save percentage. Like the Steel's Mastrosimone, Pietela will also be representing the USA at the World Junior A Challenge. Forward Grant Silianoff (21 games, 6-6-12) and defenseman Mitchell Miller (21 games, 2-5-7) will also miss Tuesday's game.
Tickets for Tuesday's game are on sale now starting at just $10 with stadium seating on the glass still available for just $20. Parking is always free.
The Steel have two games this weekend including a road game Friday, Dec. 7 against Des Moines (12-8-1-1, 26 pts.) and then a home game Saturday, Dec. 8 against the Omaha Lancers (6-12-0-2, 14 pts.).
STEEL NOTES:
* Chicago center Adam Robbins collected a goal and an assist this weekend to extend his point streak to eight games (5-6-11). His eight-game point streak is the fourth longest current point streak in the league and the longest since Johnny Walker had a nine game point streak (8-3-11) from October 8 to November 4, 2016.
* Center Nick Abruzzese is currently on his second five-game point streak (3-6-9) of the season. He previously had a streak (2-7-9) from October 19 to November 3 of this season.
* Forwards Neil Shea (0-3-3) and Matheiu De St. Phalle (1-2-3) each picked up three points last weekend while Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (0-2-2) chipped in a pair of assists.
* Forward Christian Sarlo (4-2-6) has scored in five of the seven games he has appeared in this season since joining the team on November 9.
* Goaltender Reilly Herbst was named USHL Goalie of the Week after he made 20 saves in a 5-1 win over Central Illinois Saturday night.
MEET THE OPPONENTS:
* The Steel and RoughRiders meet for the fourth time this season when the team's battle Tuesday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
* Cedar Rapids (10-9-2-0, 22 pts.) is currently 4th in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Steel.
* Goaltender Blake Pietila holds a 9-7-2-0 record this season with a 2.99 goals against average and .901 save percentage but he will miss Tuesday's game as he represents Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge. Troy Kobryn has appeared in three games and has a 1-1-0-0 record with a 3.84 goals against average and .868 save percentage. He was saddled with the November 23 loss against Chicago in a 3-1 loss to the Steel.
* Forwards Liam Walsh (7-7-14) and Nathan Smith (2-12-14) are tied for the team lead with 14 points this season.
LAST WEEK:
Friday, Nov. 30 vs. Central Illinois, W, 5-4 RECAP / STATS
Saturday, Dec. 1 at Central Illinois, W, 5-1 RECAP / STATS
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 3, 2018
- Steel Host RoughRiders for Tuesday Night Showdown - Chicago Steel
- Storm Captain Ronnie Attard Named USHL Defenseman of Week - Tri-City Storm
- USHL Names Players of the Week for Week 10 - USHL
- Abruzzese, Herbst Named Players of the Week - Chicago Steel
- Stars Name Pugliese to be New Director of Player Personnel - Lincoln Stars
- Stars to Hold Teddy Bear Toss December 8th vs Des Moines - Lincoln Stars
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