USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Offense Enjoys Big Day in 6-3 Win over Team USA

Published on March 14, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (27-10-3-1; 58 pts.) showed off their offensive depth with six different goal scorers in a 6-3 victory over Team USA (U17) (17-13-3-3; 40 pts.) Sunday afternoon at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

With its second win in three days, Chicago earned four out of a possible six points in the weekend homestand.

Steel goaltender Simon Latkoczy made 34 saves in the victory, matching his season high and improving his record to 6-2-0-1 in nine appearances for Chicago.

The Steel offense set the tone early with a three-goal first period, highlighted by excellent vision from captain Erik Middendorf who had two helpers in the opening frame.

On his first assist, Middendorf carried the puck on the left wing boards into the Steel zone, finding Mackie Samoskevich all alone on the right side. Samoskevich caught the pass and had enough time for two strides before ripping a wrist shot past Team USA netminder Cameron Korpi, netting the first goal of the game at the 4:41 mark.

Jack Harvey entered Sunday's contest with a six-game point streak for the Steel, the longest active streak on the team, and extended it early in first period. The Stacy, Minn., native used a screen from Josh Doan as he lifted a puck from the right circle to extend the Steel lead to 2-0.

With time running short in the opening frame, Chicago tacked on a third goal, once again thanks to the playmaking ability of Middendorf. The Michigan State University-bound forward wrapped a pass around a Team USA defender, connecting with Matt Coronato who one-touched the puck past Korpi's glove.

With the goal, Coronato extended his league lead in goals to 36, 16 markers ahead of the closest non-Steel player in the USHL.

Penalty trouble for Chicago in the middle frame allowed Team USA to get on the board when the Steel were whistled for infractions just 20 seconds apart, giving Team USA a lengthy opportunity for a 5-on-3 power play.

Jimmy Snuggerud took advantage just before time ran out on the first infraction, ripping a low wrist shot for his team's first marker of the game.

With the score at 3-1, a pair of Steel defensemen helped stretch the lead in the middle of the second period.

Ian Moore tallied a power play goal just over two minutes after Team USA's marker. The Harvard University-bound blueliner collected the puck after Coronato won an offensive zone

faceoff, using Coronato as a screen. Moore released his wrister right around Coronato for his seventh goal of the season.to extend the Steel lead to 4-1,

Soon after, Jack Bar lit the lamp for the fifth time this season, a one-timer from the slot after a feed from Adam Fantilli which beat Team USA goalie Kaidan Mbereko shortly after he replaced Korpi.

Andre Gasseau pulled Team USA to within three goals after he netted a marker on a line rush.

The Boston College commit was set up with a cross- ice feed from Jeremy Wilmer, Gasseau's second goal of the season.

The Steel entered the third period protecting a three-goal margin and stretched the advantage to four goals with the scoring touch of the USHL's top point-getter, Sean Farrell.

After Josh Doan gained the offensive zone, he found Farrell lurking in the right circle with a backhand feed. Farrell one-timed the puck for his 24th goal of the year, giving him 74 points (24G, 50A) during the 2020-2021 slate.

Team USA's Cole Spicer picked up a goal late in the third to cap the scoring.

The Steel capitalized on their only power play chance in the contest, ending a scoreless stretch on the man advantage for the past three games.

With the win, Chicago's lead in the Eastern Conference stands at 10 points over the Green Bay Gamblers (23-11-0-2; 48 pts.) with six weeks remaining in the regular season.

The Steel return to action with a home-and-home set against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Friday, March 19 & Saturday, March 20. Both Friday's matchup at Mystique Community Ice Center and Saturday's showdown at Fox Valley Ice Arena are set for 7:05 pm CT puck drops.

Chicago Steel games can 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 presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Friday, March 19 at Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT)

Saturday, March 20 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) presented by Meyer Signs and Graphics

Friday, March 26 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) presented by Waubonsee Community College

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

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics

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