USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Offense Pours It on with 8-4 Win over Youngstown

Published on November 26, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Chicago Steel (14-2-4-0; 32 pts.) used quick-strike offense to secure an 8-4 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms (8-8-0-2; 18 pts.) at Covelli Centre on Friday night, the highest-scoring game of the season for the Steel.

Jake Livanavage and Jayden Perron netted power play tallies within 61 seconds of each other in the opening frame and Joe Miller and Luke Levandowski recorded goals that were separated by just 42 seconds late in the second period. Adam Fantilli and Sam Lipkin teamed up for a pair of shorthanded goals exactly a minute apart in the final frame to pull away from Youngstown on Friday night.

Rookie Steel netminder Christian Manz made his USHL debut on Friday, turning away 37 shots from Youngstown to earn his first victory in the league.

The fast start for Chicago began with Miller, who entered Friday's game as one of the hottest players on the team, extending his current point streak to seven games with the contest's first goal. Miller slammed home a cross-ice feed from Jayden Perron from the left circle of the offensive zone, his first of the game.

The Steel doubled their lead on a power play tally from Jake Livanavage, his first of the season.

The University of North Dakota commit was left all alone in the right circle, firing a one-timer to the back of the net on a feed from Sam Lipkin.

Just over a minute later, Chicago took advantage of another power play opportunity. Perron, posted up in front of the Youngstown crease, got his stick on a shot from Luca Fantilli, re- directing his fifth goal of the year past Phantoms netminder Owen Bartoskiewicz.

William Whitelaw scored his first USHL goal for Youngstown, getting the Phantoms on the board just minutes before the end of the opening frame, sending the clubs to the first intermission with Chicago holding a 3-1 cushion.

Sam Lipkin gave the Steel another three-goal edge with a power play tally early in the second.

After puck movement from Jake Livanavage to Adam Fantilli in the right circle, Lipkin picked up a loose puck and tucked home his 11th goal of the season, the third power play marker of the game for Chicago, tied for the most in a single game this season.

The Phantoms fired back with a power play goal of their own, as Jaden Grant got his elevated stick on a shot from Trey Taylor, changing the flight of the puck to beat Manz, making the score 4-2 with the Steel holding the edge.

Morgan Winters piled on to the comeback attempt, pulling Youngstown to within a goal late in the second. Winters gathered a pass for a split second in the right circle before letting go a wrister with enough heat to beat Manz, cutting the deficit to 4-3 in favor of the Steel.

Chicago's quick-strike ability was out in full force to finish the middle frame with two markers in a span of 42 seconds to put the Steel up 6-3 seemingly out of nowhere.

Joe Miller netted his second goal of the game on a 2-on-2 rush with Adam Fantilli. After a backhand feed from Fantilli, Miller's quick trigger on the forehand reached the back of the net.

An all-Minnesota connection finished the scoring outburst as Eden Prairie native Jackson Blake found Jack Harvey, a Stacy native, who kept possession of the puck along the right wing wall of the Steel offensive zone. Harvey was able to thread a pass to a hard-charging Luke Levandowski, a Rosemount native, behind the Youngstown defense as Levandowski secured his third consecutive game with a goal.

The Phantoms wouldn't go quietly on home ice, netting the first goal of the final frame. Winter Wallace was lurking in front of the Steel crease to clean up a rebound after Justin Varner tried a stuff attempt on Manz to pull Youngstown within two goals with just over 10 minutes to play in regulation.

The final Steel offensive outburst consisted of two shorthanded markers from the top goal- scorers on the team within 60 seconds of each other.

Adam Fantilli with an outstanding individual effort powered his way down the left side of the offensive zone to tally his 15th goal of the season before Michael Emerson sauced a puck to Sam Lipkin on a shorthanded 2-on-1 chance just 60 seconds later. Lipkin rocketed home his second goal of the night.

With the 8- 4 win, Chicago registered the club's highest scoring game of the year.

The Steel wrap up the two-game weekend with a matchup against Team USA (U18) on Sunday, Nov. 28 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan with puck drop scheduled for 3:05 pm CT.

Tickets for the next Steel home game on Saturday, December 3 against the Dubuque Fighting Saints for Turtle Race Night start at just $10 and are available in person at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL and online at chicagosteelhockeyteam.com. The Steel now offer single-game ticket discounts for kids 12 and under and military.

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, December 3 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) Turtle Races

Saturday, December 11 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (7:05 pm CT) Winterfest Presented by Illinois Aviation Academy with Special Jersey Auction to Benefit Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association | Post-Game Skate

Saturday, December 18 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT) Scooby-Doo Night | Family Pack Game

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