Steel Return Home for Playoff Push
Published on March 10, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - After wrapping up a stretch of eight consecutive road games, the Chicago Steel (25-9-3-1; 54 pts.) return to Fox Valley Ice Arena for a three-game home set this weekend, the first home games since February 14.
The Steel, currently first place in the Eastern Conference, host two games against the Green Bay Gamblers on Friday, Mar. 12 and Saturday, Mar. 13 with both contests starting at 7:05 pm CT. The weekend concludes when Team USA (U17) visits Fox Valley Ice Arena on Sunday, Mar. 14 at 3:05 pm CT.
Beginning with Friday's matchup, 12 of the final 16 games on the Steel schedule are home contests.
Last weekend, the top two players in the USHL points race, Steel forwards Sean Farrell and Matt Coronato, added milestones to their impressive Steel careers.
Farrell, already the Steel franchise leader in career assists, claimed sole possession of the all-time points lead with a marker on Friday, giving the Hopkinton, Mass. native 125 points (36G, 89A) through 79 career games for the Steel.
Coronato notched his 33rd goal of the season on Saturday in just his 35th game of the year to set the single-season goal-scoring record for Chicago. Coronato passed Andrew Miller (Steel 2002-2005) who tallied 32 goals in 58 games during the 2008-2009. A Harvard University-bound forward, Coronato recently became the all-time Steel leader in career goals.
The Steel earned three out of a possible six points last weekend, facing two of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference. Chicago split a two-game set against the Muskegon Lumberjacks with a 6-3 victory on March 5 before falling 7-5 against the Lumberjacks on March 6. Chicago pushed Team USA (U18) to a shootout but fell 5-4 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., on March 7.
The Gamblers enter the weekend in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 22-10-0-2 (46 pts.) record, just one point behind the Muskegon Lumberjacks with three fewer games played. Mason Lohrei leads the Gamblers with 46 points (15G, 31A), the fifth-most in the USHL behind four Steel players. Lohrei, selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round (#58 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, is the only defenseman currently leading his club in scoring.
In six matchups against Green Bay this season, the Steel are 5-1-0-0. Matt Coronato has registered four multi-point performances through those games including a five-point outing (3G, 2A) in his most recent action against the Gamblers during a 9-3 victory on Feb. 6 at Resch Center in Wisconsin.
Team USA (U17) brings the third-highest scoring average in the USHL to Fox Valley Ice Arena on Sunday, March 14 for a 3:05 pm CT puck drop. The Steel prevailed 4-3 in overtime on Feb. 21 at USA Hockey Arena in the clubs' most recent clash. Steel forward Mackie Samoskevich tallied the overtime game winner after Team USA forward Logan Cooley tallied two goals in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit, forcing the extra frame. Cooley, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., is committed to Notre Dame University.
Following the three games this weekend, Chicago faces the Dubuque Fighting Saints in a home-and-home set beginning Friday, March 19 in Dubuque.
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, March 12 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) presented by Christ Community Church
Saturday, March 13 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) presented by Christ Community Church
Sunday, March 14 vs. Team USA (U17) (3:05 pm CT) presented by Christ Community Church
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2021
- Stampede Allow Six Goals in First in 9-4 Loss - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Gameday Preview: vs. Sioux Falls - Lincoln Stars
- Broz Named USHL Co-Forward of the Week - Fargo Force
- Schmid Named USHL Goaltender of the Week - Sioux City Musketeers
- Fighting Saints to Play Team USA NTDP on March 25 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Week 19 Preview - Fargo Force
- Steel Return Home for Playoff Push - Chicago Steel
- Nick Strom: A Leader on and off the Ice - Fargo Force
- Lancers Edge Black Hawks, 4-3 - Omaha Lancers
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