Steel Roll to 7-2 Win over Youngstown
March 19, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (31-11-7-1; 70 pts.) never trailed in a Saturday night showdown against the Youngstown Phantoms (22-17-5-4; 53 pts.), pulling away for a 7-2 victory on home ice at Fox Valley Ice Arena to give Chicago seven wins in its last eight games.
Steel rookie forward Chris Delaney picked up his first career USHL goal in the win and added a second marker later in the game, giving the Hopkinton, Mass., native nine points (2G, 7A) in his first USHL season.
Adam Fantilli extended his league lead in goals to 34 with a pair of markers in the win as Sam Lipkin, Jack Harvey and Zam Plante each added goals.
Chicago netminder Gibson Homer made 25 stops to improve his record to 13-5-6-0 in net this season.
The Steel struck early and kept the Phantoms at bay, starting with Steel co-captain Sam Lipkin.
Just over five minutes into the action, Jayden Perron and Andon Cerbone won a battle on the boards in the Steel offensive zone, directing the puck to Lipkin in the right circle. Lipkin, an Arizona Coyotes prospect, dragged the puck to his forehand around a Youngstown defender, letting go a wrister that beat Phantoms netminder Kyle Chauvette for his 26th marker of the season.
Delaney started his career night with a tally shortly after Lipkin broke the ice. Breaking to the net from the right circle, Delaney took a pass from Adam Fantilli and poked home a puck on a second chance, doubling the lead for the Steel.
Youngstown cut the deficit to one goal on a breakaway from forward Kyle Bettens. After a pass in the Steel offensive zone misfired, Bettens picked up the loose puck and went coast-to-coast, finishing the chance with a wrister for his 13th goal this year.
Heading into the middle frame with a one-goal cushion, the Steel kept up the offensive pressure with a trio of goals in a span of less than three minutes.
Fresh off his 50th career goal in the USHL in Friday night's game, Adam Fantilli benefitted from great work below the goal line by Jackson Blake. With a Phantom in possession of the puck, Blake took it away and immediately fed Fantilli who one-touched the puck past Chauvette.
Jack Harvey picked up the only Steel power play goal of the game just over a minute later. The Boston University commit caught a pass from Blake and fired a wrister from the left circle, picking the top right corner for his 20th of the year.
Delaney piled on with his second of the night, poking home a rebound to the left of Chauvette.
Michael Bianconi put a point-blank shot on net which was blockered away by the Youngstown netminder before Delaney pounced on the loose puck.
Chicago led 5-1 entering the final frame before Shane Lachance cut the deficit to 5-2 with his 10th goal of the season just before the midway point of the third.
Before Youngstown could capitalize on the momentum, Steel rookie forward Zam Plante extended the lead to 6-2. Using an offensive zone rush, Chicago defenseman Luca Fantilli spun a pass to Plante who took one swipe at the puck to blast a shot behind Chauvette.
Adam Fantilli sealed the win with a no-look shot on the right side of the Steel offensive zone.
With just over seven minutes to play, Fantilli and Lukas Gustafsson threatened with a 2-on-1 chance as Fantilli looked at Gustafsson but instead ripped a wrister home for his 34th goal of the year.
Chicago became the first team in the Eastern Conference to reach the 70-point plateau in the standings with the victory.
The Steel finish the weekend at home against the Youngstown Phantoms on Sunday, March 20 at 3:05 pm CT at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
Sunday, March 20 is Daddy Daughter Princess Day featuring Cinderella and a Steel Family Pack Game, a special ticket deal with four tickets, four hot dogs, four chips, four sodas/waters and four chuck-a-pucks for just $50.
Steel single-game tickets 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 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:
Sunday, March 20 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (3:05 pm CT) Daddy Daughter Princess Day featuring Cinderella | Steel Family Pack Game
Thursday, March 24 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Thirsty Thursday - Enjoy 1/2 Price Budweiser, Bud Light & Michelob Ultra and $5 Craft Beer courtesy of Rookies All-American Pub
Friday, April 1 vs. Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT) Crazy Hat Night presented by Waubonsee Community College with Special Helmet Auction
United States Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2022
- Record-Breaking Night Ends with Storm Victory - Tri-City Storm
- Steel Roll to 7-2 Win over Youngstown - Chicago Steel
- Storm Series at an End - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Saints Come up One Short to Muskegon Saturday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Mehlenbacher Scores Late Power Play Goal, Lumberjacks Sweep Dubuque in 4-3 Thriller - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stephen Halliday Breaks USHL Tier I Regular Season Scoring Record - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Storm Seeks Bounce-Back Win over Black Hawks - Tri-City Storm
- Storm Drops Opening Game of Weekend to Black Hawks - Tri-City Storm
- Omaha Falls to Sioux City to Start the Weekend - Omaha Lancers
- Three Unanswered the Difference - Waterloo Black Hawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
