Steel Set Team Record to Start Season in 3-1 Win
Published on October 29, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN - With a solid effort from start to finish, the Chicago Steel (8-0-3-0; 19 pts.) set a franchise record for longest point streak to start a season with a 3-1 victory over Team USA (U18) at USA Hockey Arena on Friday night, the 11th consecutive game with at least a point in the standings for Chicago.
Former Team USA netminder Gibson Homer sparkled with 32 stops between the Steel pipes, improving his record to 3-0-3-0 this season.
Steel rookie Zam Plante along with forwards Joe Miller and Jack Harvey had goals in the victory while Dylan Robbins got his first point of the year with a helper in the win.
Plante kicked off the scoring for Chicago in the first period, tallying his second goal of the season after winning a battle in front of the Team USA crease with four opponents surrounding him. The Hermantown, Minn., native picked up his own rebound and slipped the puck past USA goalie Dylan Silverstein to give Chicago a 1-0 edge.
Team USA answered just past the halfway point of period. University of North Dakota commit Cole Spicer gathered the puck while gliding down the right wing, releasing a heavy wrist shot that found its way past Homer.
The momentum flip-flopped between the two teams during a scoreless second period. Locked in a tightly contested battle, Team USA defenseman and 'A'-rated prospect Ryan Chesley was whistled for a five-minute major and game misconduct for contact to the head, giving the Steel a five-minute power play.
Chicago could not capitalize as the Steel were whistled for an infraction of their own, creating a full two minutes of 4-on-4 action, however neither team could take advantage of the open ice. As time wound down in the second, Team USA's offensive attack caught fire as they hemmed the Steel in their own zone. A last-minute flurry ended a second period with Team USA doubling up the Steel in shots on goal by a 14-7 edge.
With 4-on-3 action dissolving into 5-on-4 to start the third period, Chicago escaped the shorthanded situation thanks to Homer once again making timely saves in net.
The Steel then pulled away with two goals in a four-minute stretch midway through the final frame.
On a man advantage drawn by defenseman Jake Livanavage, the University of North Dakotabound defenseman factored in on the go-ahead goal, feeding Joe Miller on a cross-crease pass just seconds into the power play. With the goal, Chicago has now tallied a marker on the man advantage in 10 consecutive games.
The USHL's leading scorer, Jackson Blake, stole a puck on the right wing half boards of the Chicago offensive zone four minutes later, carrying the puck to the right circle before finding Jack Harvey on the doorstep to extend the lead to 3-2.
Anchored by the solid performance of Homer, the Steel were able to withstand 11 total shots in the third period, including pressure when Team USA pulled their netminder for an extra attacker with just over three minutes to play.
Chicago continues its current road trip with a 6:05 pm CT rematch against Team USA (U18) on Saturday, October 30 followed by a 3:05 pm CT puck drop against the Youngstown Phantoms on Sunday, October 31.
Steel fans get a chance to see the team on home ice on Friday, November 5 at 7:05 pm CT against the Green Bay Gamblers for Hockey is for Everyone Night and Saturday, November 6 at 7:05 pm CT for Top Gun Night against the Dubuque Fighting Saints with an Aviator Sunglasses Giveaway for the first 500 fans. After the Saturday night game, fans are invited to take the ice for a post-game skate.
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, November 5 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Hockey Is For Everyone
Saturday, November 6 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) Top Gun Night | GIVEAWAY - Steel Aviator Sunglasses (First 500 fans) | Post-Game Skate
Saturday, November 13 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (7:05 pm CT) Superheroes and Villains | Family Pack Game
United States Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2021
- Storm Shut out Lancers 5-0 - Tri-City Storm
- Stampede Top Bucs in Overtime - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Steel Set Team Record to Start Season in 3-1 Win - Chicago Steel
- Dubuque Slices Through Jacks' Defense in 7-4 Win - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lumberjacks Drop 7-4 Decision to Dubuque in Weekend Series Opener - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Upton, Capitols off to Historic Start - USHL
- Storm Set for Road Battle with Lancers - Tri-City Storm
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