USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Travel to Muskegon to Close Regular Season

April 19, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - After securing a First Round bye this past Saturday, the Chicago Steel hope to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a pair of games against the Muskegon Lumberjacks Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22 at Trinity Health Arena in Muskegon, Mich. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. CT both nights.

Chicago's magic number sits at one to clinch the top spot in the East, and do so Friday night with either a win, overtime/shootout loss, or a loss by USA Hockey NTDP.

The Steel will begin the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, hosting a best-of-three series that will begin either Friday, April 28 or Saturday, April 29 at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva.

Chicago is coming off a split series with the Dubuque Fighting Saints last weekend. Dubuque took the first game 6-2 with Jack Harvey and Chris Delaney scoring the only Steel goals.

Saturday, the Steel struck back with a 6-3 victory, scoring the first three goals of the game and never looking back. Dubuque cut the deficit to two on three occasions, but the Steel had a response each time. Jayden Perron scored twice, his fifth game scoring two or more goals this season. Grayden Slipec, Chris Delaney, Michael Hage, and Jack Harvey added goals.

This weekend marks the seventh and eighth meetings of the season between the Steel (38-17-4-1; 81 pts) and the Lumberjacks (26-31-3-0; 55 pts). The Steel have won five of the six meetings and hold an all-time record of 46-38-7-0 and a road record of 22-17-4-0 against the Lumberjacks.

In their last meeting on Jan. 7, the Lumberjacks scored four third period goals to defeat the Steel 8-5 at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Muskegon's Jake Richard recorded a hat trick and added an assist. Jayden Perron and Jack Harvey each recorded two goals for the Steel. Macklin Celebrini recorded a goal and an assist, and Nick Moldenhauer registered two assists.

Muskegon, which will finish seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, has lost three straight games coming in, but has beaten each of the other five Eastern Conference playoff qualiifiers in its last 12 games, including a stretch from Mar. 17-Apr. 1 in which it won five of seven games.

Muskegon is the most penalized team in the league, which could mean trouble against Chicago's power play which has led the USHL for the majority of the season with a current success rate of 31.8% (71-for-223). Muskegon's penalty kill is 15th among the USHL with a success rate of 74.4% (192-for-258).

Muskegon is led offensively Ethan Whitcomb with 46 points (24G, 22A). In six meetings against the Steel, Whitcomb, a six-foot-four, 207 lbs., University of Nebraska-Omaha commit has recorded 6 points (2G, 4A). Whitcomb has the fourth highest shooting percentage in the USHL at 24.5% (24 goals on 98 shots), with Steel rookie forward Macklin Celebrini tied for first at 26.4% (46 goals on 174 shots).

Single-game playoff tickets for all potential Eastern Conference Semifinals go on sale today, Wednesday, April 19. Pricing for the Conference Semifinals remains the same as regular season pricing with tickets starting at just $10 and discounts available for groups of 10 or more.

The Steel are offering fans the opportunity to secure the best seats and lock in the lowest ticket price for ‚ all potential Clark Cup Playoff home games through the team's Pay As We Play program available now through April 21. Fans participating in Pay As We Play will only be charged for games that are played.

Group tickets and experiences are on sale now for playoff home games, including the team's Youth Hockey Experience, Scouts Experience, national anthem groups, charity of the game/fundraising, birthdays, and party areas such as the Coors Light Chill Zone and Steel Suites are booking fast for the playoffs.

Season ticket plans for the 2023-2024 season are now on sale starting at just 5 games for just $50. As part of the team's "Ticket Plan Madness" campaign, for a limited time, fans that secure a new season ticket plan for next season will receive complimentary tickets for playoff games this season.

All Chicago Steel tickets are digital and available on mobile devices. Fans should create their profile online by

clicking here. For more information on digital tickets for the Chicago Steel, click here. Fans attending Steel home games this season are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to arriving at the arena to avoid any delays on game night.

Tickets may be purchased at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyteam.com. Fans with questions should email info@ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com to learn more.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Friday, April 21 at Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:10 p.m. CT)

Saturday, April 22 at Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:10 p.m. CT)

2023 Clark Cup Playoffs: Begins Friday, April 28 or Saturday, April 29 - Opponent TBD

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from April 19, 2023


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