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USHL Chicago Steel

Steel Win 5-4 in Shootout over Team USA

November 28, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (3-2-0-0; 6 pts.) prevailed in another heart-pounding shootout win on Friday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena, a 5-4 victory over Team USA (U17) (1-0- 0-1; 3 pts.).

Sean Farrell scored the shootout winner following a goal and an assist in regulation for the Montreal Canadiens prospect.

In what has become a theme for the Steel in the early season, the first period began with a back-and-forth scoring battle on Friday night.

Team USA opened the scoring in the early going as Isaac Howard continued his scorching start to the season. The Hudson, Wis., native registered his fourth goal of the year in just his second game.

The leading goal-scorer in the USHL brought the Steel back to an even score as Matt Coronato (6G, 6A) picked up a bouncing puck and lifted it past the glove of Team USA netminder Dylan Silverstein.

Just over 30 seconds later, Team USA snatched momentum right out of the hands of the home team. Logan Cooley netted his first goal of the season, benefitting from a friendly bounce in the offensive zone. A deflected lob pass settled onto his stick and he was able to beat Steel netminder Nick Haas on the glove side.

The Steel stopped trading goals and picked up three consecutive markers through the late first and early second period to take a 4-2 edge.

Erik Middendorf scored on a forehand-backhand move at point-blank range, another goal for the Scottsdale, Ariz., native that came from within five feet of the net. Farrell picked up an assist on the power play with a spin-o-rama pass finding Middendorf for the equalizer.

Forward Sam Lipkin reached the scoresheet for the first time in his USHL career just five minutes later. Lipkin, the 6-foot, 185-pound forward, dropped a pass to Dawson Pasternak who ripped home a wrister from just inside the right circle at the hash marks, beating Silverstein's glove.

The five-goal first period looked like a sign of things to come with quick goals from each club coming in the middle frame.

Josh Doan helped to give the Steel a two-goal lead just past one minute into the second. The Arizona State University commit picked off a pass high in the offensive zone and blew past the USA defense with Farrell on his left side. Doan waited out Silverstein and dished a pass to Farrell who one-timed home his fifth goal of the year, pushing the Steel edge to 4-2.

The U17s fought back with two goals from forward Rutger McGroarty. The first marker came after a Chicago turnover deep in the Steel defensive zone just three minutes after the Steel had claimed their two-goal lead. Logan Cooley found McGroarty alone in the right circle as he was able to take gather the puck and fire a shot past Haas for his second of the season.

Haas stood tall late in the second frame with an outstanding post-to-post save. The Buffalo, New York, native denied Howard on a power play, stretching from right to left, robbing a sure goal from Howard.

The Steel took a one-goal edge into the final frame which took less than a minute for Team USA to erase.

McGroarty once again found himself alone with Haas, slipping a puck past him on a breakaway to knot the score up at 4-4.

Chicago had a golden chance for a regulation go-ahead goal with a power play late in the third.

Defenseman Ian Moore let go a one-timer from the left point that glanced off the post and stayed off the scoreboard.

Haas duplicated his flawless performance in overtime from last Saturday's 4-3 shootout win against the Green Bay Gamblers, this time turning away five shots in the five-minute extra frame.

Steel Head Coach Brock Sheahan tapped the same three shooters that he chose six nights prior and the decision paid off.

Cooley tallied the only Team USA goal and Mackie Samoskevich answered in Round One, while both McGroarty and Coronato were stopped in Round Two. Haas turned away Team USA defenseman Lane Hutson in Round Three, leaving the game up to Farrell.

The Harvard University commit roofed a wrister past Silverstein's blocker, earning the shootout victory and extra point in the standings for the Steel.

Chicago closes the weekend out Saturday night with a matchup against Team USA U18 at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Saturday's clash with Team USA will mark the return of former Steel head coach, Dan Muse, to Fox Valley Ice Arena. The current Team USA U18 bench boss guided the Steel to their first Clark Cup title in 2017 before being hired as an assistant coach by the Nashville Predators.

Chicago 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). Chicago Steel Upcoming Games: Saturday, November 28 vs. Team USA (U18) (7:05 pm CT) Friday, December 4 at Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) Thursday, December 10 vs Youngstown Phantoms (2:05 pm CT)

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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