USHL Chicago Steel

Thunder Roar Past Steel Saturday

Published on December 19, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS - The Bloomington Thunder (14-8-2-1, 31 points) picked up a franchise-record sixth consecutive win Saturday in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Steel (10-14-2-2, 24 points) at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Four different Thunder players tallied goals. Following the loss, Chicago has dropped four straight contests heading into the league's holiday break.

For a fifth consecutive game, Chicago surrendered the opening goal. Blake Gober received an outlet pass, moved into the slot and bounced a shot past Chicago goaltender John Lethemon nearly halfway through the first period. The goal was initially waved off due to goaltender interference, but the officials changed the call as the contact was ruled to be the fault of Chicago's defense, putting Bloomington up 1-0. In the final minute of the period, Bloomington doubled its lead thanks to a backhanded shot from the left circle by Thunder defenseman Jeremy Davies for a power play goal at 19:22.

In the second period, Steel right wing Bobby Hampton tallied his first USHL goal. Immediately following an offensive zone faceoff win by Marc Johnstone, Alex Frye fed Ruslan Rakhmatov for a point shot that Hampton redirected past Thunder netminder Hayden Lavigne at 8:03 to cut Bloomington's lead to 2-1. Through two periods, the Steel were outshot 25-13.

Bloomington regained a two-goal lead in the third period when Ethan Somoza fed Jake Durflinger for a back door tap in at 13:50. Later in the period, moments after pulling Lethemon in favor of an extra attacker, Chicago surrendered an empty net goal to Logan Lambdin, sealing a 4-1 victory for the Thunder on home ice.

The win was Bloomington's first by more than one goal this season. All but one of Chicago's 10 wins this season have been multi-goal victories.

The Steel join the USHL in a holiday break before continuing their season-long ten-game road trip Saturday with a visit to Team USA on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Chicago will make their way back to Fox Valley Ice Arena for their next home game Sunday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. to take on Muskegon. This game will feature Mommy, Minions and Me Day. Plus, it's a Steel Family Pack game - fans can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $59. Tickets are available at the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2015


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