Steel win in OT. 3-2. @ChicagoSteel #WhosNext @USHL #ClarkCup #WeAreSteel pic.twitter.com/iJ3ewUuf0Z

— Puckin Hostile (@PuckinHostile) May 5, 2019

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The Steel and Muskegon Lumberjacks fought a tightly contested battle in game four of the Clark Cup Eastern Conference Final. The teams played to a 0–0 deadlock after two periods until the third-period fireworks began.

Chicago opened the scoring on a Nick Abruzzese five-on-three power play goal, off a great feed from captain and power play quarterback Matteo Pietroniro, at the 5:25 mark of the period. The one-timer from the right circle narrowly eluded Muskegon goalie Brandon Bussi, who played a solid game, despite only seeing 16 Steel shots on net.

The Lumberjacks answered with a powerplay goal of their own from 2019 NHL draft prospect Egor Afanasyev assisted by Blackhawks prospect Mikael Hakkarainen. Afanasyev, the league’s 10th-leading scorer in the regular season, had been very quiet in the series before his goal.

The teams traded goals from Fontaine and Ryan Savage in the final 10 minutes, with the Lumberjacks tying the game with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation. As a result, the fans in Geneva, Illinois, were treated to overtime playoff hockey.

Fonataine was not finished with his big night just yet, though. While not giving up any shots on net in the overtime, the Steel pressured Muskegon hard with an intense forecheck from the drop of the puck. One minute and thirteen seconds into the extra time, Fontaine intercepted an errant rebound up the middle of the Muskegon zone and pushed the puck through two defenders. He set up his shot and snapped the puck past Bussi for the game (and series) winner.

OVERTIME SERIES WINNER!
Gunnarwolfe Fontaine sends the @chicagosteel to the Clark Cup Final! #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/wsTpmFnhU3

— USHL (@USHL) May 5, 2019

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While Fontaine, Robert Mastrosimone and Abruzzese grabbed the headlines on the scoresheets, goaltender Justin Robbins played his second straight stellar game in goal for the Steel. He saved 65 of 68 shots (.955 save percentage) on net in games three and four. In games one and two, Robbins stopped 64 of 71 shots (.901 save percentage).

With the win, Chicago will travel to face the Western Conference Champion Sioux Falls Stampede in the best-of-five series beginning Friday, May 10 and will return to the Fox Valley Ice Arena for Game 3 on Friday, May 17 and Game 4, if necessary, on Saturday, May 18.

Clark Cup Final tickets will go on sale Tuesday, May 7 at the Steel box office, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com. Tickets start at just $10 and fans can catch the action up close with seats on the glass available for just $20. The group ticket minimum for Clark Cup Playoff games is just 10 people, and the Budweiser Lounge and Steel Suites are available for playoff games by calling 855-51-STEEL.

The post The Steel Deal: Steel headed to Clark Cup Final after thrilling overtime win appeared first on The Rink.

Forward Robert Mastrosimone put on a show for the fans and showed why he is considered one of the top players in the top players in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft with a goal in the first two minutes of the first period and a highlight reel shorthanded goal in the second period.

On his second period goal, Mastrosimone was forechecking Muskegon center (and 2018 Blackhawks draftee) Mikael Hakkarainen closely as the Lumberjacks tried to break out of their own end. The Steel league-leading playoff scorer (tied with teammate Nick Abruzzese) picked Hakkarainen’s pocket at the Muskegon blue line and scored on a partial breakaway.

4⃣@chicagosteel #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/Tespc803Mj

— USHL (@USHL) May 4, 2019

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While Mastrosimone was the star on the offensive side of the rink, goalie Justin Robbins played a phenomenal game in the Steel end of the ice and was the team’s second star. He stopped 35 of 36 shots and made 18 third-period saves to keep the Steel well ahead and out of danger.

.@ChicagoSteel took a 2-1 lead in their series over Muskegon. We caught up with Steel Head Coach Greg Moore and forward Robert Mastrosimone following the Game 3 victory #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/SjSY61Iwvo

— USHL (@USHL) May 4, 2019

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The teams are back in action tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Fox Valley Ice Arena, as the Steel look to close the series in front of their home crowd in Game 4. If a Game 5 is necessary, it will be played Monday, May 6 in Muskegon, Michigan.

Tickets for Game 4 are on sale now and may be purchased in person at the Steel Box Office, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com. Tickets start at just $10 and fans can catch the action up close with seats on the glass available for just $20. The group ticket minimum for Clark Cup Playoff games is just 10 people, and the Budweiser Lounge and Steel Suites are available for playoff games by calling 855-51-STEEL.

The post The Steel Deal: Steel one game from Clark Cup Finals, look to close out tonight appeared first on The Rink.

Center Nick Abruzzese registered five points in a 6–3 victory over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinal matchup. Abruzzese scored twice and assisted on three Steel goals to help secure the game one game victory.

Chicago opened the scoring when defenseman Matteo Pietroniro fired a shot from the point which found its way through a screen, beating Cedar Rapids goaltender Blake Pietila. Pietroniro’s goals was assisted by defenseman Jimmy Dowd and Abruzzese.

Cedar Rapids tied the game when forward Jerry Harding beat Steel goaltender Justin Robbins tying the game at 1–1 midway through the opening period.

Harding would not be done for the evening, scoring his third goal of the playoffs and second of the game, beating Robbins shorthanded to give the RoughRiders their only lead of the evening at 2 – 1.

With the early second period goal which gave Cedar Rapids the lead, Chicago scored three straight goals to take a 4–2 lead mid-way through the period.

Defenseman John Spetz opened the barrage with a nice goal assisted by Abruzzese and Neil Shea firing a shot past Pietila.

Forward Christian Sarlo scored only 37 seconds before Abruzzese to extend the Chicago lead to two goals. Sarlo buried a nice feed from forward Travis Treloar, while Abruzzese scored on a Pietila rebound off a shot from forward Robert Mastrosimone.

Never leave the Bullshark in open water
Mastrosimone finds Abruzzese lurking @ChicagoSteel #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/IGCLl1QYFj

— USHL (@USHL) April 21, 2019

Cedar Rapids scored with 36 seconds remaining in the second period to cut the Steel lead to 4–3 when forward Max Sasson scored his second goal of the playoffs.

The third period would be all Chicago’s when Shea and Abruzzese scored to extend the Steel lead to 6–3 and earning Robbins the victory in net, stopping 23 RoughRiders shots. Abruzzese and Mastrosimone both finished the game +5 after dominating most shifts while on the ice.

THIS LINE
THIS GOAL @chicagoSteel #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/e5MPPP0qxN

— USHL (@USHL) April 21, 2019

Pietroniro goes up the middle Abruzzese fakes & goes hole
for his 5⃣th point tonight @chicagosteel #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/B6ybknoZnn

— USHL (@USHL) April 21, 2019

Cedar Rapids 4, Chicago 3 (OT)

Chicago looked to retain home-ice advantage with another victory against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders but came up short in overtime 4–3. RoughRider forward Aidan McDonough was the backbreaker scoring both the game-tying and game-winning goals, giving the Northeastern University commit three goals in this season’s playoffs.

Defenseman Will Zmolek scored the night’s first goal for the RoughRiders beating Robbins for a power play goal after Chicago defenseman Owen Power was sent off for hooking.

The Steel bounced right back tying the game at 1–1 when Mastrosimone beat Pietila with his first goal of the playoffs. The goal, assisted by Abruzzese, was countered only a few seconds later when forward Liam Walsh scored for the RoughRiders.

With just over a minute until the first intermission, Shea scored his second of the playoffs to tie the game at 2–2 with a pretty goal assisted by Mastrosimone and Dowd.

Everyday I'm HUSTLIN'
Mastrosimone turns on the jets & sets up Shea for a huge goal @ChicagoSteel #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/JdscaGtdOs

— USHL (@USHL) April 21, 2019

Finnish defenseman Uula Ruikka put the Steel on top for the first time in the game, beating Pietila with a shot through traffic that appeared to deflect off a RoughRider in front.

The lead would not be for long as McDonough tied the game only eleven seconds later. Both teams shared chances in the third period, when Chicago outshot the opponents 10–4, but both teams would not find the back of the net.

At the 9:22 mark of overtime, McDonough registered his second goal of the evening, on the power play, deflecting a puck past Robbins for the game-winning goal.

OVERTIME GAME WINNER!
The series is tied heading back to @RidertownUSA #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/URujp4NaNg

— USHL (@USHL) April 22, 2019

With the series tied 1 – 1, Chicago travels to Cedar Rapids for a pair of games on Tuesday and Wednesday, both starting at 7:05 p.m. CT at Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

The post The Steel Deal: Abruzzese registers five points in win, teams head to Cedar Rapids tied 1–1 appeared first on The Rink.

GAME 1 – CEDAR RAPIDS AT CHICAGO          Saturday, April 20, at 7:05 p.m.
GAME 2 – CEDAR RAPIDS AT CHICAGO          Sunday, April 21, at 5:05 p.m.
GAME 3 – CHICAGO AT CEDAR RAPIDS          Tuesday, April 23, at 7:05 p.m.
GAME 4 – CHICAGO AT CEDAR RAPIDS          Wednesday, April 24, at 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
GAME 5 – CEDAR RAPIDS AT CHICAGO          Saturday, April 27, at 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

The Chicago Steel face off against the Cedar Rapid RoughRiders in the best-of-five series in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Chicago earned a first-round bye with a second-place finish in the conference. Cedar Rapids swept Team USA this past week in a best-of-three series to advance to the semifinals.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

CHICAGO:
Nick Abruzzese: The crafty forward finished first in the USHL this season in scoring (29 goals, 51 assists, 80 points) and mans the top-line center position. Aburzzese also tied for the team lead in shorthanded goals (two) and led the team with 21 power play goals. Abruzzese plays an important role on offense, defense and special teams. The Harvard University commit also maintained a 25.7 shooting percentage on the season.

Robert Mastrosimone: The East Islap, New York, native led the Steel in goals (31) and finished second on the team in points (80). Mastrosimone was second on the team in power play goals with seven and lead the team in shots (161). Mastrosimone also tied Abruzzese in shorthanded goals with two. The Boston University commit will need to continue his excellent offensive production against a stingy RoughRider defense and goaltending.

Matteo Pietroniro: The team captain logs a ton of ice time for the Steel and had an excellent season finishing with 18 goals, 31 assists and 49 points. Pietroniro lead the team with 102 penalty minutes and was second in power play assists (14). Those that have watched the Steel this season can make an argument that Matteo is the heartbeat of the team on the backend. Pietroniro can really shut down the Cedar Rapid attack, which is average at best.

Josiah Slavin: The Chicago Blackhawks’ seventh round draft pick in 2018 was an excellent mid-season pickup by General Manager Ryan Hardy. Slavin has been a great addition to the Steel power play as a net front presence. Slavin finished the season with 24 goals and 27 assist with Chicago and Lincoln. His scoring touch brings a great second wave behind Abruzzese and Mastrosimone.

CEDAR RAPIDS:
Jason Polin: Polin scored five goals in two games in the first round against Team USA. During the regular season, the Western Michigan University commit scored 30 goals and 20 assists, good enough for second overall on the Cedar Rapids roster.

Nathan Smith: Smith lead the team with 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists) for a team-best .90 points per game. The center also led the team with 12 power play goals while tying with Polin for the team lead with five game-winning goals.

Liam Walsh: The Merrimack College commit finished third on the team with 21 goals to go along with his 21 assists. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound winger tied for the team lead (Polin) with two shorthanded goals and brings an excellent piece to Polin and Smith on the wing.

Will Zmolek: Zmolek led all RoughRider defenseman in points with 26 (four goals, 22 assists). The 6-foot-3, 191-pound Bemidji State commit also lead the team in penalty minutes with 107. Zmolek can be argued to be Pietroniro lite. Zmolek will log plenty of ice time for Cedar Rapids.

Blake Pietila: The Cedar Rapids goaltender had an excellent season and was arguably the team’s best player this season. The Michigan Tech commit finished 30–13–3–1 with a 2.30 goals against average and excellent 0.912 save percentage. Look for Pietila to try and keep his team in the series with his top-notch skills in the crease.

NOTES:

• Chicago holds a 19–10–2–0 record at home this season at Fox Valley Arena. Cedar Rapids has recorded a 35–6–2–1 record at home. Chicago will want to make sure not to lose home ice advantage in the first two games. The RoughRiders are tough at home.
• Something has got to give. Chicago finished the season with a league best 3.92 goals per game, second best in the USHL. The RoughRiders are also second in the league with a 2.60 goals against average. The series is a clear example of offense versus defense.
• Special teams: The Steel finished second in the USHL with a 24.6 percentage success rate with the man advantage. Cedar Rapids power play scores at a 17.7 percentage rate. Chicago’s penalty kill is 12^th in the league at 78.6 while the RoughRiders are eighth in the league shorthanded at 80.7 percent.

The post Series preview: Chicago Steel vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders appeared first on The Rink.

The Chicago Steel scored three goals in a span of 1:40 of the third period and held off a late push by the Central Illinois Flying Aces for a 6–5 victory. With the win, Chicago maintained sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference, which holds a first-round bye in the Clark Cup Playoffs.

Chicago scored first when forward Christian Sarlo beat Central Illinois goaltender Mitchell Gibson at the 2:11 mark of the first period. The goal, assisted by forwards Travis Treloar and Jake Schmaltz, was Sarlo’s 12th goal on the season.

Defenseman Connor Meyer put the Flying Aces on the board two minutes later to tie the game at 1–1. The goal beat Steel goaltender Justin Robbins five-hole on a breakaway.

At the 14:49 mark in the first period, forward Josiah Slavin buried his 23rd goal of the season on the power play. Defenseman Matteo Pietroniro and forward Neal Shea assisted on the goal.

After Central Illinois tied the game late in the first period, the Flying Aces scored first to start the second period and take the lead at 3–2 at the 7:45 mark of the period.

Chicago answered back when Shea fired his 15th goal of the year, again on the power play, with an assist from defenseman John Spetz and Owen Power.

With the score tied 3–3 after two period of play, Chicago jumped on the Flying Aces with a three-goal barrage. Forwards Robert Mastrosimone, Mathieu De St. Phalle and Slavin scored in a span of 1:40 to extend the Chicago lead to 6–3.

The Flying Aces scored twice in the second half of the third period, however, Chicago held on for the 6–5 victory, giving Robbins his 25th win of the season.

Chicago 8, Muskegon 1

With another must win situation on Saturday night, the Chicago Steel scored first and often to stun the Muskegon Lumberjacks 8–1. The victory secured the first-round bye the Steel were fighting for with the Youngstown Phantoms and Cedar Rapid RoughRiders.

Defenseman Luke Reid started the scoring with his second goal of the season at the 3:51 mark of the first period. Muskegon answered back three minutes later with their only goal of the night.

Chicago answered back at the 12:54 mark when Cole Quisenberry found he back of the net for his 11th goal of the season.

Samoskevich with a perfect feed to Quisenberry alone in front! @ChicagoSteel #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/UjCVxdXBUd

— USHL (@USHL) April 13, 2019

After one period of play, Chicago led 2–1 but would explode for three goals in the second frame when forward Adam Robbins, Power and forward Nick Abruzzese extended the Steel lead to 5–1.

Abruzzese’s goal, on a penalty shot, was his first of the game as he would score again early in the third period.

Shark attack!
The Bullshark, that is.
Abruzzese goes hole on the penalty shot and scores!@ChicagoSteel #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/lwIfiusOzT

— USHL (@USHL) April 14, 2019

Mathieu De St. Phalle and Quisenberry both scored within the next four minutes to extend the Steel lead to 8–1 and the victory on the evening. Steel goaltender Reilly Herbst stopped 21 shots earning 12th victory of the year.

While earning the first-round bye in the Clark Cup Playoffs, Chicago will play the top remaining seed amongst the first-round winners (Youngstown, Cedar Rapids or Team USA) while Muskegon earned the first seed in the Eastern Conference and will play the lower remaining seed.

The first two playoff home games with take place on Saturday, April 20 at 7:05 p.m. The second game of the series will be played on Sunday, April 21 at 5:05 p.m.

The post The Steel Deal: Chicago clinches first-round bye with weekend sweep appeared first on The Rink.

The Slate Hill, New York, native currently leads the USHL in scoring (76 points), assists (49) and is tied for ninth in goals (27). Abruzzese is also scoring at a 26.2 percent clip on all his shots, a number that is quite impressive at any level of hockey. The first-line center has also been tasked with shutting down the opponent’s top-line players.

At 5’9” and 160 lbs., pro scouts need to watch Abruzzese closely in order to truly enjoy his full body of work this season. The NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings ranked Abruzzese the 200^th best prospect amongst North American skaters, a ranking that may seem low when it is all said and done for Abruzzese.

“Too often in the scouting community we put too much emphasis on evaluating with the tape measure and birth certificate,” Chicago Steel General Manager Ryan Hardy stated. “By any metric, Nick Abruzzese is an elite player with the hockey sense and playmaking capabilities that translate to the upper echelon of the players in the NHL.”

Abruzzese’s accomplishments on the ice have not gone unnoticed by the USHL. The left-handed shooting center has twice been the recipient of USHL Forward of the Week, once last season and once this season. An impressive feat, knowing the amount of high-end talent throughout the top junior league in the country.

The accomplishments do not stop on the ice, as Abruzzese is committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Harvard, an Ivy League school that participates in the ECAC for hockey, who recently lost to Massachusetts in the NCAA Northeast Regional play. Harvard, coached by Ted Donato, has qualified for the NCAA Tournament three of the last four seasons, culminating in a third-place finish in the 2016–17 season, when the Crimson finished with a 28–6–2 record.

“His mindset and approach to his development are also exceptional,” Hardy said. “The team with the courage to draft him will get potentially the steal of the draft.”

As the Chicago Steel look to make a deep run in the Clark Cup playoffs, the former New Jersey Avalanche product, the same organization that helped develop Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce, will look to lead the way with his scoring, playmaking ability and leadership that has helped the Steel fight to hold onto the second place spot in the Eastern Conference, which would earn the team a first round bye in the playoffs.

The post USHL scoring leader Abruzzese braces for Clark Cup Playoffs, NHL Draft appeared first on The Rink.

The Gamblers opened the scoring on their home ice, at the 4:09 mark of the first period, when forward Nicholas Zabaneh scored his 11^th goal of the season. Forwards Gleb Murtazin and Luke Mylymok assisted on the goal. As it turned out, this was the only puck to slip past Robbins the rest of the evening.

Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect Slavin tied the score at 1–1, netting his 18^th goal of the season. The goal, assisted by forward Adam Robbins and defenseman Luke Reid, was the first of back-to-back goals by Slavin.

At the 17:09 mark of the first period, Slavin scored on the power play, when defenseman Matteo Pietroniro shoveled a pass over to forward Robert Mastrosimone, who fired a shot on Gambler goaltender Ryan Ullan. The rebound from Ullan found Slavin at the side of the net, who buried his shot for the 2–1 lead.

Midway through the second period, De St. Phalle scored his 9th goal of the season. The University of Wisconsin commit finished a 2-on-1 with forward Christian Sarlo, and snuck a backhand past a sprawling Ullan. The goal was De St. Phalle’s sixth point (2 goals, 4 assists) in the past six games.

Classic @ChicagoSteel goal
These guys must practice this or something…#WhosNext pic.twitter.com/ZOsOZRISCs

— USHL (@USHL) March 20, 2019

With the 3–1 lead, Chicago did not take their foot off the pedal, outshooting the Gamblers 13–2 in the third period, and 39 – 20 for the game. Even though Chicago could not find the back of the net in the second half of the game, the Steel’s savvy play and hard work in their defensive end was outstanding.

With the victory, Chicago finds themselves back in sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference standings. The victory also secured their third straight Clark Cup playoff appearance, which begins April 15.

Chicago returns to Green Bay for another matchup on Friday night for a 7:05 p.m. contest. On Sunday, Chicago skates on home ice for the “Daddy Daughter Princess” celebration for a 3:05 p.m. puck drop against the Lincoln Stars.

The post The Steel Deal: Steel Clinch Playoff Berth, Slavin Scores Twice appeared first on The Rink.