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.

Nick Abruzzese earned an All-USHL First Team spot after leading the league in scoring with 80 points (29 goals, 51 assists) in only 62 games. The Harvard University commit’s 80 points was the second-highest point total in franchise history. Abruzzese broke the franchise record for assists in a season with his 51 and became just the third Steel player to reach 100 points during his career with the franchise.

Team captain Matteo Pietroniro broke the franchise’s single-season goal mark for a defenseman with his 18 goals this season in earning All-USHL Second Team honors. The Boise, Idaho, native finished tied for seventh among USHL defenseman in goals. Pietroniro now holds the Steel record for defenseman in a career with 27 goals. With 70 assists total with the Steel, he also ranks second all-time in franchise history.

Forward Robert Mastrosimone scored 31 goals this season to bring his career total to a franchise record 47 goals, earning him All-USHL Third Team honors. Mastrosimone also recorded his 100th career point this season to join Abruzzese. The Boston University commit also finished his career with 58 assists placing him seventh all-time in Chicago franchise history.

Rookie defenseman Owen Power was named to the USHL All-Rookie Second Team after a record season for the youngster. The 16-year-old scored 11 goals this season, although starting the season at only 15 years of age, and registered 25 points for the season. Power was fourth in the league this season among all defensemen with his 11 goals.

General Manager Ryan Hardy was named the 2018–19 USHL General Manager of the Year in his rookie season in the role after spending the previous two season scouting for the Boston Bruins.

“Our goals in Chicago are, first and foremost, to facilitate the development of talented hockey players and, secondly, to compete for the Clark Cup,” Hardy said. “Garnering personal accolades is not relevant in our program. While I am appreciative of the recognition from my peers, this honor does not reflect the work of one individual, but rather the talent, hard work and passion of the coaching staff, hockey operations department and, most importantly, every one of the players who have donned the Chicago Steel crest this season.”

Hardy joins an excellent group of rookie general managers to have won the award. Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper won the award in 2008–09 with the Green Bay Gamblers. Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery also won the award with the Dubuque Fighting Saint in 2010–11.

Hardy is quick to deflect the attention to rookie head coach Greg Moore, associate head coach Brock Sheahan, Director of Player Personnel Tristan Musser, Director of Hockey Operations Chris Hoeler, assistant coach Mike Garman, strength and conditioning coach Virgil Strzelecki, Athletic Trainer Jim Schroader and Equipment Manager Parker Hoffman.

“If there is one aspect of this season that I take the most personal pride in, it would be the identification and procurement of our coaching staff, who are more responsible for this honor than I am,” Hardy said.

The post Abruzzese, Pietroniro, Mastrosimone, Power and Hardy earn USHL end-of-season awards 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-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff “Gatekeeper” Osborn and John “Double J” Jaeckel are joined by The-Rink Junior / Chicago Steel writer Ray Napientek to talk about the Blackhawks and the Steel.

• We have a new review (thanks Mark from Algonquin)
• The Blackhawks are basically eliminated “officially” from the postseason
• Chad Krys and Jack Ramsey enter the organization
• More talk about what the team needs to do this summer
• What is going on with the Chicago Steel?
• Stan Bowman talk, Dylan Sikura talk
• We answer some listener and reader questions

Please subscribe, rate this episode, and even write us a review. Reviews will be read on the air.

Also, Please help spread the word to more #RinkRats and visit our sponsor www.PUCKHCKY.com. Use the discount code “THERINK” for 10% off all orders.

The Rinkcast is brought to you by the Overtime Podcast Network

The post The Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 49 – Steel Deal appeared first on The Rink.

The Harvard University commit leads all USHL scorers this season with 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) and finished this past weekend with 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) while on the road at Sioux Falls and Sioux City.

“This weekend was a great opportunity for Nick to measure his game against some of the biggest names in the USHL as far as the 2019 NHL Draft is concerned,” said General Manager Ryan Hardy. “His development trajectory this season has been tremendous and he has established himself as arguably the best player in the league with his play.”

Overall, this weekly award is the fourth time this season a Chicago Steel player has been named a “Player of the Week.” Including Aburzzese’s two honors, defenseman Matteo Pietroniro and goaltender Reilly Herbst have also been named at their respective positions.

The post Abruzzese Named USHL Forward of the Week appeared first on The Rink.