A Weekend On The Road

This weekend the Chicago were away Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, obtaining two wins and one OT loss.

On Friday, March 1^st, the Youngstown Phantoms welcomed the Chicago Steel to the Covelli Center. Chicago came out strong ready to  redeem themselves after the loss against Youngstown earlier in the week. Chicago was the first to capitalize in the contest, when Alex Roos scored his 17^th goal of the season, seven minutes into the first. Charlie O’Connor and Jaccob Slavin registered assists. The rest of the first remained scoreless, giving Chicago the lead.

The second period started out with a Chicago power play when Youngstown’s John Padulo received a roughing call only six seconds in the period. However, with only five seconds left in the power play, Youngstown’s Eric Sweetman netted a short handed goal, tying it 1-all. Halfway through the second, Youngstown was able to capitalize again when Sam Anas scored. Chicago was able to hold them for the rest of the period, ending it 2-1.

Chicago came out in the third knowing they had to tie it up. Charlie O’Connor answered the call when he lit the lamp at 13:33, with an unassisted goal. At this point it was anyone’s game. Both teams were tied at two and looking for the win. The Steel were able to hold the Phantoms for the rest of regulation, sending the game into overtime.

Neither team was successful in overtime, sending the game into a shoot-out. Alex Roos, Ray Pigozzi, and Drew Smolcynski were the three shooters chosen for Chicago, and Sam Anas, Kyle Connor, and Austin Cangelosi were the three for Youngstown. Roos, Pigozzi, and Anas were all unsuccessful at netting a goal. Connor was able to score, propelling Youngstown ahead by one. Smolcynski was up next and knew he had to capitalize to keep Chicago in the contest. Smolcynski was successful making it 1-1. Cangelosi was the last shooter for Youngstown, and was able to capitalize, winning the game for Youngstown.

While Chicago was outshot 40-27, Chris Nell recorded 37 saves during regulation.

On Saturday, March 2^nd, and Sunday, March 3^rd, Team USA U-17 welcomed the Chicago Steel to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

On Saturday, the Steel came out strong looking for a win. With one minute and nineteen seconds left in the first, Jaccob Slavin scored an unassisted power play to put Chicago ahead 1-0. This was Slavin’s third goal of the season.

In the second, Chicago once again came out strong, when Thomas Ebbing capitalized a little over five minutes into the game. After Ebbing’s goal, Chicago was able to kill of three penalties, not allowing USA to score. Then with only three minutes left in the second, defenseman, Tim Davison scored, furthering the distance between Chicago and USA. The second ended 3-0.

In the third, neither team was successful in score, ending the game 3-0, and giving goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos his second shutout of the season.

The Steel outshot Team USA 27-22 during regulation. Mackenzie MacEachern, Charlie O’Connor, Alex Roos, and Tyler Hill all registered assists during the game.

On Sunday, Chicago was on a high after defeating USA the night before. Both teams came out strong looking to get a win for the night.

In the first, Chicago was the first to capitalize when Thomas Ebbing scored a power play goal putting Chicago in the lead 1-0. Less than six minutes later, Chicago’s Tyler Hill netted a shot furthering the distance between the teams by two.

Neither team was able to score during the second, ending the period 2-0.

In the third, USA came out strong when Ryan Hitchcock scored only 40 seconds into the period, making the score 2-1 and attempting to close the gap. Less than three minutes later Chicago’s Mackenzie MacEachern scored a power play goal. Twenty-four seconds later, Alex Roos scored Chicago’s fourth goal of the game on a penalty shot, increasing the gap 4-1. USA was determined to come back, and eight minutes into the game, Ryan MacInnis scored making the score 4-2. Then with only 53 seconds left in regulation Anders Bjork scored, making the score 4-3 Chicago. Chicago was able to hold them for the last seconds of the game, sweeping USA.

Alex Roos, Charlie O’Connor, Thomas Ebbing, Mackenzie MacEachern, Tim Davison, and Patrick Polino all registered assists during the game.

Chicago outshot USA 37-25, and Chris Nell had 22 saves during regulation.

The Chicago Steel are off until Tuesday, March 12, when they welcome the Waterloo Blackhawks to The Edge Ice Arena for a 7:30pm game. On Friday, March 15, the Chicago Steel will welcome the Youngstown Phantoms to the Edge Ice Arena. Game time is set for 7:30pm. An autograph signing will follow Friday's game. Then on Saturday, March 16 the Indiana Ice will welcome the Chicago Steel to the Bankers Life Arena in Indianapolis, IN. Game time is set for 7pm (6pm Chicago time).