Steel Ground Flying Aces with 5-2 Win
September 22, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel (1-1-1-0, 3pts. preseason) scored four unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 win over the Central Illinois Flying Aces (2-2-0-0, 4pts.) Friday at Fox Valley Ice Arena as the Steel opened the final weekend of the preseason.
Steel left wing Gunnarwolfe Fontaine picked up the game winning goal in the second period while the top line of Robert Mastrosimone, Nick Abruzzese and Ryan Doolin combined for a five-point night and two of the team's five goals. Justin Robbins stopped 21 shots and kept the Steel in the game before the offense took over.
Chicago opened the scoring just 1:15 into the contest when defenseman John Spetz rifled a snap shot over the blocker of Flying Aces goaltender Ryan Snowden after receiving a pass in the slot from Abruzzese.
The lead did not last long as Central Illinois defenseman Sebastian Dirven tied things up less than two minutes later. Center Lynden Breen carried the puck the length of the ice and shoveled a pass to left wing Payton Matsui who immediately found Dirven alone at the blue line. The defenseman skated to the top of the near faceoff circle before firing a slap shot over the shoulder of Robbins.
After being outshot 5-0 during the first five minutes of the second period, the Steel rattled off two goals on four quality scoring chances within a two-minute span. The first came off the stick of left wing Cole Kodsi after a strong shift from the fourth line. Steel center Tim Clifton started the play with a pass down the near boards to right wing James McIsaac whose initial pass to the slot missed Kodsi but found Clifton in the high slot. Clifton proceeded to fire a wrist shot on net but the puck was blocked by a Flying Aces defenseman before a spinning Kodsi sent a backhand shot past Snowden 8:08 into the second period.
After the Kodsi goal, Abruzzese and Mastrosimone each had quality scoring chances on separate odd-man rushes 25 seconds apart but Snowden denied both to keep the game at 2-1.
Moments later, Fontaine was able to crack Snowden. After his initial defensive zone clear was tracked down by Steel center Cole Quisenberry and a pair of Flying Aces, Fontaine picked up the loose puck, toe dragged to the forehand and deposited a hard wrister over the glove of Snowden.
The Steel struck for another pair of goals in the third period, started by Mastrosimone at the 10:15 mark. On the power play, Abruzzese found himself at the top of the faceoff circle where he faked a shot twice before finding right wing Ryan Doolin to the side of the net. Doolin then hit Mastrosimone out front with a no-look, behind the back, between-the-legs pass for the easy tip-in.
Just 2:22 later, Clifton picked up a loose puck off a faceoff and skated to the doorstep before firing a backhand shot over the glove of Snowden.
Chicago finished with the advantage in shots 26-23 and converted on one of its two power play opportunities.
The Steel and Flying Aces close out the preseason with a 7:07 p.m. CT faceoff Saturday night at Grossinger Motors Arena.
The Steel open the regular season next week at the USHL Fall Classic in Cranberry Township, Penn. Chicago will take on Des Moines on Thursday, Sept. 27 and Lincoln on Friday, Sept. 28.
Opening Weekend at Fox Valley Ice Arena is October 5 and 6. The home opener is Friday, Oct. 5 presented by McCue Chevy and the first 500 fans will receive Touch Screen Gloves when the Steel host Cedar Rapids. On Saturday, Oct. 6, the Steel host Green Bay and the first 500 fans will receive a Magnet Schedule courtesy of 95.9 The River. It's the first Steel Family Pack Game of the season with a special deal for four tickets, hot dogs, sodas and chuck-a-pucks starting at just $48.
Tickets for all Steel home games are on sale now starting at just $10. Season ticket plans, starting at just 5 games for $45 are on sale now and fans are encouraged to participate in Mini Plan Mania with great weekly prizes through September 28.
For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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United States Hockey League Stories from September 22, 2018
- Saints Close Preseason with Loss to Green Bay - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Steel Close Preseason with 6-2 Loss to Flying Aces - Chicago Steel
- Stampede Close out Preseason with OT Win over Fargo - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hawks Win Final Preseason Tilt - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel Ground Flying Aces with 5-2 Win - Chicago Steel
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