Manz Sparkles, Celebrini Gets First USHL Goal in 3-1 Comeback Win over Fargo
September 22, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Chicago Steel News Release
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA
– The Chicago Steel (1-0-0-0; 2 pts.) waited until
midway through the third period to ramp up the offensive pressure, completing a third-period
comeback to top the Fargo Force (0-1-0-0; 0 pts.) by a 3-1 score at UPMC Lemieux Sports
Complex Thursday in the
team’s regular season opener.
Steel goaltender Christian Manz dazzled between the Steel pipes, making 31 stops including
multiple high-danger chances to keep Chicago in the game before Mick Thompson, Macklin
Celebrini and Nick Moldenhauer combined for the final three goals of the game in the third
period.
Not even a minute into the season, Manz started the campaign with a dazzling stop. Force
forward Cole Knuble one-touched a pass from Bret Link making Manz slide left to right, barely
getting his right pad on the puck to keep the game scoreless on the first shift.
The goaltending display continued throughout the opening frame. With five minutes elapsed in
the first, Brasen Boser lasered a wrister that was snagged by Manz with his glove on another
golden chance for Fargo.
With the score tied 0-0 and less than 10 seconds on the clock in the first, the Steel were inches
from capitalizing on an opportune bounce. Chicago forward Chris Delaney possessed the puck
after it deflected near center ice, turning in on a breakaway. Delaney got Force netminder Anton
Castro down but just missed the net high and wide as the period expired.
The second period was littered with power play chances for both teams as Manz continued his
masterful performance in net. On a penalty kill, Force forward Tanner Walos was sprung on an
abbreviated breakaway chance but Manz was equal to the task.
Moments later, on a Fargo power play, the Force won an offensive zone faceoff and worked the
puck to the left corner. From there, the puck trickled in front of the cage where multiple players
jammed at the puck, but Manz once again shut the door.
It took until the 15 minute mark of the second for Fargo to finally solved Manz as a shot from
Boser was re-directed in front of the net by Cole Knuble, giving Manz no chance to react to the
first marker of the season for the Force.
Manz turned away 22 Fargo shots through two periods before his teammates came to the
rescue late in the third.
After another crucial stop by Manz as Fargo defenseman Joe Palodichuk breezed down the left
side but was stonewalled by the Steel netminder, Cameron Johnson initiated the first Steel
scoring play of the season.
Gaining the offensive zone on the left side and drifting towards the corner, Johnson spun a pass
to Mick Thompson who was stationed in front of Castro to tap home the game-tying goal
midway through the third.
With momentum on their side, the Steel went on a power play just over a minute after
Thompson’s goal that soon turned into an extended 5-on-3 advantage.
Breaking through for his first career USHL goal, Macklin Celebrini accepted a pass from Jayden
Perron, walked down the left side of the offensive zone and unleased a laser shot past Castro to
put the Steel ahead for the first time in the game.
With time becoming a factor under the two minute mark, Castro vacated the Force crease as
Bret Link dashed in with a contested breakaway chance. Link never got a shot away as Chicago
blueliner Jake Livanavage hustled back to tie up the Fargo skater, preventing a last-minute
scoring chance.
On the ensuing sequence, Thompson earned his second point of the night when he won a
board battle below the offensive zone blue line, chipping the puck to Nick Moldenhauer.
Moldenhauer got the point-blank tap-in to seal the 3-1 comeback win in a thrilling season
opener for Chicago.
The Steel are back in action Friday at 1:30 pm CT against the reigning Clark Cup champions,
the Sioux City Musketeers in both clubs’ final game at the 2022 DICK’S Sporting Goods USHL
Fall Classic.
Chicago faces off against Muskegon on the road on Friday, Sep. 30 before the home opener at
Fox Valley Ice Arena on Saturday, Oct. 1 against the Green Bay Gamblers at 7:05 pm CT.
Saturday is Opening Night with Turtle Races courtesy of the St. Charles Park District. After the
game, fans can take the ice to Skate with the Steel.
Tickets start at just $10 and are on sale now by calling 855-51-STEEL, purchasing at
ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com or visiting the Steel box office at Fox Valley Ice Arena during
business hours. Starting this season, all Steel tickets are now digital. To learn more, visit
ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Season ticket plans starting at 5 games for just $50 and group tickets and experiences are on
sale now by calling 855-51-STEEL or emailing [email protected].
Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Friday, September 23 vs. Sioux City
Musketeers (DICK’s Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic –
Cranberry Township, PA) 1:30 pm CT
Friday, September 30 at Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:10 pm CT)
Saturday, October 1 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Turtle Races Courtesy of St.
Charles Park District | Post-Game Skate with the Steel
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