Comeback Bid Falls Short as Steel Fall 6-4 to Dubuque
October 7, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS — Trailing by four goals, the Chicago Steel (3-2-0-0; 6 pts.) roared back to
pull within a one-goal deficit in the third period but the Dubuque Fighting Saints (2-2-0-0; 4 pts.)
held on to defeat the Steel 6-4 Friday Night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
Dubuque jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second period, but the Steel got goals from Mick
Thompson and Nick Moldenhauer in a span of nine seconds of game time to cut the deficit to 5-
3 before Macklin Celebrini notched his second goal of the night to make the score 5-4 in the
third.
Ryan St. Louis tallied a pair of goals, including the game-sealing empty netter, helping lead
Dubuque to a 6-4 win.
The Fighting Saints started their productive first period as the first team in the USHL to score a
power play goal against the Steel this season. Off a rebound, a tic-tac-toe passing play went
from Ryan St. Louis to Max Burkholder to Oliver Moberg who had an empty crease for a tap-in
goal on the doorstep behind Steel netminder Christian Manz.
Just past the midway point of the opening frame, a seemingly innocent defensive zone faceoff
for the Steel turned into a Fighting Saints goal. After tying up the faceoff, Owen Michaels
chased the puck to the left corner and backhanded a pass to Mundelein, Ill., native, Mikey
Burchill who one-touched the puck over the shoulder of Manz.
A quick strike just over a minute later put the Fighting Saints up by a 3-0 margin.
Riley Stuart led an offensive zone rush and fought for possession from the red line in, getting
enough strength on a shot that got past Manz.
The Steel halted Dubuque momentum for the time being thanks to an aggressive forecheck
from Mick Thompson, forcing an errant pass in the Dubuque defensive zone. Jayden Perron
deflected the puck and chased it down before turning to spin a pass to Macklin Celebrini.
Battling through defenders, Celebrini barely got a hold of the puck as he poked it past Dubuque
goaltender Marcus Brannman for his second of the year.
The Fighting Saints canceled out the Celebrini tally, getting a goal from Jacob Jeannette in the
last minute of the period. The forward was left uncontested in the slot and scored through the
five hole just 15 seconds before the buzzer put an end to the first.
Dubuque once again solved the Steel penalty kill early in the second frame. On their third man
advantage of the night, a net front scramble sent the puck trickling to the left pad of Manz but he
never felt it. Ryan St. Louis was able to drag the puck back and flip it into the open net, giving
Dubuque a 5-1 edge.
The Steel answered back with the pair of goals in the span of nine seconds.
Thompson netted his third goal of the year with just over five minutes to play in the second
when Perron fed a pass from the blue line. Thompson found it at his skates and controlled it
going from right to left, tucking the puck past Brannman.
On the ensuing faceoff, Dubuque was whistled for a hooking infraction, giving the Steel an
offensive zone draw. Jack Harvey won the puck back to Anthony Dowd who worked the puck
around the perimeter to Moldenhauer. Moldenhauer lasered a wrister that went bar-down to pull
the Steel to within two heading into the third.
A turnover in the Dubuque defensive zone led to Celebrini’s second marker of the night just past
the midway point of the third period. Defenseman Nolan Joyce picked off an errant pass and
sent the puck to Celebrini alone in the slot. Celebrini torched a wrist shot past Brannman to pull
the Steel within one.
With Fox Valley Ice Arena buzzing, the Steel went to a power play on the very next shift.
Multiple blocked shots and passes by the Fighting Saints kept the Steel power play off the
scoreboard as Dubuque was able to put an end to the Chicago comeback bid.
With just under two minutes left, the Steel sent an extra attacker on as Manz skated to the
bench. In the offensive zone, Chicago controlled the puck with a golden chance for Harvey that
went just wide of the net and away from danger.
Sealing the game, Fighting Saints forward Ryan St. Louis got his stick on a loose puck and
skated home the empty-net goal with under a minute to play.
The Steel hit the road to face the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Madison
Capitols, on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena with a 7:05 pm CT puck drop.
That contest kicks off a stretch of three consecutive games on the road, finishing with a pair of
matchups against Team USA (U17) on Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 15 in Michigan.
The Steel will return home October 21 and 22 to take on the Youngstown Phantoms. Fans can
bring their dogs to the game on Friday, October 21 for Pucks and Pups Night presented by
PetSuites. On Saturday, October 22, the Steel pay tribute to
Parks and Recreation
by
celebrating the Pawnee Harvest Festival. October 22 marks the first Slumberland Family Pack
game of the season. Fans can get 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 chips, 4 sodas/waters and 4 chuck-a-
pucks for just $50.
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:
Saturday, October 8 at Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, October 14 at Team USA (U17) (6:05 pm CT)
Saturday, October 15 at Team USA (U17) (6:05 pm CT)
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