Steel Close Preseason With 4-0 Loss Against Youngstown
September 18, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS – The Chicago Steel closed the book on the 2022 preseason with a 4-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Youngstown Phantoms at Fox Valley Ice Arena Saturday night.
The Phantoms controlled the scoring with a three-goal opening frame and a marker in the second, holding on to seal the exhibition weekend sweep against Chicago.
Phantoms forward Kenta Isogai led the attack for the visitors when he took a feed from Andrew Strathmann five minutes into the game. Isogai curled towards the net with a power move, beating Steel netminder Christian Manz with a sliding puck through the five-hole.
Hunter Price and Matthew Perkins led a two-man rush for Youngstown moments later as they isolated a Chicago defender. Price slid the puck to Perkins who netted his first marker of the exhibition slate.
A fortunate bounce for the visitors expanded the lead to 3-0 as Price was credited with his second point of the night. A trickling puck found its way to the skate of Price and was re-directed past Manz.
The Steel had a chance to turn the momentum in the second period, going on a four-minute power play.
On the first shot of the man advantage, Steel defenseman Thor Byfuglien put a wrister off the crossbar. Youngstown was whistled for another infraction moments later, sending the Steel to a two-minute 5-on-3 advantage but the Phantoms stifled Chicago’s power play unit.
After the crucial special teams sequence, the Phantoms added their fourth goal of the game. Youngstown captain Shane LaChance got his stick blade on a shot in front of the net, tipping home his third marker of the preseason.
The Steel totaled nine shots in the third but Chicago could not get past Youngstown netminder Jacob Fowler who stopped all 33 shots faced in the shutout effort.
Chicago heads to the DICK’S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic to begin the regular season with a contest against the Fargo Force on Thursday, Sep. 22 at 4:30 pm CT and a Friday afternoon tilt at 1:30 pm CT against the defending Clark Cup champion Sioux City Musketeers.
Single game tickets 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:
Thursday, September 22 vs. Fargo Force (DICK’S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic – Cranberry Township, PA) (4:30 pm CT)
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)
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