Steel Notch 4-3 Win in Preseason Opener

September 9, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Chicago Steel News Release

MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN – With a notable contribution from first-year players, the Chicago Steel notched a 4-3 win to open the preseason slate against the Muskegon Lumberjacks at Trinity Health Arena in Michigan Friday night.

Cameron Johnson and Charlie Major scored goals in their debuts with the Steel and Chris Delaney and Jayden Perron added tallies to defeat the Lumberjacks.

In his first USHL preseason action, netminder Miles Roberts turned away 18 Muskegon shots to earn the win.

Cameron Johnson, a native of Vancouver, BC, got the scoring started for Chicago. Connecting with a pass from fellow first-year Steel forward Brady Arneson, Johnson snuck a puck past Lumberjacks netminder Brendan Holahan to put the Steel ahead 1-0 in the first.

Gavin McCarthy evened the odds for Muskegon late in the first, but the Steel used three goals in the middle frame to separate from the Lumberjacks.

The barrage started with Chris Delaney when the forward from Hopkinton, Mass., one-touched a pass from Mick Thompson as he gained ground on the Muskegon crease.

With a 2-1 cushion, the Steel struck four minutes later on a man advantage. Taking a feed from Jack Harvey, Jayden Perron let rip a shot from just atop the circles that rocketed over Muskegon netminder Noah Rupprecht’s right shoulder.

First-year Steel forward Charlie Major benefitted from a Mick Thompson forecheck deep in the Steel offensive zone late in the middle frame. After Thompson chased a Lumberjacks skater behind the net, forcing a turnover, Major had a point-blank chance and buried his first marker of the exhibition slate.

Midway through the third, Muskegon took advantage of a power play as Gavin McCarty netted his second of the game. Coming down the slot, McCarthy had enough room to let go a wrister that got past Roberts to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Jake Richard pulled the Lumberjacks to within one goal moments after McCarthy’s marker late in the third. Off an offensive zone faceoff win, Richard rocketed a wrister just outside the crease past Roberts as Muskegon clawed its way back to within 4-3.

With just under three minutes to play, the Steel went on a power play but Lumberjacks forward Tyler Hotson controlled a loose puck and took a breakaway chance to the Chicago net resulting in a penalty shot.

With the chance to tie things up, Hotson approached Roberts from left to right before Roberts closed the five-hole to cancel out the penalty shot.

The Steel were able to avoid any last-minute chances from Muskegon, escaping Trinity Health Arena with the exhibition win.

The Steel and Lumberjacks face off at Fox Valley Ice Arena Saturday, Sep. 10 at 7:05 to finish the home-and-home preseason set.

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 Preseason Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:

Saturday, September 10 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (PRESEASON) (7:05 pm CT)

Friday, September 16 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (PRESEASON) (7:05 pm CT)

Saturday, September 17 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (PRESEASON) (7:05 pm CT)

• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board…

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.