PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN — After spotting the opponent the first goal of the game, the Chicago Steel (5-2-0-0; 10 pts.) roared back for an 8-3 victory over Team USA (U17) (3-2-0-0; 6 pts.) Friday night at USA Hockey Arena in Michigan.
Steel forward Jayden Perron scored twice as Charlie Major, Hunter Hady and Jordan Brisson each registered their first career USHL markers in the victory.
Mick Thompson, Anthony Dowd and Michael Emerson each picked up a pair of helpers while Jack Stark made 19 saves to improve his record to 3-1-0-0 between the Steel pipes this season.
An offensively-packed first period saw Team USA grab an early lead but the Steel stormed back with four consecutive goals before Team USA added another marker to make it a 4-2 game through the first 20 minutes.
Team USA forward Cole Eiserman needed only six seconds of a power play to take advantage of the first special teams sequence of the game just over six minutes into the contest. After a faceoff win in the left dot, the puck worked from Cole Hutson to James Hagens to Eiserman who ripped a quick wrist shot from the right circle past Stark for his second goal of the year.
Less than a minute later, the league's leading goal scorer took control with a power move to the net for the Steel. Nick Moldenhauer took a pass from Leo Eperjesi, barreling down the right side with E.J. Emery on his back, slipping a backhander past Parsons to tie the game.
In the blink of an eye, Cameron Johnson put the Steel ahead for the first time in the game just 45 seconds later. A shot from Mick Thompson deflected off Jack Brandt in front of the net and trickled to the end boards behind the net where Brandt gained control, slipping the puck back to the front of the crease where Johnson took over. With a slick, soft wrister, Johnson placed the puck over the pads of Parsons to put the Steel ahead 2-1.
After the sequence of three total goals in a span of exactly 100 seconds, the game relaxed to a less hectic pace until Chicago extended the lead with a pair of goals, again separated by less than a minute.
Steel blueliner Anthony Dowd stickhandled his way through the entire length of the ice, dekeing out multiple Team USA defenders as he made his way from his own defensive zone, wrapping around the net where he dished a pass to Jayden Perron. With traffic in front created by Grayden Slipec, Perron let go a wrister that found a miniscule window for his first goal of the season with just over five minutes remaining in the opening frame.
Another dazzling display of skill from a Steel defenseman led to the fourth Chicago marker of the period, this time from Libertyville, Ill., native, Chris Able. The Ohio State University commit dangled his way from the defensive zone through two USA defenders and around a third where he got a shot off from a nearly impossible angle near the end line, going top shelf on Parsons.
Putting a cap on the scoring for the opening frame was Charlie Pardue for Team USA, another power play marker, as he fired a one-timer from the slot for his first as a member of Team USA.
Two first-time goal scorers and a usual suspect combined to put the Steel ahead even further with a three-goal second period.
Charlie Major got his first as a member of the Steel with a strong individual effort. After a neutral zone takeaway, Major led a 2-on-1 attack and pulled the trigger on a wrist shot that beat new USA goaltender Noah Kempf high on his blocker side.
Perron netted his second goal of the night, Chicago's lone power play marker of the game, with just over five minutes gone in the second. Taking a feed from Mick Thompson, Perron side-stepped a defender and released a laser of a wrist shot from the high slot that got past Kempf.
Late in the second, Steel defenseman Hunter Hady joined the onslaught with his first career USHL goal. Chris Delaney and Michael Emerson led the rush with Hady filling the middle as Delaney zipped a cross ice pass to Emerson. Emerson centered a feed to Hady who got his stick down to re-direct the puck home, giving Chicago a 7-2 edge.
After Team USA added their third goal of the night, second of the game for Cole Eiserman, early in the third, the Steel closed out the game with a 17-6 edge in shots on goal, snuffing out any chance of a comeback.
Helping slam the door was Stark who made 19 stops on the night with one of his more impressive saves coming with under five minute to play in the final period. With Kamil Bednarik and Brodie Ziemer bearing down on a 2-on-0 rush, Stark slid right to left to deny Ziemer on a point-blank chance.
With under a minute on the clock, Jordan Brisson reached the back of the net for his first career USHL tally. Putting Chicago up 8-3, the Colorado College commit pounced on a drop pass from Major, rocketing a shot from the left circle for the final goal of the game.
With the win, Chicago becomes the first team in the USHL to the 10-point mark in the standings thus far this season.
The Steel and Team USA play again on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6:05 pm CT at USA Hockey Arena, finishing Chicago's stretch of three consecutive contests away from home ice.
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 info@ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Saturday, October 15 at Team USA (U17) (6:05 pm CT)
Friday, October 21 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Pucks and Pups presented by PetSuites with Dog Costume Contest
Saturday, October 22 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Parks and Rec Night celebrating the Pawnee Harvest Festival | Slumberland Furniture Family Pack
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