PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN — In a hard-fought game that included 48 minutes of either tied scores or one-goal leads, the Chicago Steel (5-3-0-0; 10 pts.) came up short in a 5-4 loss against Team USA (U17) (4-2-0-0; 8 pts.) Saturday night at USA Hockey Arena.
Team USA and the Steel went goal-for-goal for the majority of the night until the home team tallied a pair of markers within two and a half minutes to take a two-goal lead in the third, holding Chicago off despite a final-minute push.
Steel forward Nick Moldenhauer scored his ninth goal of the season, the most in the USHL, but Team USA forward James Hagens notched a pair of goals while Cole Eiserman factored in with three points (1G, 2A) to lead the red, white and blue.
Austin Baker was the first to reach the back of the net and it took he and Team USA just over a minute of game time to do it. Alongside Eiserman on a 2-on-1 rush, Eiserman let a wrister go that was initially deflected away by Manz but right to Baker who cleaned up the rebound, putting Team USA ahead 1-0.
Patience was the key for the first Steel goal as Michael Emerson waited until the last second to dish a pass to Nick Moldenhauer on a power play. With the final minutes of the opening frame looming, Emerson picked up a rebound from a Jack Harvey shot, wrapped around the cage and held on for a split second longer before he got the puck to Moldenhauer waiting on the left side of the crease. Moldenhauer found a sliver of daylight behind Team USA netminder Nick Kempf for his league-leading ninth goal of the early season.
The day after tallying a two-goal game, Eiserman added to his total with a power play marker in the middle frame. Set up by Lucas Van Vliet and Cole Hutson, Eiserman hammered home a one-timer from the right circle to put Team USA back on top for the time being.
Matching the game's frenetic pace, the Steel scored on a power play for the second time after a blazing-fast zone entry. Macklin Celebrini slid a pass over to Jayden Perron in the neutral zone as both skaters hit the afterburners and charged the net. Celebrini got behind his defender where Perron found him with a perfect pass, deflecting home for Celebrini's fifth goal of his rookie season.
Team USA forward James Hagens, younger brother of Steel defenseman Michael Hagens, scored his third goal of the season to give his club another one goal lead. Circling in the Team USA offensive zone, James Hagens was able to fire a shot through traffic that popped the back of the net resulting in a 3-2 edge for Team USA.
The Steel once again answered, this time just two and a half minutes later, tying the game at 3-3.
With a bouncing puck eluding Team USA as they tried to clear their defensive zone, Perron picked up the puck and turned to find Mick Thompson in front of the net. Thompson drifted to the right of the crease and tossed a pass to the front that took a fortunate bounce off a Team USA defender and went in for his fourth marker of the year.
Ending the second period with the score tied, Team USA pulled ahead with a pair of quick strikes in the final frame.
Just over five minutes into the third, a neutral zone turnover led to a 2-on-1 for Team USA with Eiserman carrying the puck towards Manz. Eiserman was turned away by Manz but the rebound rimmed around to the point where a shot was thrown towards the net. Manz could not cover it as Hagens gained control and wrapped his second goal of the game around the Chicago netminder, Hagens' second of the night.
Just over two minutes later, Team USA took a two-goal lead thanks to Brodie Ziemer. Left alone in the slot, Ziemer was fed by Brendan McMorrow as he zipped a shot home, taking a 5-3 edge in favor of Team USA.
With Chicago turning up the pressure while chasing a pair of goals, Team USA netminder Nick Kempf steadied the back end for the home team, making 14 of his 29 stops in the third.
As time became scarce, Chicago pulled Manz in favor of an extra attacker with over two minutes to play but could not put anything on net until the final minute of play.
After a Chicago timeout and time ticking down, a cross-ice passing play went from Jake Livanavage to Michael Emerson to Perron and back to Emerson as Emerson ripped a wrist shot from the right side past Kempf with five seconds to play.
On the ensuing faceoff, the Steel hustled after the puck in the offensive zone but time ran out before Chicago could get a shot to the net, sealing the 5-4 final score in favor of Team USA.
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:
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
Saturday, October 29 at Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)
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