CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – After a wild game consisting of four lead changes and five combined third period goals, the Chicago Steel (9-5-0-1; 19 pts.) fell short in the shootout in their first matchup of the season against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (6-5-2-0; 14 pts.) Saturday night at ImOn Ice Arena in Iowa.
Steel forward Jack Harvey recorded his fourth straight two-goal game but the RoughRiders took advantage of Steel penalties, recording three power play goals including two in the third period.
Cedar Rapids forward Dylan Hryckowian registered the only goal in the shootout to earn the extra point in the standings for the RoughRiders.
Chicago took the first lead of the game. Less than two minutes into the contest, Jack Harvey streaked into the offensive zone alone off a feed from Michael Emerson and sent a wrister low past the right pad of Cedar Rapids goaltender Bruno Bruveris to extend his goal streak to five games. In the process, it ended a streak of two consecutive shutouts for Bruveris.
The RoughRiders came back halfway through the period with goals by Ryan O'Connell and Zion Green to take the lead. O'Connell scored the equalizer with an up close, one-timer goal off a feed from JJ Wiebusch.
Shortly after while on the power play, Green took the lead for the RoughRiders with a short hesitation as he waited for an opening and fired a sharp wrister that beat Manz.
Chicago's power play continued to produce as Harvey registered his second goal of the night with just over four minutes remaining in the period to tie the game at 2-2. Harvey hopped on a right pad rebound off Cameron Johnson's shot from the left side. The goal marked Harvey's fifth multi-point game in a row and his fourth straight two-goal game.
Midway through the second period while playing 4-on-4, Zam Plante fended off a defender with strong puck protection and sent the puck in the direction of teammate Cameron Johnson in the slot. Johnson secured the puck and made a move on Bruveris, sliding the puck through the five-hole to gain a 3-2 lead for Chicago.
Near the end of the second period, Brady Arneson received a 5-minute major and a geme misconduct for spearing.
The RoughRiders wasted no time capitalizing on the Arenson major at the start of the third period, as Eric Pohlkamp blasted the puck from the point through traffic and tied the game at 3-3.
Just 21 seconds later, with Chicago still shorthanded, Zam Plante registered his first goal of the season off a backdoor feed from Anthony Dowd in front of the net to take the lead back for Chicago.
The lead was short lived, as just 15 seconds later, Ryan Walsh scored on a one-timer goal from the top of the left circle off a feed from Eric Pohlkamp on the power play and tied the game at 4-4.
Cedar Rapids continued with the momentum, dictating play for much of the third period and taking the lead with seven minutes remaining. Zaccharya Wisdom rushed the net, and Ryan Walsh got his second goal of the night on the rebound to beat Manz.
Chicago tied the game with under five minutes to play. Carrying the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone, Jayden Perron fired the puck past Bruveris from the far edge of the right circle to tie the game at 5-5.
After Bruveris stood on his heads during a 3-on-3 overtime session dominated by Chicago, the game headed to shootout.
Dylan Hryckowian decided the shootout in the second round as he carried the puck wide and beat Manz with a wrister between the circles.
With his two goals tonight and five points this weekend, Jack Harvey leads the USHL with 24 points (14G, 10A). Teammate Michael Emerson had two assists tonight and sits second with 20 points (9G, 11A) ahead of Jayden Perron with 19 points (7G, 12A).
Anthony Dowd had a pair of assists for the Steel, and Cameron Johnson and Zam Plante each had a goal and an assist. Chris Able and Hunder Hady also registered assists.
Christian Manz stopped 31 shots including all 12 he faced in the second period.
The Steel return home for a pair of games against the Youngstown Phantoms on Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19. Friday, Nov. 18 is Superheroes Night and a Slumberland Family Pack Game with a great deal. Fans can get 4 Tickets, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Chips, 4 Sodas or Waters and 4 Chuck-A-Pucks for just $50. Saturday, Nov. 19 is World Cup Night with a Vuvuzela Giveaway for the first 500 fans.
Tickets start at just $10 and are available by calling 855-51-STEEL, purchasing at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com or visiting the Steel box office at Fox Valley Ice Arena during business hours.
All Chicago Steel tickets are digital and available on mobile devices. Fans should create their profile online by clicking here. For more information on digital tickets for the Chicago Steel, click here. Fans attending this weekend's games and all Steel home games this season are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to arriving at the arena to avoid any delays on game night.
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, November 18 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) Superheroes Night | Slumberland Family Pack Game
Saturday, November 19 vs. Youngstown Phantoms (7:05 pm CT) World Cup Night with Vuvuzela Giveaway (first 500 fans)
Friday, November 25 at Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT)
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