General 11/19/2023 6:48:00 PM

Phantoms Silence Steel to Split Weekend Series

Major, Thompson record goals as Steel five-game point streak ends

GENEVA, IL — The Chicago Steel (5-9-1-1, 12 pts.) saw its four-game winning streak come to an end after falling to the Youngstown Phantoms (12-4-2-0, 14 pts.) 5-2 Sunday afternoon at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Charlie Major continued to light the lamp for Chicago, scoring his fifth goal in four games to get Chicago on the board in the second period. Mick Thompson had the final Steel goal of the game, his sixth of the year late in the middle frame while Chicago was shorthanded.

Steel goaltender Christian Manz had a busy day from the crease, seeing 45 Phantoms shots and stopping 41 of them.

Similar to Saturday night's game, Sunday afternoon featured a high level of physical play and a total of 32 penalty minutes between the two teams.

Shortly after the midway mark of the first period, Youngstown's Ryan Botterill found the back of the net to kick off the scoring. Botterill's goal was the only score of the opening period.

The second period was jam-packed, featuring five goals and seven penalties.

The Phantoms extended their lead to 2-0 at 5:47 of the period after Adam Pietila ripped his ninth goal of the season past Manz. Botterill added an assist to his earlier goal on the second Youngstown score.

Just under a minute after the goal, the Steel answered to get on the board.

After carrying into the attacking end, Charlie Major went inside out with some wonderful stickhandling to create an opening and fired a shot past Phantoms goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz to pull the Steel within one.

Major's goal was his team-leading eighth of the season and fifth goal in four games.

Youngstown wasted no time in shifting the momentum back its way, scoring two power play goals, one from Adam Pietila and another from Charlie Cerrato. The power play goals would prove to be the difference in the game.

Chicago would offer one more reply eight seconds after Youngstown's fourth goal, a half-breakaway for Mick Thompson, who fired over the glove of Bartoszkiewicz for a beauty of a snipe.

Thompson's goal was his sixth of the season and had a lone assist from Thor Byfuglien, who made a perfect breakout pass right onto the tape of Thompson.

The Phantoms took their 4-2 lead into the third period and didn't let up the defensive pressure, allowing just seven Chicago shots and adding an empty net goal to escape with a 5-2 win.

Chicago will be on the road for Thanksgiving weekend, taking on the Fargo Force on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7:05 pm CT and Saturday, Nov. 25 at 6:05 pm CT.

The Steel will play another away game on Friday, December 1 at 7:05 pm CT against the Madison Capitols before returning home Dec. 2 and 3.

Saturday, Dec. 2 is the 20^th Anniversary Celebration of the movie Elf, and Sunday, Dec. 3 is a Celebration of Inclusion presented by Rising Lights Project and Laura Henrikson-Realtor that will feature sensory rooms, limited loud music, no goal horns with ASL celebrations and other accommodations.

Dec. 3 is a Steel Family Pack game where fans can get four tickets, hot dogs, chips, sodas/waters and chuck-a-pucks for just $60.

Single-game tickets are on sale now starting at just $10. All Steel tickets are digital and fans are encouraged to purchase online in advance at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Friday, November 24 at Fargo Force (7:05 pm CT)
Saturday, November 25 at Fargo Force (6:05 pm CT)
Friday, December 1 at Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT)

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Players Mentioned

#14 Mick Thompson: F; 5' 8"; Harvard University

#20 Charlie Major: F; 5' 10"; Cornell University

#25 Thor Byfuglien: D; 6' 0"; St. Cloud State University

#35 Christian Manz: G; 6' 0"; Augustana University

Players Mentioned

#14 Mick Thompson
: 5' 8"; Harvard University
: F

#20 Charlie Major
: 5' 10"; Cornell University
: F

#25 Thor Byfuglien
: 6' 0"; St. Cloud State University
: D

#35 Christian Manz
: 6' 0"; Augustana University
: G