General 11/3/2023 11:03:00 PM

Chicago Earns Point in Nine-Round Shootout

Steel tie game with 58 seconds to force overtime

GENEVA, IL — In the second straight game on home ice that went to extra time, the Chicago Steel (1-8-1-1, 4 pts.) earned a point after tying the game at four late in the third, but Gamblers forward Michael DeAngelo scored the lone goal in a nine-round shootout as the Steel fell 5-4 against the Green Bay Gamblers (9-5-0-0) at Fox Valley Ice Arena on Friday night.

Michael Hage (4) recorded a goal and an assist for Chicago, Hans-Martin Ulvebne (2), and Joey DelGreco (3) each scored, and Hunter Hady scored his first goal of the season.

Goaltender Christian Manz stopped 24 of 28 shots in defeat including stopping eight of nine shootout attempts.

Chicago twice rebounded from third period deficits but were unable to beat Green Bay goaltender and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Adam Gajan in overtime or the shootout.

The Steel got the better of the Gamblers early in the opening frame when Ben Yurchuk got in on a 3-on-1, but the puck rolled just as Yurchuk went to make a pass, negating a Grade-A chance.

Charlie Major got another great chance for the Steel five minutes in on another odd-man rush, but his cross-ice pass was deflected away, keeping the game scoreless.

The constant Steel pressure saw a positive result just past the six-minute mark of the period.

Kolin Sisson made a great effort to hold the offensive zone and threw a pass to Hudson Gorski, who put a shot to the net that was deflected into the air. Michael Hage was waiting at the far post and came in with a baseball check-swing to bat the air-bound rubber past Gamblers goaltender Adam Gajan to put Chicago on the board.

Hage's goal was his fourth of the season and first in six games after he scored three goals in three games to start the season.

Chicago's lead did not last, as the Gamblers got a response from Geno Carcone on a goal that crossed the line as he crashed into Steel goalie Christian Manz, tying the game at one.

It was no secret that a Gamblers player to watch would be Gajan, and he left no doubt on his ability, highlighted by an early pad save moving to his left and an impressive save on a shot through traffic that was deflected by Hage towards the net.

The Steel continued pressing on the gas and received another offensive boost from a hot hand.

With just under six minutes left in the period, Hans-Martin Ulvebne scooped the puck in neutral ice and worked his way into the Gamblers' end. While making a handful of dips and dekes around the defense and to the net, Ulvebne sent the puck toward the crease that bounced its way across the goal line to put Chicago on top 2-1.

Ulvebne's second goal was a nifty one and came a week after scoring his first career USHL goal on the road.

For only the fifth time this year, the Steel outshot its opponent in a period, besting the Gamblers 14 to 8 after the first frame.

Green Bay pushed back with an early opportunity of its own to start the second period, a two-on-one that forced Manz to make a difficult stop with the blocker to keep Chicago in front.

Not long after the chance was denied by Manz, the Gamblers came knocking once more, and again, Carcone was the scorer for Green Bay to tie the game at two.

At the midway point, Chicago was inches away from grabbing its lead back when Lukas Sawchyn tried his best Ulvebne impression after dangling through everyone en route to the net. Sawchyn nearly got a backhand shot away but was held up and couldn't pull the trigger.

In the later stages of the second, Chicago again saw a chance to get on the board after a scramble ensued in the crease. The Steel got a shot away with Gajan down and out, but the puck was blocked by a pileup in front of the net.

Gajan continued to make NHL-esque saves, with his best coming with 5:20 to play after the Slovakian netminder made a split save with his right pad for a remarkable stop off a Steel two-on-one.

Still pressing forward, Charlie Major added a quick release from the right wing, but Gajan again was up to the task.

On its first power play early in the third, the Gamblers snagged their first lead of the night.

Following a marvelous shorthanded forechecking from Owen Tylec ticked a heavy portion of the clock down, the Gamblers set up in the attacking end and, with 30 seconds left in the advantage, got a score from Libor Nemec on a perfect feed from Blake Bechen to move in front.

The intensity of the game became very prominent in the third as both teams exchanged heavy hits in open ice and along the boards.

With time winding down in the third, the Steel stuck its neck out and responded in a big way.

Off a set faceoff play, Hage sent a pass to an open Hunter Hady on the right wing, who fired a blistering snapshot over the left shoulder of Gajan to tie the game at three with six minutes remaining.

After a Steel penalty with under three minutes remaining, Green Bay scored another tiebreaking goal on the power play, this time from Julian Lutz.

Fifty seconds later, the Steel were granted a timely power play with an opportunity to again tie the game.

With only 58 seconds remaining, Joey DelGreco played hero for the time being with a power play goal to tie the game at four.

The clutch goal from DelGreco pushed the game to overtime.

Following a penalty called on Green Bay with :24 in regulation, Chicago took the advantage into overtime.

Chicago came dangerously close to getting its first win on home ice, but as he'd done all game, Gajan continued to stop everything that came his way to keep Green Bay alive.

The Gamblers netminder made an early save of the season candidate when he went full splits on a cross-crease pass and made the stop with his fully-stretched right pad.

Neither team could pull through in the five-minute extra frame, so the contest extended to a shootout, the first for the Steel this year.

If regulation and overtime didn't provide enough of a dazzling goaltender show, the shootout most certainly did. The shootout went a total of nine rounds, eight scoreless, as Gajan and Manz exchanged saves with each shooter faced.

It wasn't until the top of the ninth when DeAngelo finally broke the shootout seal, and Gajan stopped Tobias Ohman to give the Gamblers a 5-4 shootout victory.

Chicago outshot Green Bay 40-29, its highest shot total of the season, marking the first time this season it has outshot its opponent.

The Steel will stay home and wrap up the weekend against the Gamblers on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7:05 pm CT for Napoleon Dynamite Night. The first 500 fans will receive a Chicago Steel fanny pack, and those in attendance can stay for the first Post-Game Skate with the Steel of the season. Fans can bring their own skates.

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:
Saturday, November 4 vs. Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT) Napoleon Dynamite Night | Fanny Pack Giveaway (first 500 fans) | Post-Game Skate with the Steel
Friday, November 10 at Madison Capitols (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, November 17 at Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

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Players Mentioned

#3 Hunter Hady: D; 6' 4"; Uncommitted

#19 Michael Hage: F; 6' 0"; Uncommitted

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

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

#4 Hudson Gorski: Defense; 6' 4"; Freshman; Cornell University

#7 Kolin Sisson: Forward; 5' 9"; Freshman; Providence College

#10 Joey DelGreco: Forward; 5' 10"; Freshman; Augustana University

#17 Ben Yurchuk: Forward; 5' 9"; Freshman; Northeastern University

#23 Tobias Ohman: Forward; 5' 8"; Freshman

#24 Owen Tylec: Forward; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Hunter Hady
: 6' 4"; Uncommitted
: D

#19 Michael Hage
: 6' 0"; Uncommitted
: F

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

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

#4 Hudson Gorski
: 6' 4"; Freshman; Cornell University
: Defense

#7 Kolin Sisson
: 5' 9"; Freshman; Providence College
: Forward

#10 Joey DelGreco
: 5' 10"; Freshman; Augustana University
: Forward

#17 Ben Yurchuk
: 5' 9"; Freshman; Northeastern University
: Forward

#23 Tobias Ohman
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: Forward

#24 Owen Tylec
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: Forward