Men's Ice Hockey 4/2/2023 6:53:00 PM Chicago Steel

STEEL SWEEP NTDP (U18) WITH 7-3 VICTORY SUNDAY

Hage scores first USHL goal; Celebrini registers two goals and two assists

GENEVA, ILLINOIS— A night after a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory, the Chicago Steel (36-15-3-1; 76 pts) controlled most of Sunday's matchup with USA Hockey NTDP (U18) (34-18-2-2; 72 pts) at Fox Valley Ice Arena with a 7-3 victory to complete a weekend sweep of the two-game set.

Michael Hage scored his first USHL goal and recorded an assist in his seventh game played.

Macklin Celebrini registered two goals and two assists. Celebrini now has 45 goals and is approaching the franchise record for most goals in a season held by Matt Coronato (2019-2021) with 48.

Goaltender Christian Manz stopped 37 of 40 shots faced for his 18^th win of the season.

With six games remaining in the regular season, Chicago leads the Eastern Conference by three points over Youngstown and four points over USA Hockey NTDP. The top six teams in each conference qualify for the Clark Cup Playoffs with the top two seeds earning a First Round bye.

In a game played in front of more than 50 NHL Scouts, the Steel came out with fire, playing hard on the puck.
Less than five minutes into the opening frame, the Steel opened the scoring with a pair of goals 51 seconds apart.

It began when Nolan Joyce collected a rebound in the right circle and carried the puck behind the net before making a centering pass to Michael Emerson in the slot. Emerson tipped the puck to Quinn Finley on the doorstep for a one-timer past USA goaltender Trey Augustine for a 1-0 Steel lead.

Less than a minute later, after a USA penalty, Michael Hagens passed back and forth with Macklin Celebrini who stickhandled forward before releasing a wrister to beat Augustine high, blocker side.

It was Celebrini's 20^th power play goal of the season, breaking a franchise record for most power play goals in a season previously held by Matt Coronato (2019-2021) with 19.

Less than two minutes later, USA cut the Chicago lead in half while on the power play. Gabe Perreault circled along the far boards and found Beckett Hendrickson behind the goal line. Hendrickson connected with Ryan Leonard in the slot for a one-timer to beat Steel goaltender Christian Manz blocker side.

A minute later, the Steel's league-leading power play fired back to extend their lead to 3-1. Nick Moldenhauer skated the puck down the right side, faked a shot and passed to Michael Hage on the doorstep. Hage collected the puck before whipping a shot past Augustine's blocker side for his first USHL goal.

With less than four minutes left in the period, USA once again cut the Steel lead on the power play. James Hagens found a rebound on the doorstep to cut the lead to 3-2.

As time wound down in the period, the Steel extended the lead. Jayden Perron kicked the puck onto his stick blade at the top of the right circle before making a cross-ice pass to Celebrini in the opposite circle. Celebrini stickhandled and blasted a high wrister past Augustine glove-side.

In the second period, minor penalties against each team created a four-on-four matchup that Chicago took advantage of with a pair of goals in a 41 second span.

The Steel took their first three-goal lead of the game when Michael Hagens registered his ninth goal of the season. Macklin Celebrini quickly skated to a loose puck behind the net and made a centering pass to Hagens to the right of the crease. Hagens skated the perimeter of the blue paint and, while falling, scooped the puck past Augustine.

Later in the shift, Celebrini once again created an opportunity for the Steel, whipping a puck to Jayden Perron in the left circle who fired a one-timer that hit the cross-bar. Anthony Dowd crashed the net and sent the past Augustine's glove side for his fourth goal of the season and first since Feb. 18.

In a bizarre sequence, the Steel scored their seventh goal early in the third period. Thor Byfuglien fired wide from the point, but the puck bounced off a USA defender's skate into the net for Byfuglien's third goal of the season and first since Dec. 10.

USA's Gabe Perreault scored off a the rebound in the third period to cap the scoring.

Each team finished the game 2-for-4 on the power play in the final meeting of the regular season between Chicago and USA Hockey NTDP.

Next weekend, the Steel travel to the Covelli Centre in Ohio for a pair of games against the Youngstown Phantoms.
Tickets for all Steel home games 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 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 for the 2023-2024 season are now on sale starting at just 5 games for just $50. As part of the team's "Ticket Plan Madness" campaign, for a limited time, fans that secure a new season ticket plan for next season will receive complimentary tickets for regular season and playoff games this season. Fans can call 855-51-STEEL or email info@ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com to learn more.

The Steel are offering fans the opportunity to secure the best seats and lock in the lowest ticket price for?all potential Clark Cup Playoff home games through the team's Pay As We Play program available now through April 21.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Friday, April 7 at Youngstown Phantoms (6:05 p.m. CT)
Saturday, April 8 at Youngstown Phantoms (6:05 p.m. CT)
Friday, April 14 at Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 p.m. CT)

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Players Mentioned

#11 Michael Hagens: D; 5' 11"; Harvard University

#17 Macklin Celebrini: F; 6' 0"; Boston University

#18 Jayden Perron: F; 5' 9"; University of North Dakota

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

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

Players Mentioned

#11 Michael Hagens
: 5' 11"; Harvard University
: D

#17 Macklin Celebrini
: 6' 0"; Boston University
: F

#18 Jayden Perron
: 5' 9"; University of North Dakota
: F

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

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