Men's Ice Hockey 4/22/2023 9:27:00 PM Chicago Steel

STEEL CLOSE REGULAR SEASON WITH 8-5 LOSS IN MUSKEGON

Finley registers hat trick and assist

GENEVA, ILLINOIS — The Chicago Steel (39-18-4-1; 83 pts) closed out the 2022-2023 regular season with a 8-5 loss to the Muskegon Lumberjacks (27-32-3-0; 57 pts) Saturday at Trinity Health Arena.

Muskegon scored four goals in the second and third periods to secure the win.

Quinn Finley recorded his first hat trick of the season and an assist in the contest. His fourth point marked his 100^th career point and second four-point game of the season.

Nick Moldenhauer had two assists in the matchup. It was Moldenhauer's third consecutive two-point game and 17^th of the season.

The Steel came out flying, controlling most of the play and allowing no Muskegon shots on goal for more than five minutes.

Midway through the opening frame, the Steel opened the scoring. In his USHL debut, Aidan Dyer collected the puck along the boards behind the goal line and tried to connect with Grayden Slipec in the slot, but his pass was intercepted and put into Muskegon goaltender Thomas Kiesewetter's pads. However, Kiesewetter couldn't swallow the puck and it was collected by Brady Arneson who scooped the puck past Kiesewetter for an early 1-0 lead. It was Arneson's first goal since Dec. 9 and second of the season.

Less than four minutes later, the Steel struck shorthanded to double their lead 2-0. Steel goaltender Jack Stark made a save and poked the puck to Quinn Finley to create a breakaway. Finley darted down the ice to the Muskegon net, pulled the puck on his backhand and lifted the puck above Kiesewetter's glove.

The Steel ended the first period with a 2-0 lead for the third consecutive game. The first period was all Chicago, with the Steel outshooting Muskegon 15-5.

Less than four minutes into the middle frame, Muskegon answered with a pair of goals within 39 seconds to tie the game 2-2.

Cody Croal fought for the puck along the boards of the offensive zone blue line and connected with Easton Young breaking into the zone. Young fired from the slot to beat Stark high, glove side.

Moments later, Muskegon struck again. Jack Galanek held the puck in the right circle and fired towards the net. Stark frantically tried to cover, but Michael Callow poked the puck loose into the back of the net.

About two minutes later, the Steel regained the lead. Nick Moldenhauer stopped a Muskegon rush in the neutral zone by picking the pocket of a Lumberjack and connected with Quinn Finley at the top of the offensive zone. Finley skated to the right circle and released a wrister past Kiesewetter's glove for his second goal of the game.

Muskegon responded with a pair of goals to gain its first lead of the night.

Cody Croal found Matvei Gridin on the doorstep who tipped the puck in past Stark's left skate to tie the game at 3-3.

Less than three minutes later, Nicholas Rexine carried the puck down the left side, dragged, and released a wrister from the left circle to beat Stark glove side.

With just over four minutes left in the middle frame, the Steel tied the game. Michael Hage carried the puck into the offensive zone from the defensive zone blue line with a streaking Finley for a two-on-one. Hage connected with Finley with a cross-ice pass. Finley carried the puck across the crease and lifted it on his backhand for his first hat trick of the season.

A Steel penalty at the end of the second period gave Muskegon a power play to start the third.

Muskegon wasted no time on the power play, scoring just 25 seconds into the period. George Fegaras received a pass at the top of the offensive zone and carried the puck down the right side, firing from an odd angle at the bottom of the right circle to beat Stark for a 5-4 lead.

Five minutes later, Muskegon scored again. Ethan Whitcomb collected the puck along the far boards and tossed the puck to Ethan Fredericks on the doorstep. Fredericks skated the perimeter of the crease, shoveling the puck through Stark's legs.

Midway through the period, Muskegon scored its third consecutive goal for a 7-4 lead. Michael Callow received the puck in the neutral zone line and skated into the offensive zone, pivoting past his defender and making his way to the slot. Callow dragged and lifted the puck past Stark, blocker side.

With five minutes left in the period, the league-leading Steel power play struck again. Fniley connected with Moldenhauer on the goal line who quickly found Jack Harvey on the doorstep. Harvey tipped the puck in for his 40^th goal of the season and fifth goal in as many games.

With an assist on the goal and fourth point of the game, Finley recorded his 100^th career point.

Late in the period, Ethan Fredericks buried an empty net goal to cap the scoring.

The Steel enter the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. After earning a First Round bye, the Steel will begin the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, hosting a best-of-three series against the winner of the First Round matchup between the #4 seed Green Bay and #5 seed Dubuque that will begin either Friday, April 28 or Saturday, April 29 at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva.

Single-game playoff tickets for all potential Eastern Conference Semifinals dates are on sale now. Pricing for the Conference Semifinals remains the same as regular season pricing with tickets starting at just $10 and discounts available for groups of 10 or more.

Group tickets and experiences are on sale now for playoff home games, including the team's Youth Hockey Experience, Scouts Experience, national anthem groups, charity of the game/fundraising, birthdays, and party areas such as the Coors Light Chill Zone and Steel Suites are booking fast for the playoffs.

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 playoff games this season.

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.

Tickets may be purchased at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyteam.com. Fans with questions should email info@ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com to learn more.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 1: Friday, April 28 (7:05 p.m. CT) or Saturday, April 29 (7:05 p.m. CT) vs. #4 Green Bay or #5 Dubuque
Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 2: Saturday, April 29 (7:05 p.m. CT) or Sunday, April 30 (5:05 p.m.) vs. #4 Green Bay or #5 Dubuque
Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, April 30 (5:05 p.m.) or Monday, May 1 (7:05 p.m. CT) vs. #4 Green Bay or #5 Dubuque

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Players Mentioned

#9 Nick Moldenhauer: F; 5' 11"; Freshman; University of Michigan

Players Mentioned

#9 Nick Moldenhauer
: 5' 11"; Freshman; University of Michigan
: F

Players Mentioned

#9 Nick Moldenhauer

Players Mentioned

#9 Nick Moldenhauer