General 1/20/2024 9:33:00 PM

Thompson Records Hat Trick as Steel Sweep NTDP

Steel score five second-period goals en route to third straight win

PLYMOUTH, MI — Mick Thompson scored his first career hat trick in an explosive second period during which Chicago scored a season-high five goals as the Steel (13-17-2-2, 30 pts.) won 6-5 in a thrilling heavyweight battle against the USA Hockey NTDP (12-20-1-1, 26 pts.) at USA Hockey Arena Saturday night.

The Steel have won three straight games and have recorded at least one standings point in seven of their last eight contests.

Chicago was held scoreless after the first 20 minutes before the offense came to life, with Joey DelGreco getting things started for the Steel 1:52 into the second period. Mick Thompson then put on his superhero cape and scored the next three goals for the Steel. Thompson's first goal tied the game at two, while his second and third goals gave the Steel a one-goal lead after each score.

Ben Wilmott scored a crucial goal with seconds on the clock in the second period that made it a 5-3 lead, and Charlie Major came through with the eventual game-winning goal less than two minutes into the third period.

Steel goaltender Louka Cloutier made 26 saves to earn his sixth win of the season and his third straight victory.

Unlike the matchup between the two on Dec. 13 which began with a flurry of goals, most of the opening period stayed scoreless, though the Steel spent more time on the attack.

Each team exchanged great looks in the first ten minutes, with the Steel getting a chance following a sweet between-the-legs pass from Jordan Brisson in neutral ice that sprung Major, whose shot was turned aside.

Despite having to defend for a chunk of the period, the NTDP struck first as Kamil Bednarik notched his sixth goal of the season at 11:10 of the first on tip-in goal following a pretty backdoor pass.

Later in the period, the Steel had a tremendous chance after a failed breakout by the NTDP.

After a turnover just outside the NTDP blue line, Reid Conn sent a dump-in that bounced to Ben Yurchuk at the left wing. Yurchuk sent a pass to a streaking Lukas Sawchyn on the doorstep, but NTDP goaltender Nick Kempf made a sensational glove save moving to his left to keep the NTDP in front.

Chicago was caught with too many men on the ice late in the first period that gave the NTDP its first power play of the game. The eighth-ranked power play unit immediately tested the Steel penalty kill and one minute into the advantage, found the back of the net when Cole Eiserman backhanded a rebound through traffic to make it 2-0.

The second period saw the Steel post their highest-scoring period of the season.

Less than two minutes into the second frame, DelGreco crashed the net and deflected a pass from Yurchuk into the net before colliding with Kempf, forcing the net to come off its moorings.

The officials reviewed the goal and determined it a good goal to get Chicago on the board.

Just over two minutes later, the Steel displayed crisp passing through the offensive zone and Thompson finished the play with a great shot through the five-hole of Kempf from the left wing to tie the game at two.

Another two minutes passed before Thompson and the Steel again sliced through the NTDP defense to take their first lead of the night.

While on the power play, Major worked his way through the neutral zone and into the attacking end, sending a perfect pass cross-crease to Thompson who stretched his stick out to deflect the puck into the back of the net to make it a 3-2 lead.

The power play goal capped off a three-goal stretch for the Steel in five minutes.

The NTDP received a power play goal of its own just past the halfway point of the period to temporarily halt Chicago's offensive onslaught, a man-advantage strike from Brodie Ziemer that took just five seconds and tied the game at three.

Chicago kept on the attack and four minutes later, jumped back in front.

The Steel capitalized on a turnover in the NTDP zone where Thompson swooped in and grabbed the puck and fired a far-side snipe from a sharp angle to complete the natural hat trick in just 14:39.

Thompson's hat trick was the second Steel hat trick this season. Joey DelGreco scored three against the Madison Capitols on Nov. 10.

With just 46 seconds left in the middle frame, the Steel added one more authoritative goal to round out an incredible period.

After a Byfuglien shot was blocked, Michael Emerson grabbed the rebound and dropped a no-look pass to Wilmott who fired past the blocker of Kempf to give the Steel their first two-goal lead of the night.

The five goals in the second frame were the most goals scored in a single period by the Steel this season.

The Steel took a penalty late in the second period that had carryover into the third period, allowing the NTDP to start fresh with a power play.

Leading scorer Cole Eiserman took just 30 seconds before scoring his 16^th goal from the slot to again bring the NTDP to within a goal.

Chicago kept the intense back-and-forth scoring going when, one minute later, Major pounced on a rebound alone in front of the crease and fired the puck home for his 15^th goal of the season that gave the Steel another two-goal lead, 6-4.

Most of the third period stayed scoreless after Major's goal until Austin Baker once again drew the NTDP within a goal with seven minutes left in regulation.

With the Steel in front 6-5, the NTDP brought on an extra attacker in the final minutes and bombarded Cloutier and the Steel with shots, but the Steel goaltender held his ground and made a remarkable stop to his left with less than ten seconds left to stymie the potential game-tying goal and lift the Steel to a 6-5 win.

The Steel will return for their first games on home ice in two weeks on Friday, Jan. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 27 with both games at 7:05 pm.

Jan. 26 is Out of This World Night presented by Illinois Aviation Academy, where the Steel will wear special space-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

On Jan. 27, fans can cash in on a great promotion with $2 beers (12 oz. Coors Light/Miller Lite cans), sodas (12 oz. cans), hot dogs (regular) and popcorn.

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, January 26 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7:05 pm CT) | Out of This World Night presented by Illinois Aviation Academy with Special Jersey Auction to benefit JDRF
Saturday, January 27 vs. Des Moines Buccaneers (7:05 pm CT) | $2 Beers, Sodas, Hot Dogs, and Popcorn
Friday, February 2 at Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT)

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Players Mentioned

#12 Jordan Brisson: F; 6' 1"; Colorado College

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

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

#26 Michael Emerson: F; 6' 1"; Freshman

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

#16 Reid Conn: Defense; 6' 5"; Freshman; University of New Hampshire

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

#29 Ben Wilmott: Forward; 6' 0"; Freshman; Northeastern University

#1 Louka Cloutier: Goaltender; 6' 1"; Freshman; University of Nebraska-Omaha

Players Mentioned

#12 Jordan Brisson
: 6' 1"; Colorado College
: F

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

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

#26 Michael Emerson
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F

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

#16 Reid Conn
: 6' 5"; Freshman; University of New Hampshire
: Defense

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

#29 Ben Wilmott
: 6' 0"; Freshman; Northeastern University
: Forward

#1 Louka Cloutier
: 6' 1"; Freshman; University of Nebraska-Omaha
: Goaltender