General 1/26/2024 11:38:00 PM

Three Unanswered Goals Lift Steel to Fourth Consecutive Victory

DelGreco scores twice in third as Steel capture first home regulation win of season

GENEVA, IL — After heading into the third period tied at two, Chicago shut the door and opened the floodgates with three straight goals, two of which came from Joey DelGreco, as the Steel (14-17-2-2, 32 pts.) cruised past the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (12-17-4-2, 30 pts.) 5-2 at Fox Valley Ice Arena Friday night.

The Steel have won four straight games and have earned a point in each of their last seven contests. It was Chicago's first win in regulation on home ice this season.

Mick Thompson got the Steel off and running 38 seconds into the game, scoring his 15^th goal of the season. Charlie Major was repaid the favor after earning the primary assist on Thompson's goal, with his teammate setting him up on the power play with a sweet drag and snipe for his 16^th score this season. With the game tied at two in the third, Joey DelGreco scored the next two Steel goals, his 15^th and 16^th of the season, and Michael Hage removed any doubt of victory with an empty net goal to close out the 5-2 win.

Steel goaltender Louka Cloutier made 25 saves to pick up his fourth consecutive win and seventh of the season.

Fresh off a four-point performance in his last game, Thompson picked up exactly where he left off and gave the Steel liftoff just seconds into Friday's game.

Major got deep into the Cedar Rapids zone and deked around RoughRiders goaltender Sam Scopa who moved well out of his crease. Major then centered a pass into a crowded slot where Thompson fired into the open net 38 seconds into play to put the Steel ahead 1-0.

The Steel held their one-goal lead for another 14 minutes before Cedar Rapids leading scorer Amine Hajibi received a back door look and snuck a shot by Cloutier that tied the game at one.

Chicago was on the receiving end of a man advantage shortly after the RoughRiders' tying goal, and the potent offense made it count.

After a short cycle at the point, Thompson traded spots with Major at the left wing. Creating space with a slick move on a fake shot, Major cut to his right and fired through a screen to put the Steel back on top, 2-1.

The Steel earned four power play opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.

Cedar Rapids was shorthanded to start the second period but put in a solid effort on the kill to stay within a goal.

The strong effort on the penalty kill turned into offense when Loa Milfors scored his first goal in the USHL later in the period to tie the game at two.

Former Steel forward Hans-Martin Ulvebne recorded the primary assist on Milfors' goal.

Chicago poured it on the third frame, scoring three unanswered goals to pull away.

DelGreco got the ball rolling in the final period of regulation, scoring five minutes into the frame after a great single-handed keep at the blue line. The Augustana commit settled the puck and worked his way in at the right wing before firing a perfect shot under the blocker of Scopa for the eventual game-winning goal.

Later in the third, DelGreco once again found twine thanks to a marvelous back door feed from Thompson during 4-on-4 play.

It was the third multi-goal game for DelGreco this season, one of which was a three-goal output on Nov. 10 against Madison in a five-point performance.

The RoughRiders brought an extra attacker on shortly after DelGreco's goal made it 4-2, but the Steel offense was quick to create a turnover, and Hage scooped and fired into the empty net from center ice to seal the 5-2 win.

The Steel will go for a season-high five wins in a row when they finish the weekend on home ice against the Des Moines Buccaneers on Saturday, Jan 27, with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.

Fans can cash in on a great promotion tomorrow night 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:
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)
Saturday, February 3 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (7:05 pm CT) | Star Wars Night

###

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#26 Hans-Martin Ulvebne: Forward; 6' 0"; Freshman; Bemidji State University

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#26 Hans-Martin Ulvebne
: 6' 0"; Freshman; Bemidji State University
: Forward

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