General 4/5/2024 11:11:00 PM

Steel Clinch Playoff Berth with Shootout Victory

Chicago qualifies for playoffs for eighth straight season

GENEVA, IL — Trailing 3-2 late in the third, Michael Emerson scored with just over a minute left to send the game to overtime and Hunter Hady was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Chicago Steel (27-25-3-4, 61 pts.) defeated the Dubuque Fighting Saints (39-12-3-5, 86 pts.) 4-3 to clinch a berth in the Clark Cup Playoffs.

After starting the season 1-9-1-1, Chicago battled back to qualify for the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.

Thor Byfuglien opened the scoring with his sixth goal of the season, and Brady Arneson added his third of the year in the second frame. Michael Emerson scored his ninth goal of the year to send the game to overtime before Hunter Hady scored in the third round of the shootout to lift the Steel to the win. Quentin Sigurdson made 25 saves and stopped all three shootout attempts in his fifth win of the season.

The road team came out firing in the opening frame, but Sigurdson made a handful of timely stops to keep the game scoreless.

On the heels of a strong hold in their defensive zone, the Steel pushed out on the rush and, for the first time this season against Dubuque, scored the game's first goal.

Ben Yurchuk made a pair of excellent dekes to work deep into Dubuque's end and get the puck to Byfuglien. With Dubuque netminder Kevin Reidler down in the butterfly, Byfuglien fired high glove side to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.

Late in the period, Dubuque evened the score as Beckett Hendrickson scored his 25^th goal on a one-timer from the slot off a feed from Seamus Powell.

Each team had seven shots in the first period.

The second period featured a stalemate for most of the action until the Steel took the lead back just before the halfway point.

Following a failed clear by Dubuque, Chicago got the puck deep where Joey DelGreco made a remarkable no-look pass between his legs from below the icing line to an open Arneson in front of the net for a tap-in goal to make it 2-1 Steel.

Byfuglien added a secondary assist after scoring the opening goal.

Dubuque stepped on the gas to start the third period with a goal just two minutes in from Gavin Cornforth to tie the game at two.

Following a ten-minute lull in scoring, the Fighting Saints took their first lead of the game when Noah Powell potted his 40^th goal of the season to make it 3-2 Dubuque.

With an extra attacker on and just over one minute left, Chicago added a chapter to what turned into a storybook ending to the night.

Michael Hage fired a pass cross-ice from the left faceoff circle that was blocked, but the puck bounced back to his stick. After corralling the rubber, he fired another pass to the back door where Emerson deflected it past Reidler to tie the game with 1:18 left in regulation.

The game reached overtime, where both teams threatened including Michael Emerson hitting a post, but neither prevailed, sending it to a shootout, Chicago's sixth this season.

Sigurdson stopped all three Dubuque shooters before Hady tucked a shot over Reidler just under the cross bar to give the Steel the 4-3 win.

The final few games of the regular season will decide Chicago's First Round opponent. The Steel will be on the road for a best-of-three First Round series scheduled to begin April 15.

The Steel will travel to Dubuque for the second part of the home-and-home series with the Fighting Saints on Saturday, April 6 at 7:05 pm CT.

The final two regular season home games are Friday, April 12 at 7:05 pm and Saturday, April 13 at 6:05 pm CT with both matchups against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

On April 12, fans can take advantage of $2 specials on hot dogs, soda, and popcorn, and $3 beers. April 13 is Fan Appreciation Night where fans can win hundreds of prizes from team sponsors.

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 a limited time, fans can take advantage of the team's Ticket Plan Madness promotion to receive free regular season and playoff games for this season plus other benefits when signing up for a new ticket plan for the 2024-2025 season. Ticket plans start at just 5 games for $50.

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Saturday, April 6 at Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, April 12 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (7:05 pm CT) | $2 Hot Dogs, Sodas, and Popcorn | $3 Beers
Saturday, April 13 vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (6:05 pm CT) | Fan Appreciation Night | Hundreds of Prizes

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Players Mentioned

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

#15 Brady Arneson: F; 5' 10"; Freshman; Maine University

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

#25 Thor Byfuglien: D; 6' 0"; St. Cloud State University

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#15 Brady Arneson
: 5' 10"; Freshman; Maine University
: F

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

#25 Thor Byfuglien
: 6' 0"; St. Cloud State University
: D

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

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

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