Men's Ice Hockey 11/11/2026 9:30:00 AM Calvin Bush

Steel Set for Three-Game Road Swing

Chicago opens Wednesday against Gamblers before pair of matchups with NTDP U18s

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — Three games in four days will put the Chicago Steel to the test as they hit the road for a midweek matchup with the Green Bay Gamblers before heading east for a two-game series against the USA Hockey NTDP U18s.

It begins on Wednesday, November 11 when Chicago visits Green Bay for a 7:05 pm puck drop. The Steel will travel to Plymouth, Michigan, for back-to-back games at USA Hockey Arena Friday, Nov. 13 at 6:00 pm CT and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 5:00 pm CT.

Chicago (5-5-2-1, 13 pts.) snuck out of last weekend's pair of games against Des Moines with a standings point after a dramatic comeback in an overtime loss on Nov. 7.

The weekend began Nov. 6 with a 4-2 loss to Des Moines. After the Buccaneers opened the scoring, Cal Grilz answered with his first USHL goal to tie the game. Des Moines took a 2-1 lead, but Cade Strom later redirected a Brian McFadden point shot for his second goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2. The Buccaneers scored twice in the third to silence the Steel.

The following night saw the Steel erase a two-goal deficit in the final five minutes of regulation before falling 5-4 in overtime. Patrick Tolan scored a pair of goals, including a power play tally. Benson Grande scored his first goal of the season, and Jayden Kurtz scored late in the third period to force overtime and earn Chicago a point.

Friday's loss marked the first time the Steel did not record a standings point in a game at USG Arena and was the team's first regulation home loss this season.

The Steel now shift their focus to road performance. They have yet to win on the road this season and have dropped all four games. Chicago has not scored more than two goals and has been outscored 19-5.

Cole Bumgarner continued to dominate in the points department with a two-assist showing on Nov. 7, marking his fourth multi-point game of the season. He has recorded a point in two of the last three games (1G-2A) and leads the Steel in scoring with 12 points (5G-7A). He is three points away from matching his 2024-2025 season point total of 15 points.

Strom scored on Nov. 6 and potted an assist the following night. The goal was his first lamp-lighter since Oct. 3.

Tolan's two-goal outing was the first of his career and snapped a four-game goal drought. It was his second multi-point game of the season, and he has pointed in two of the last three games (2G-1A).

After going two games without a point for the first time this season, MJ Campbell had an assist in each game last weekend, including two in the Steel's overtime loss for his second multi-point performance.

Green Bay (3-11-0-0, 6 pts.) enters Wednesday's game with eight losses in its last ten games. It dropped a pair of games to Cedar Rapids last weekend, falling 4-1 on Nov. 6 and 3-1 on Nov. 7. The Gamblers scored first on Friday with Oliver McKinney's third goal of the season, but the RoughRiders scored four unanswered goals. Green Bay tied Saturday's game 1-1 before Cedar Rapids scored in the second and third periods to complete the sweep.

Gunnar Conboy leads Green Bay with nine points (3G-6A) through 10 games.

Oliver McKinney has recorded eight points (3G-5A) in 13 games. He leads the team in special teams scoring with three power play assists.

Forward Gavin Lock was traded to Green Bay from Dubuque in October and has scored three points (1G-2A) in five games with the Gamblers. He tallied four points (3G-1A) in eight games with the Fighting Saints before the trade.

The Steel are 82-80-7-5 all-time against Green Bay and 36-40-5-2 on the road. Green Bay knocked off the Steel 2-1 in overtime in Chicago's home opener on Oct. 3, a game which saw Cade Strom score the tying goal with under two minutes left in regulation. Holden Pajor ended the contest with the winning goal in the extra frame.

Wednesday is the second of ten total matchups between Green Bay and Chicago. The two teams will meet at USG Arena next weekend on Nov. 20 and 21.

After Wednesday's trip to Green Bay, Chicago will face a different kind of challenge against the NTDP U18s. The teams meet Friday and Saturday at USA Hockey Arena, with the NTDP returning to USHL competition following the recent U18 Five Nations tournament in Switzerland.

The U18s closed the international tournament with a 7-3 win over host Switzerland on November 8, finishing third with a 3-1 record. The NTDP scored four times in the opening period and added three more goals over the final two frames to secure the victory.

The Steel will be the first USHL team to face the U18 team in nearly a month, with their last league opponent being Dubuque on Oct. 17 in a 7-5 NTDP win.

Cannon Thibodeau led the way in the tournament finale, scoring twice against Switzerland. He has continued to produce at the USHL level as well, entering the week with eight points (4G-4A) in six games. Thibodeau's four goals are tied for the team lead.

Finn Sears was equally influential in the win over Switzerland, recording a goal and two assists for a three-point performance. Sears has nine points (3G-6A) through six USHL games, putting him among the U18s' top producers.

Chicago is 55-34-7-5 all time against the NTDP and 24-20-2-3 on the road. The NTDP won three of four games against Chicago last season, with the Steel's lone win at home on April 3 in a 5-2 win over the U18s. Current Steel forward Dallas Vieau scored a goal in both home outings against the NTDP.

This weekend marks the first two of five total games between the Steel and NTDP this season. Chicago will host the U17s later this season on March 6 and 7.

Following the three-game road swing, Chicago returns to USG Arena for three games before Thanksgiving starting with a home series against the Green Bay Gamblers. The Steel host the Gamblers on Friday, November 20 at 7:00 pm for Chicago House Music Night before welcoming them back Saturday, November 21 at 6:00 pm for Second Chance Night presented by Stick Revival.

On Wednesday, November 25, the Steel host Madison with a Woven Scarf Giveaway for the first 500 fans.

College students can get a great deal on Chicago Steel tickets all season long with the Steel Student Pass. Visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com to learn more or sign up.

Single-game, group, and premium seating tickets for the 2026-2027 season are on sale now.

Group experiences and tickets are also on sale and start at just $13.50 per ticket.

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

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule:
Wednesday, November 11 at Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 pm CT)
Friday, November 13 at USA Hockey NTDP U18 (6:00 pm CT)
Saturday, November 14 at USA Hockey NTDP U18 (5:00 pm CT)

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