The Chicago Steel opened up the 2019–20 regular season with a pair of victories at the USHL Fall Classic in Pennsylvania. On Friday, Chicago received two goals from forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine defeating the Sioux City Musketeers 3–2. The following day, Chicago bested the Sioux Falls Stampede 4–2 behind a pair of goals from forward Sean Farrell.
Against the Musketeers, Fontaine opened the scoring at the 11:40 mark in the first period, beating Sioux City goaltender Ethan Haider. The goal, assisted by defenseman Uula Ruikka and forward Elis Hede, was the only goal of the first period.
Sioux City evened the score after Finnish forward Joel Maatta beat Chicago goalkeeper Victor Ostman. Maatta’s goal, assisted by defensman Dominic Vidoli and forward Blake Biondi came after Chicago defensmean Owen Power was sent to the penalty box for cross checking.
The Steel would waste no time taking the lead back when forward Mackie Samoskevich fired a shot by Haider, giving Chicago the 2–1 lead. Samoskevich used a couple of Musketeer players to screen Haider and found the top corner for his first goal of the season. Illinois native Tyler Carpenter assisted on the power play goal.
An absolute SNIPE from Mackie Samoskevich gives the @ChicagoSteel the lead in the third period! #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/wwqs4Unb6a
— USHL (@USHL) September 28, 2019
Fontaine scored his second goal of the game at the 17:34 mark of the third period to extend the Chicago lead to 3–1. Forward Sam Colangelo and Hede assisted on the power play goal.
Sioux City would not go down easy though, as Maatta scored his second of the game at the 18:16 mark. However, the Musketeers could not even the score late with Haider pulled from his net.
Ostman stopped 19 shots in the victory, his first as an USHL goaltender.
On Saturday, Chicago scored first again, as forward Mathieu De St. Phalle scored his first goal of the season. The University of Wisconsin commit took a nice drop pass and beat Sioux Falls netminder Grant Adams. The goal was assisted by Farrell and defenseman Jack Babbage.
Nice passing in the zone followed by a Mathieu De St. Phalle snipe has the @ChicagoSteel out in front 1-0 over the @sfstampede. #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/YV7yvPTZqm
— USHL (@USHL) September 29, 2019
Both teams exchanged power play goals to start the second period. Poland native forward Jakub Lewandowski beat Chicago goaltender Ian Shane to tie the game at 1–1, only to be matched by Farrell’s first goal in a Chicago Steel uniform. Farrell’s goal was assisted by De. St. Phalle.
Sean Farrell goes short side shelf and gives the @ChicagoSteel their lead back! #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/QMcKT9tqti
— USHL (@USHL) September 29, 2019
At the 15:48 mark of the second period, Colangelo netted his first of the season after he took a pass from Fontaine and buried a shot passed Adams, giving the Steel a 3–1 lead heading into the second intermission.
Sam Colangelo completes the odd man rush with his first of the season to increase the @ChicagoSteel lead to 3-1. #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/CZ2WotHQP7
— USHL (@USHL) September 29, 2019
Forward Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe shortened the Steel lead to 3–2 early in the third period, but that would be the final puck to sneak by Shane the rest of the game.
Farrell sealed the deal with an empty-net goal late in the contest, giving Chicago the 4–2 victory in the Clark Cup rematch and a perfect record on the weekend at 2–0. Shane stopped 20 shots earning the victory.
The Steel will open up on home ice at Fox Valley Ice Arena on Saturday, as the Green Bay Gamblers come to town. This will be the only action for Chicago over the weekend.