38 replies to this topic

[Ryan]

Chicago goes up 5-1!

Fargo up 3-2 after scoring 3 unanswered goals (so far) and are on the PP right now. Skoff took a tripping penalty. Thomson is one of the refs tonight and wasn't impressed with him last night. He is very inconsistent.

[Ryan]

Empty net for Sioux City. Fargo sends it down and misses the goal and goes for icing. Come on Muskies!

Timeout Fargo.

Cleared out to center. :48 left

Peters makes the save and whistle blown.

Shot up high. :20 left.

Chyzyk on the puck, whistle blown again. Faceoff in Fargo zone.

Shot and saved by Peters. :10 left.

Fargo wins.

[gbpuckfan]

Chicago beats GB 5-2. That's the first time in a long time a Chicago team has beaten a GB team, (The Bears still suck!)

I picked a good night to go to St Norbert hockey instead

Edited by gbpuckfan, 28 January 2012 - 09:44 PM.

[The One Timer]

Despite referee Tom Albinda's best efforts against it, the Steel had a resounding win over the Gamblers tonight, 5-2. I mean, seriously, no penalties on Green Bay until the 3rd period? It was bad. Really bad. Albinda wouldn't even talk to McConnell after calls. The sweet sound of no cowbells brings a certain joy to my heart.

So, Alex Sakelleropolous, coming off back to back wins (the first two of his USHL career) got the start in net. He did not disappoint one bit, going 41/43 in net, and getting the win. Though I feel he got seriously stiffed only getting third star of the game. Anyone who posts 41 saves in a win against Green Bay deserves at least second star. Alas.

So, McConnell did have a bit of an interesting strategy, not skating the Piepers at all in the first period, running three lines with Jimmy DeVito and Alex Roos alternating shifts. Canon Pieper took over as the center for Bo Pieper and DeVito once the Piepers got to skate in the second. That is, until Bo left in about the middle of the 2nd, and didn't return. So here's your lines:

Kubiak - Heil - Miller
O'Connor - Fallon - Thomas
Pigozzi - Vilardo - Roos
B. Pieper - C. Pieper - DeVito

Slavin - Trenz
Benson - Joyaux
Neumann - Shumway

First period, Roos gets onto the team in style, flipping a rebound off a shot from Jimmy DeVito, and the packed house goes wild, 1-0 Steel. Later, on a powerplay, Kyle Novak flips a rebound over Sak's pad, 1-1. Pigozzi shoots one through Rotolo's 5-hole, 2-1 after one.

Ali Thomas gets the scoring started in the second, getting a rebound shot in off an absolute cannon shot from Ryan Trenz, 3-1 Steel. Later, Miller gets a rebound (notice a pattern?), 4-1 Steel heading into the third.

On their first (and only) powerplay following a scrum in which Dakota Mermis was punching away at Michael Fallon, who just let it happen for the better situation for the team, Chris Joyaux blasted a shot from the blue line, 5-1 Steel. Green Bay came back with a ton of traffic in front of Sak, including a few guys on their knees, and on what was probably about a 17th chance or so, the puck got over Sak's glove side shoulder, 5-2 Chicago, which is where it ended.

Alex Roos for the Steel is a great pickup, I think he was part of the Voltin trade, kid's small, but plays like a power forward. Tons of skill, and I doubt "fear" is in his vocabulary. Great addition.

All in all, McConnell seems to have found the magic formula. Don't look now, but the Steel are on a 3 game winning streak. All in all, great game. So little cowbell, so many happy Steel fans. They're also no longer in last place in the East. It's all clicking, and just about everyone on the roster has improved since the season started. Not nearly the pushovers their record would indicate.

[boxcar22]

The refs cheat for Green Bay and against Muskegon- another loss for my Jacks- I think we found out Chicago's problem- it was me- I officially jumped off the Steel Bandwagon 3 games ago and now 3 in a row! Damn, may need to find a way back on the Steel bandwagon. Nice work Steel!

[The One Timer]

boxcar22, on 29 January 2012 - 12:36 AM, said:

The refs cheat for Green Bay and against Muskegon- another loss for my Jacks- I think we found out Chicago's problem- it was me- I officially jumped off the Steel Bandwagon 3 games ago and now 3 in a row! Damn, may need to find a way back on the Steel bandwagon. Nice work Steel!

Shumway was checked into the boards in the first, no call. A honest slight tap, Green Bay skater takes a dive, and they're on the powerplay. It was a really badly officiated game. I have a feeling this will be reviewed and certain things will be discussed in depth.

[lancerzrule]

Lancers end up winning their game 4-0 with a shutout from Alex Lyon. Here's hoping they keep that effort up going into a huge Fargo game tomorrow.

[wndrkty]

wndrkty, on 28 January 2012 - 08:46 AM, said:

Let's see if I can improve over last night. I got less than 50%.

Dubuque

Indiana

Green Bay

Fargo

Waterloo

Des Moines

Sioux Falls

I guess 4/7 does make me over 50%, but apparently I should keep predicting for fun only and not quit my day job.

[Mr Ricochet]

OSC Fighting Saints Win 5-2 Over Team USA in Ann Arbor

Quote

The Fighting Saints got back on track in Ann Arbor Saturday night, winning 5-2 over Team USA one night after a frustrating loss to the Phantoms in Youngstown. Twelve players tallied points for the Fighting Saints in the win, with no player registering more than one point.

The Fighting Saints will finish off their second three-game-in-three-day stretch over the past two weekends tomorrow afternoon in Muskegon, where they will take on the Lumberjacks at 4:15 p.m. CST. After completing their longest road trip of the season this weekend, the team will play nearly all of their games in February at home. The only exceptions are road games in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

OSC Indiana Holds Lumberjacks at Bay

Quote

On a night tailored toward the past, the USHL's hottest team of the present continued its recent success, as the Indiana Ice held the Muskegon Lumberjacks at bay in a 5-3 win Saturday night at L.C. Walker Arena.

With both teams wearing jerseys from the 1980s - the Lumberjacks mimicked the look they had in the old International Hockey League - the Ice improved to 11-1-3 in their last 15. Indiana scored the first

Hayden Stewart made his USHL debut in net for the Lumberjacks, stopping 24 shots after playing earlier this season for the Team Illinois club. Indiana goaltender Dalton Izyk denied a Ryan Lomberg penalty shot as part of his 30-save effort.

Ice's Site Ice snap 2 game winless skid

Quote

The Indiana Ice snapped a two-game winless streak tonight with a 5-3 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks at L.C. Walker Arena.

Sean Kuraly, Jake Fallon and Jose Delgadillo collected two-point nights and Joseph Fiala logged his first point in an Indiana Ice sweater with a first-period goal. Dalton Izyk had a solid performance in net, blocking 30 of 33 shots.

Force's Site Force rally for come from behind win at Sioux City

Quote

Fargo took its first and only lead of the night when uncommitted top line forward Colton Hargrove scored an unassisted goal 4 minutes, 41 seconds into the third period. That was all Reed Peters and the Fargo Force needed.
Peters, who hadn’t played in a game losing to Sioux City on December 10^th, made 28 saves to earn his fourth win of the season. The Morden, Manitoba native came up especially big in the first two periods when he saw a total of 22 shots.

Fargo Force head coach John Marks had been trying to find the right time to insert Peters into a game, and it looks like the headmaster picked a good time. Marks had said he didn’t feel it was fair to Peters or starting goalie Zane Gothberg (North Dakota) to throw Peters in during the long winning streak, in which Gothberg played every minute.

SC Journal/Jerry Giese Fargo turns tables on Musketeers

Quote

Facing the Fargo Force back on Dec. 10, it was the Sioux City Musketeers who rallied with five unanswered goals.

Fargo returned the favor Saturday night.

Two nights after being blanked 2-0 by the Musketeers at Scheels Arena, the Force erased a 2-0 deficit and pulled out a 3-2 United States Hockey League victory in front of 4,683 fans on Boys Scout Night at the Tyson Events Center.

"I thought, primarily, they outworked us for the second half of the game," said Musketeers Coach Brett Larson, whose squad saw a three-game winning streak come to an end. "We outworked them and we outplayed them in the first half. Then, we stopped moving our feet. They out-competed us for most of the second half of the game.

"Obviously, two out of three on the weekend isn't good enough for this team anymore," said Larson. "We expect more. We played very well coming into this game. We played very well for half a game tonight. But in this league, if you don't put a full 60 minutes together, you're not going to win. Tonight was another example of that."

OSC Blackhawks earn 6-5 shootout win at Cedar Rapids

Quote

Scott MacDonald recorded his first USHL hat trick and the Waterloo Black Hawks earned a 6-5 shootout win against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders during a wild, back-and-forth matchup at Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Saturday.

CR Press Gazette Riders lose again to Wateroo

Quote

The misery continues. The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders are 1-for-Waterloo this season, a befuddling streak to their biggest rival that continued Saturday night with a 6-5 shootout loss before 3,876 fans at The Stable.

Cedar Rapids has two more chances to save face in this always competitive season-series battle for the Corridor Cup that it has actually dominated in recent seasons. A 1-5 record is hard to fathom, let alone explain.

Cedar Rapids played without leading scorer Nick Saracino, who suffered a concussion in an automobile accident earlier this week. Goaltender Matt McNeely also is out indefinitely after having his appendix removed, the latest (and probably most absurd) injuries a seemingly jinxed RoughRiders club has endured.

[Mr Ricochet]

OSC Lyons' 3rd shutout guides Lancers past Bucs

Quote

Alex Lyon registered 24 saves while Mark Miller and Greg Gozzo each tallied a goal and an assist as the Omaha Lancers blanked the Des Moines 4-0 in front of 3,462 fans at Buccaneer Arena. With the win, Omaha improved to 22-12-2 on the year and moved back into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with 46 standings points. The Lancers have now won seven of their last nine games and 13 of 17 overall.

Lyon earned the victory in goal turning aside all 24 Buccaneers shots he faced for his third shutout of the season. With the win, Lyon improved to 16-8-2 on the year and has now won five straight starts in net. Meanwhile, Des Moines goaltender Christian Frey suffered the loss after 24 saves on 27 shots on goal.

Des Moines Register Bucs fall at home to Omaha

Quote

“We really aren’t getting the bounces,” the Des Moines Buccaneers coach said after a 3-0 U.S. Hockey League home loss to rival Omaha on Saturday. “As long as we keep showing up and giving the effort, things will get better.”

OSC Stampede lose in a shootout at Tri City

Quote

The Stampede put together a solid effort for 65 minutes, but came up just short in the end, falling 3-2 in a shootout to Tri-City in Kearney, Nebraska on Saturday night. The Herd gained a standings point and now trail Des Moines by just three points for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Herd remained in 8th place and are 12-20-2 on the season. Ryan Keller and Matt Van Voorhis scored for the Herd while Stephon Williams stopped 36 of 38 shots on the year.

GI Independent/Dale Miller Storm tops Sioux Falls in shootout

Quote

Wilcox played his fourth straight strong game while making 30 saves along with two big stops in the shootout, which the Storm won 2-1.

Wilcox has stopped 133 of the last 142 shots he's faced after giving up nine goals on 37 shots in his previous three appearances in January.

"I think just getting out there and being confidence," Wilcox said. "I got my confidence back and am focused for all 60 minutes. I'm believing in our team because I knew we can do it."

It was also a big finish to the period for Tri-City. Wilcox stopped Keller's shorthanded breakaway scoring attempt with one second left to keep the game tied at 2 entering the second intermission.

"We don't win the game if he doesn't make that save," Hauge said. "That was a big momentum boost for us. We had felt we played really well in the second, and if we had given one up there, that would have killed us."

The Storm hits the road for its next four games. It will face Sioux City, Des Moines and Fargo (twice). Those are three of the four teams directly ahead of the Storm in the standings. ...Tri-City and Sioux City are the only two teams in the league who haven't lost in overtime or a shootout this season.

[Mr Ricochet]

The One Timer, on 29 January 2012 - 12:09 AM, said:

Despite referee Tom Albinda's best efforts against it, the Steel had a resounding win over the Gamblers tonight, 5-2. I mean, seriously, no penalties on Green Bay until the 3rd period? It was bad. Really bad. Albinda wouldn't even talk to McConnell after calls. The sweet sound of no cowbells brings a certain joy to my heart.

So, Alex Sakelleropolous, coming off back to back wins (the first two of his USHL career) got the start in net. He did not disappoint one bit, going 41/43 in net, and getting the win. Though I feel he got seriously stiffed only getting third star of the game. Anyone who posts 41 saves in a win against Green Bay deserves at least second star. Alas.

So, McConnell did have a bit of an interesting strategy, not skating the Piepers at all in the first period, running three lines with Jimmy DeVito and Alex Roos alternating shifts. Canon Pieper took over as the center for Bo Pieper and DeVito once the Piepers got to skate in the second. :

Thanks a ton for the recap, TOT!

I got home looked at Pointstreak and see the Steel beat the Gamblers, by a bunch, and had to click the boxscore to see if it was correct. Sure enough a huge Steel win in front of a great crowd. To add to it I did notice the PP discrepancy immediately. Tough enough to beat The GB Machine without playing much of the game with dead legs from being on the PK all night.

A bus load of visiting fans all carrying cowbells to let the world know they are there? I hated to miss this game, but take solace in the fact I didn't have to be subjected to an artificial way of expressing hockey acumen. ....... Just the same, always great to have rival fans in the building and hopefully they traveled home safely.

[Honest Shane]

The CR-Loo game was very close. We gave up 2 short handed goals due to our lack of defense, but the killer for the night was a goal that Sheva allowed when Waterloo players checked our players from behind and there ended up being 3-4 guys on top of our goalie and Sheva let the play continue. How that wasn't goalie interferance or checking from behing is beyond me.

[Jamie]

Mr Ricochet, on 29 January 2012 - 08:53 AM, said:

The One Timer, on 29 January 2012 - 12:09 AM, said:

Despite referee Tom Albinda's best efforts against it, the Steel had a resounding win over the Gamblers tonight, 5-2. I mean, seriously, no penalties on Green Bay until the 3rd period? It was bad. Really bad. Albinda wouldn't even talk to McConnell after calls. The sweet sound of no cowbells brings a certain joy to my heart.

So, Alex Sakelleropolous, coming off back to back wins (the first two of his USHL career) got the start in net. He did not disappoint one bit, going 41/43 in net, and getting the win. Though I feel he got seriously stiffed only getting third star of the game. Anyone who posts 41 saves in a win against Green Bay deserves at least second star. Alas.

So, McConnell did have a bit of an interesting strategy, not skating the Piepers at all in the first period, running three lines with Jimmy DeVito and Alex Roos alternating shifts. Canon Pieper took over as the center for Bo Pieper and DeVito once the Piepers got to skate in the second. :

Thanks a ton for the recap, TOT!

I got home looked at Pointstreak and see the Steel beat the Gamblers, by a bunch, and had to click the boxscore to see if it was correct. Sure enough a huge Steel win in front of a great crowd. To add to it I did notice the PP discrepancy immediately. Tough enough to beat The GB Machine without playing much of the game with dead legs from being on the PK all night.

A bus load of visiting fans all carrying cowbells to let the world know they are there? I hated to miss this game, but take solace in the fact I didn't have to be subjected to an artificial way of expressing hockey acumen. ....... Just the same, always great to have rival fans in the building and hopefully they traveled home safely.

Chicago played a great game last night and deserved to win that game!!I disagree with everyone crying about the penalty calls. 2 of the calls against chicago are because they don't know how to count. Green bay wasn't playing that great last night and weren't committing alot of penality's like Chicago was!!!!!!

We still had a good time down there EXCEPT for all of the RODENTS running all over the place during the game.

[CC313]

Chicago deserved to win the game. Plain and simple. Blocked shots, capitalizing on rebounds, and keeping the forecheck going. The penalty discrepancy is your complaint? The PK was the best I've seen it against our team. It was bound to happen eventually and it's good to see them becoming a respectable opponent for the Beasts of the East.

[The One Timer]

Jamie, on 29 January 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:

Mr Ricochet, on 29 January 2012 - 08:53 AM, said:

The One Timer, on 29 January 2012 - 12:09 AM, said:

Despite referee Tom Albinda's best efforts against it, the Steel had a resounding win over the Gamblers tonight, 5-2. I mean, seriously, no penalties on Green Bay until the 3rd period? It was bad. Really bad. Albinda wouldn't even talk to McConnell after calls. The sweet sound of no cowbells brings a certain joy to my heart.

So, Alex Sakelleropolous, coming off back to back wins (the first two of his USHL career) got the start in net. He did not disappoint one bit, going 41/43 in net, and getting the win. Though I feel he got seriously stiffed only getting third star of the game. Anyone who posts 41 saves in a win against Green Bay deserves at least second star. Alas.

So, McConnell did have a bit of an interesting strategy, not skating the Piepers at all in the first period, running three lines with Jimmy DeVito and Alex Roos alternating shifts. Canon Pieper took over as the center for Bo Pieper and DeVito once the Piepers got to skate in the second. :

Thanks a ton for the recap, TOT!

I got home looked at Pointstreak and see the Steel beat the Gamblers, by a bunch, and had to click the boxscore to see if it was correct. Sure enough a huge Steel win in front of a great crowd. To add to it I did notice the PP discrepancy immediately. Tough enough to beat The GB Machine without playing much of the game with dead legs from being on the PK all night.

A bus load of visiting fans all carrying cowbells to let the world know they are there? I hated to miss this game, but take solace in the fact I didn't have to be subjected to an artificial way of expressing hockey acumen. ....... Just the same, always great to have rival fans in the building and hopefully they traveled home safely.

Chicago played a great game last night and deserved to win that game!!I disagree with everyone crying about the penalty calls. 2 of the calls against chicago are because they don't know how to count. Green bay wasn't playing that great last night and weren't committing alot of penality's like Chicago was!!!!!!

We still had a good time down there EXCEPT for all of the RODENTS running all over the place during the game.

Yes, Chicago wound up with two penalties, but one of them was an offsetting for delay of game. There were some serious non-calls against Green Bay, but the Steel had a few slip. The thing that got to me was Albinda not even being willing to go over and talk to McConnell about said calls when he was yelling the whole time for an explanation. Still, the Steel kept up their quality PK abilities and killed off 6 of 7 Green Bay penalties.

There were a ton of unattended kids running about, but that doesn't really top having people in the row right in front of you standing with 2 minutes left in the period to take a picture of their kid down in the aisle by the ice. I mean, would the shot have been so much different after the period? I'm glad they put a huge crowd (underreported if anything, The Edge was rather packed), but I really wish people would watch their kids and lead by example in public. Separate rant though.

SEVENTH PLACE WOO HOOO!!!!

[Mr Ricochet]

CC313, on 29 January 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

The PK was the best I've seen it against our team.

The structure of the Steel PK is really a thing of beauty. Seamless how the forwards drop back, switch sides and fill passing lanes in the neutral zone......... That said they rank 15th in PK, but it's fun to watch them come back to their zone as a unit.

[Ryan]

Just read an article that the Muskegon-Indiana game was moved from Indy to Musky due to Super Bowl festivities in Indianapolis. I don't think I remember a game getting moved to the other team's rink since the Tulsa Crude were in the league.

[boxcar22]

Iron Range home games where moved in the late 1970's due to an arena fire

[Mr Ricochet]

Ryan, on 01 February 2012 - 06:01 PM, said:

Just read an article that the Muskegon-Indiana game was moved from Indy to Musky due to Super Bowl festivities in Indianapolis. I don't think I remember a game getting moved to the other team's rink since the Tulsa Crude were in the league.

Why not exploit the influx of bodies in the city? Sell some tickets for a couple bucks each and fill some seats with tourists and sell em beer and hot dogs.........