Contact Dan Vatch FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone 630-517-3872 Email [email protected] April 28, 2021

STEEL TAKE ON DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS IN EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS Top-seeded Steel host Fighting Saints in best-of-three series this weekend

GENEVA, ILLINOIS — After capturing the second Anderson Cup in as many seasons as USHL regular season champions, the start the 2021 Clark Cup Playoffs with a best-of- three matchup against the Dubuque Fighting Saints, the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, this weekend at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Game 1 is slated for Friday, April 30 while Game 2 is set for the following night, Saturday, May 1. Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday, May 2. All games will start at 7:05 pm CT at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

All three games are presented by River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

In the regular season, the Steel recorded a 5-2-1-0 record against the Fighting Saints including a 2-1-1-0 mark on home ice. Chicago outscored Dubuque by an average of 4.00 goals for to 2.63 goals against per game although the Fighting Saints averaged three more shots per game (29-26) than Chicago.

Chicago’s top scorers, Sean Farrell and Matt Coronato each racked up double digits in points in the eight matchups against the Fighting Saints. Farrell, a ’ prospect, tallied 13 points (3G, 10A) while Coronato registered 12 points (8G, 4A) which included a five-point game (3G, 2A) on March 19 in a 7-3 victory.

Dubuque is led by top scorer Robert Cronin who registered 53 points (28G, 25A) in 48 games played this season. The Plymouth, Mass. native totaled five points (3G, 2A) in eight games against the Steel.

Stephen Halliday and Andrei Buyalsky each matched Cronin with five points against the Steel. Halliday, a third-year USHL veteran, notched a goal and four helpers while Buylasky, a University of Vermont commit, reached the scoresheet in five of his six outings against Chicago, charting four markers and an assist.

Mid-season acquisition Matthew Savoie led the Fighting Saints with 1.12 points per game in just 34 appearances but was held to just two points (1G, 1A) in six contests against the Steel.

Dubuque netminder Lukas Parik started the majority of games in net for the Fighting Saints, sporting a 3.35 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage in 28 performances.

The Steel are in pursuit of the second Clark Cup in franchise history. Chicago won its first title in 2017 against the and returned to the Clark Cup Final in 2019 but fell to the .

Last season, the Steel held the best record in the USHL and were the only team to qualify for the playoffs when the season was canceled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Dubuque was in second place in the Eastern Conference.

Tickets for the Eastern Conference Semifinals start at just $10 and fans are encouraged to purchase in advance due to limited 25% spectator capacity by calling 855-51-STEEL or visiting ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com. On game day, the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena will open at 10 a.m. The Steel’s exclusive ‘Pay as We Play’ program is still available for fans to guarantee seating and pricing for all possible home playoff games at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Chicago Steel games can be heard on Mixlr at http://mixlr.com/chicago-steel/ (FREE AUDIO) and video may be streamed on available devices through HockeyTV at www.hockeytv.com (STREAM).

Chicago Steel Upcoming Games presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush: Friday, April 30 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 1 presented by River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Saturday, May 1 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 1 presented by River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram *Sunday, May 2 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (7:05 pm CT) Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 1 presented by River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

*if necessary

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

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