Aberdeen comes from behind to take 2-0 series lead, upstart Wichita Falls wins pair on road against Lone Star

If there is one thing the Aberdeen Wings did not dominate in the regular season, it was come from behind wins. 

Of course, that’s mainly because they rarely trailed. The Wings were 43-0-0-0 when leading after two periods and 3-4-0-0 when trailing after two. They were an impressive 5-0-0-1 when tied after two. 

But trailing 2-1 after two is where they found themselves Saturday night in game two of their first round best-of-five series against Minot in the NAHL Robertson Cup playoffs. 

There was no cause for concern. Regular season leading scorer Payton Matsui tied the game a little over three minutes in, then two goals back to back in the final three minutes of the game put the icing on the cake. A late Minot goal made the final 4-3, but Aberdeen leads the series 2-0 headed back to Minot for the next two games. 

In an opening weekend filled with surprises and split opening games, one of the biggest surprises came in the Fort Worth area, where expansion team Wichita Falls won both games at perennial favorite Lone Star. A big reason, especially in game two, was the stellar play of Owen Bartoszkiewicz, who posted a 2.00 goals against and a .933 save percentage over two games. 

NOTES: Heading into Wednesday’s action, the Bismarck Bobcats and Minnesota Magicians (Richfield, Minn.) had both advanced to their division final. The Magicians sweep was especially impressive as all three games were played in Fairbanks. Meanwhile, Bismarck will play the winner of the Aberdeen-Minot series. Division final series will again be best-of-five. 

Steel answer all the questions in capturing Clark Cup

In the end, the Chicago Steel answered every question. 

The dynamic offensive squad was questioned if they could play playoff hockey. In other words, were they physical enough, could they win the 2-1 games, could they sit on a lead?

The answer to all of the above is yes. 

When playoff MVP Adam Fantilli, an unsung hero all season long, scored to make it 3-1 Chicago with 2:05 remaining in the third period in game four Saturday night, it was obvious the Steel were going to win the second Clark Cup in franchise history. 

In reality, while Fargo got some good chances throughout the third period, there were long periods of time through the final 40 minutes where the game was played exactly how Chicago would want in this situation, even if it’s not the way they normally play. There were long stretches without whistles, they played a game of puck possession and containment, and kept Fargo from getting any momentum going. 

It wasn’t the way Chicago got here. Much like the 1980s Edmonton Oilers, the Steel spent the regular season almost challenging the opponent to get into an old fashioned shootout, and not the type that decides a tie game. They averaged 4.9 goals per game in the regular season, but when they had to in the playoffs, they looked just as comfortable holding onto a 2-1 lead. 

By winning the best-of-five final in four games, the Steel went 7-1 in the playoffs. Not bad for a team many thought was built more for the regular season. 

And maybe they were. But by winning the Anderson Cup and the Clark Cup, the Steel cement their legacy as one of the great all-time USHL teams. For whatever reason, the league’s history is filled with Anderson Cup winners who were favored in the playoffs but fell short. 

It was obvious Saturday the Steel were not going to let that happen. After a first period that may have been the most entertaining in the series, the Steel played that perfect road game for the final two periods, keeping the Force and their fans from having the impact they had hoped for.

In reality, if not for the pandemic, we might be talking about one of the great dynasties in league history. In a league with huge turnover from year to year as players move on to college, the Steel have now won two consecutive Anderson Cups and were heavy favorites for last year’s Clark Cup before the sports world came to an abrupt end. 

The interesting part will be how this affects the Steel going forward, particularly in drawing crowds. It is no secret the team has not drawn that well since the move to Geneva, although the numbers in Bensenville were padded for many years by city owned season tickets that often went unused. Yet the NAHL’s Chicago Freeze used to draw capacity crowds at the 3,000 seat Fox Valley Ice Arena 20 years ago, and that’s the same place the Steel now play. 

Of course, that was at a time when you literally could not give away Blackhawks tickets and actual crowds at the United Center were often under 5,000. The AHL’s Wolves drew 10,000-plus at Allstate Arena (formerly the Rosemont Horizon) and the Freeze became the first NAHL team to be an off-ice success. The Steel, being the third alternate to come to town in a six year span, playing in the shadows of O’Hare Airport far from any housing developments, never shared in that success.

But a strange thing is happening as we come out of this pandemic. Many predicted the demise of minor and junior leagues, and there is no doubt some of the weaker teams may not be back. But most teams below the highest level have been selling out to the point they are allowed, but the same can not be said at the highest level. People just want to get out again, and perhaps a $10 Steel ticket ten rows up at center ice to watch a championship squad will hold more appeal than a Blackhawks game where the cheapest seat is over $100. 

When all is said and done, the Steel could not have picked a better time to have their best season in franchise history.

Miller starts on bench as Chicago wins game three in a rout

Heading into game three of the Clark Cup Final Friday night on home ice, the Fargo Force had the USHL’s hottest goaltender in Andrew Miller. 

The problem is, he was on the bench until the game was out of reach. 

Despite posting a 0.84 goals against and a .971 save percentage in four playoff appearances, the Force elected to go with regular season starter Brennan Boynton. 

It might not have been the right decision. 

The visiting Chicago Steel put four shots past Boynton on 17 shots, including 2 on 6 in the first period en route to an easy 7-1 win. The Steel now lead the best-of-five series two games to one and can wrap it up with a win Saturday night. 

The second half of the first period provided some of the best hockey we have seen this series. The teams combined for just 11 shots in the period, but there were three goals later in the period, some big hits both ways, and even a decent scrum at the end of the period. It started to feel like playoff hockey. 

But if Miller’s presence on the bench was a surprise at the start of the game, it was even more of a surprise to start the second. Boynton couldn’t really be faulted on either of the goals, especially Matt Coronato’s power play goal that opened the scoring, but he didn’t come up with the amazing saves like Miller had been. 

By the midway point of the second, Boynton had allowed a couple of softer goals, Miller finally entered the game, but Fargo looked like a defeated team. Unlike the last two games, this looked like a practice for the Steel. They skated wherever they wanted, including splitting through three players on one goal, they attacked the net at will, and even seemed the more physical team much of the game.

Fargo tried to create some energy in the last ten minutes through scrums, but with USHL rules increasing fighting penalties in the final ten minutes, there were no takers. 

Now Fargo finds themselves with a different type of goaltending controversy, one not nearly as positive as just a game ago. On the other hand, Chicago now has that confidence and swagger that seemed missing from the series until now. 

Are the Aberdeen Wings the best team in junior hockey?

 Is it possible in this unprecedented season the best team in junior hockey is the Aberdeen Wings? 

It’s hard to argue otherwise. While the USHL played a relatively normal season, the Canadian major junior and junior A leagues struggled to get in what amounted to a short exhibition season, largely for scouting purposes. 

And then there’s Aberdeen. If there is a record in the North American Hockey League they did not break, better double check and be sure. They went an incredible 51-4-0-1, breaking NAHL records in a single season for points with 103 and wins with 51. The league’s leading scorer was Aberdeen’s Payton Matsui with 66 points in 56 games. Right behind him was teammate Clayton Cosentino with 61 points. 

And while the Odde Ice Center is filled to its 1,700 capacity virtually every night, the team can win with or without their home crowd. In fact they are 24-3-0-1 at home and an outstanding 27-1-0-0 on the road. Goalie Jake Sibell led the league by nearly a goal against per game, posting a minuscule 1.19 goals against and an astonishing .952 save percentage in 47 games, earning himself a scholarship to Division I Niagara University. 

Did someone mention scholarships? Two players came to this year’s team with D-1 scholarships in their pocket, but another 11 earned D-1 scholarships during the season. In fact, every commitment from an Aberdeen player was to a D-1 school. In addition, two former Wings committed this season, including Jake Beaune, who spent this season with Lincoln in the USHL.

The Wings come out with a total dominance every night. They do not rely on any one facet of the game, but rather come out with all guns blazing, driving to the net, hitting everything in sight, not shying away from the physical play, and normally having the game wrapped up midway through the first period. USHL fans who remember the 1996-97 Lincoln Stars have an idea of what this feels like, right down to a very supportive crowd that spends half the game on their feet. 

If there is one criticism, it would be from those who point out the NAHL, like the USHL, had virtually no inter division play this year. But that can be turned around by pointing out Aberdeen plays in the Central Division, which typically rivals the South Division as the NAHL’s strongest. 

Need more statistical evidence? Aberdeen led the league in goals per game with 4.48 and in goals against at 1.34 (more than a goal less per game than any other NAHL team), they led all power plays at 26.3% and penalty killing at 92.3%, they led in shots with 38.38 per game and shots against with 24.88. 

The stats tell one story, but watching this team tells a greater story. It is a team filled with skill, size, and physicality, but they play every night as if their season depends on winning that game. And the road to the Robertson Cup is not free of potholes, especially with teams like the Shreveport Mudbugs, the Lone Star Brahmas, and the Johnstown Tomahawks all posting impressive seasons. 

But after watching Aberdeen a few times, you are hooked. The energy and enthusiasm is infectious. The stats are ridiculous. The crowd is outstanding. And you start to get the feeling that on any given night, this team could compete with any team, anywhere, in any league.

And even if that is a stretch, it’s not a stretch to say they are the best team the NAHL has ever seen. Does that make them the best team in junior hockey this year? There is no quantitative answer to that question. But in one game or one series, I’m not sure I’d bet against them. 

Chicago strikes early, if not often, in tying Clark Cup Final at 1-1

Within the first two minutes of game two in the Clark Cup Final, it was obvious things were going to be different. 

Adam Fantilli scored the first goal of the series for Chicago just over a minute in, and he did it by shooting from the high slot and using the Fargo defensemen as screens. It was a radical change from game one, when Chicago mustered just 20 shots as they kept trying to drive to the net, to no avail. 

Chicago eventually went on to win the game 4-1 behind the strength of two late empty netters, but most of the action happened early. 

Before the midway mark of the period, Austin Wong tied the game for Fargo on one of the night’s many power plays. To be fair, the refs were not one sided, but by this point in the season, you would hope they don’t feel the need to call every little infraction, but rather, just make the calls they need to. 

Fargo was 1-6 on the power play while Chicago was 0-4, but in reality, neither team really deserved more than a couple of penalties. 

At 11:53 of the first period, Adam Robbins gave the Steel a 2-1 lead by scoring the game’s final goal, not counting empty netters. 

Overall, this did not feel like a playoff game. In the first 25:08 of the game, the referees handed out four power plays to each team. Eight combined power plays would be a lot in just over 25 minutes if it was a rough game. It wasn’t. 

In fact, the lack of scrums, trash talk, and general dislike between the teams is a big reason this feels like average regular season hockey. I know it’s a new era, and I know I preferred the old one, but usually playoff hockey still steps up the intensity a bit. 

But that is just not Chicago’s game. The Steel play best when focused on puck possession and avoiding the rough stuff. It doesn’t make for exciting highlight videos - in fact, the ones they play seem to lack the normal hits, fights, and energy plays that brings the crowd to it’s feet - but they win games. 

Regardless, a season high crowd of 1,034 (keeping in mind fans were not allowed most of the season and only 750 were allowed at any game prior to last night) enjoyed seeing the series tied 1-1 headed north. That is, except for the impressive presence of Fargo fans, who would have preferred a different result. 

Both teams now have five days off before resuming in Fargo Friday night for game three. With the teams splitting the first two games, it’s hard to tell who the incredibly long break favors. In any case, Fargo has to feel good knowing they could capture the Clark Cup on home ice Saturday.

But through two games, the only predictable thing has been that nothing has been predictable. 

Second straight shutout for Miller gives Fargo game one in Clark Cup Final

If it’s a goalie controversy, it’s the type any team wants. 

With Fargo goalie Brennan Boynton apparently suspended for a second game dating back to a brawl in the first game of the last round - this information is oddly hard to find out from the league - Andrew Miller posted his second consecutive shutout as the Force took game one of the Clark Cup Final 3-0 in Chicago. 

Presuming the mysterious suspension is now over, it still seems impossible for anyone but Miller to start game two Saturday night. He may have a short leash, considering Boynton was one of the league’s best goalies all year, but he definitely deserves to keep playing as long as Fargo keeps winning. 

Against Chicago, Boynton was reminiscent of Ken Dryden with the 1970s Montreal Canadiens - he only faced 20 shots, but there were long periods of inactivity and he came up big every time he was called upon. 

Strangely, that was only 11 times after the first period, two of which came in the first minute of the second period. Fargo did a good job of following the script in how to beat Chicago. Hold onto the puck, keep sustained pressure in the offensive end, be physical when needed, and win the one-on-one battles. The Steel are prone to defensive lapses in these situations, and when they do get the puck, they like to score pretty goals off the rush, often involving an individual effort. 

That is not playoff hockey. 

On the other hand, Fargo’s first two goals were not a thing of beauty, but that’s how it should be at this point in the season. Will beats skill in the playoffs, and that’s what we saw Friday night. 

Still, few expected Chicago to be this uninspired. Even trailing 2-0 after two periods, the Steel did not look desperate at any point in the third. Certainly Fargo was doing the right things to shut down the Steel, but it looked way too easy. 

Chicago has a lot of work ahead of them if this is going to be a long series. The question mark all year was whether they had the grit to do the little things that win a playoff series that lasts longer than one weekend. They did nothing tonight to answer those questions.

A season-high 793 fans were in attendance, but that’s only because Illinois loosened attendance restrictions this week, and this was the first game more than 750 fans were allowed. Although it’s a bit confusing, it seems the state is now allowing 60% of capacity as opposed to the previous 25%, but various counties and suburbs have their own restriction. Fox Valley Ice Arena is an hour from the city of Chicago, so the Steel are not subject to Chicago’s typically more stringent requirements. 

The small crowd probably favors the visiting team, but you won’t be able to say that next weekend in Fargo. Scheels Arena, arguably the league’s nicest, will likely be sold out, and regardless of what happens in game two, the Force will have a chance to win the series on home ice. 

From what we saw Friday, don’t bet against it. Chicago seemed to lack any answer to turn the game around. They don’t have big hitters, they are averse to scrums, so if they aren’t scoring, they can have a hard time getting things rolling. 

They better figure it out quick, because if they lose game two, this series is not coming back to Chicago. 

Clark Cup Final between polar opposites Fargo, Chicago almost too close to call

It seems like the national media has already awarded the Chicago Steel the Clark Cup as some kind of lifetime achievement award. 

True, last year’s team ran away with the Anderson Cup, and were heavy favorites for the Clark Cup before Covid caused the sports world to stop turning. And they did win this year’s Anderson Cup, albeit in a season when the two conferences acted as separate leagues because of little to no inter-conference play for most teams. 

And the perception out there is Chicago comes out and steamrolls their opponents. True, they do average nearly five goals per game, a number reminiscent of the 1980s Edmonton Oilers. But the perception and reality become very disparate from there. 

For example, while the Steel average 4.9 goals per game, they do it with just 28.3 shots per game, the lowest total of any playoff team. And they give up 27.8 shots per game, more than three shots per game than their opponent in the Clark Cup Final, the Fargo Force. And their 3.4 goals against per game would rank among the West Division’s worst. 

Talk about flying under the radar, the Force were overlooked by many entering the playoffs, as winning just three of their final ten games dropped them to fourth in the West. But after winning a best-of-three in Tri-City, the Force dominated a previously red-hot Sioux City team, outscoring them 9-2 in a two game sweep. To make things more impressive, starting goalie Brennan Boynton missed the last game and a half after a dubious game misconduct penalty in the second period of game two. 

And the numbers aren’t that different from Chicago in many ways. They are lower scoring but better defensively, outscoring their opponents 3.1-2.7 on average, but faring much better on shots, outshooting opponents by an average of 29.6-24.5.

Penalty minutes tell a very interesting story. Each team takes less penalty minutes than their opponent, but the numbers look from different eras. Chicago has taken 618 penalty minutes while their opponents have taken 652. Fargo has taken 830 penalty minutes, but their opponents have taken 1,081. In addition, Fargo leads in majors 20-8. 

Regardless of what the perception is in the so-called new era of hockey that began after the 2005 NHL lockout, the reality is, physical and grinding usually beats speed and skill in a playoff series. And no offense to the USHL, but I’m not a fan of best-of-three (look for a blog with a proposal by stats guru Kevin Kasel next week regarding that), so this is sort of the first true series of the playoffs where one team can wear another down. 

Chicago has two dynamic lines led by USHL scoring leader Sean Farrell (101 points) and USHL goals leader Matt Coronato (47) but the Steel are not physical. Nor are they big. They are prone to slow starts, they can get trapped in their own end for long periods of time, they score most of their goals off the rush and often struggle to maintain sustained pressure, and they can struggle against an aggressive forecheck. In reality, only Muskegon could take advantage of that in the East, and the Steel went 5-4-1 against Muskegon.

Fargo is a team by committee. Their leading scorer was Tristan Broz with 51 points. Fan favorite Austin Wong lead the team with 89 penalty minutes. In fact, when you look at the Force, nothing stands out other than goalie Boynton, who ranks in the top four in both goals against and save percentage. Yet the Force get things done, they do little things right, they play physical when they need to, and are good with the lead. 

So how does this one end up? It’s anyone’s guess. In reality, it’s not hard to see either team winning in a sweep, because nobody knows how these two very different teams match up. And there is no team like Chicago in the West, but there is no team like Fargo in the East. 

One x-factor could be the crowd. Unless things change before Friday (and there is some indication they may), Chicago is limited to 750 fans at their home arena, and it is expected as much as half of those will be Fargo fans. Meanwhile, Fargo has no restrictions, and is expected to play in front of a full house of 5,000-plus for games three and four, much as they did in game two against Sioux City. 

PREDICTION: If there was only some way to figure this one out. Looking back in league history, this one reminds me a bit of the 2001 Clark Cup Final between Lincoln and Omaha. Lincoln lost just 7 of 56 regular season games and finished well ahead of Omaha, who were third in the West (in those days, two teams from the same division could meet in the final) but were significantly more physical despite the lack of dynamic scorers like Lincoln’s Chris Fournier and Brandon Bochenski, the top two scorers in the league. Omaha won that one in five. Will history repeat itself? The guess here is yes. Fargo in five. 

Backup goalie Miller Fargo’s hero as Force, Steel sweep their way to Clark Cup Final

 Call it karma, call it the hockey gods, call it whatever you want. 

Just call it a shutout. 

With starting goaltender Brennan Boynton suspended as a result of a line brawl in game one, thanks to a quirky USHL rule, Fargo backup goalie Andrew Miller ended up playing the final game and a half of the Force’s Western Division Final series against Sioux City. 

All he did was stop 52 of 53 shots for a .981 save percentage, including all 34 shots as Fargo defeated the Musketeers 3-0 Saturday night to sweep the best-of-three series. 

The 21-year-old goalie from Boulder, Colo. is headed to Minnesota State in fall, but there was business to be done in front of a packed house in Fargo Saturday night first. 

Fargo now has a dilemma any team would like to have. With two hot goaltenders, who starts game one of the Clark Cup Final Friday night in Chicago? 

Whoever it will be will have to do something nobody has done in these playoffs - find a way to beat the Steel. Chicago picked up a 5-4 win in Muskegon Saturday night to sweep their second consecutive series. As usual, it was Matt Coronato leading the way, this time with two goals. While Central Scouting projects him as a late first round pick, common sense dictates he should go in the top five. 

Perhaps the best sniper the USHL has seen, his hard, accurate wrist shot with a quick release is reminiscent of Joe Sakic. The scary thing is, he has spent much of the season on the second line behind league leading scorer Sean Farrell. 

The Steel have received national media like no USHL team before them, including articles in Sports Illustrated, eliteprospects, The Hockey News, not to mention several TV spots. Yet the team is not without weakness. They are average defensively, prone to slow starts, often get outshot, and are not particularly physical. But put everything together and they are almost impossible to beat in a short series. 

Just ask Dubuque and Muskegon. Fargo, you’re up next.

Line brawl the focal point in 6-1 Fargo victory

After the first period of the two opening night USHL conference final games, it appeared the highlight would be three guys on the ice at intermission in Sioux City, dressed as 80s rockstars, complete with mullets and blow up guitars. 

Did that ever change quick. 

With the score 4-0 Fargo in game one of the Western Final, Sioux City’s Chase Bradley shoved Fargo goalie Brennan Boynton about three seconds after the whistle, sending the goalie to the ice while knocking the net ajar. As tends to happen in these situations, all hell broke loose. 

I am a fan of old time hockey, and I strongly believe if someone runs your goalie, you take care of it. Fargo did their best, but what has become the usual incompetent USHL linesmen job the past couple of years escalated the situation. 

As Force players tried to get at Bradley in the left corner, the linesmen stepped in far too early, as usual. This resulted in a more escalated situation behind the net, where Sioux City defenseman Christian Jimenez fought Fargo goalie Boynton in quite a nasty bout. Of course the linesmen were nowhere in sight, and one was physically restraining a Fargo player who was attempting to do the right thing and step in for his goalie. 

While everyone on the ice squared off, both Jimenez and Boynton took turns pummeling the other player while a referee, who can step in for this situation, stood there and watched. 

In the end, Bradley looks like a cheap shot artist, Jimenez looks like a bully, Fargo was unable (by league rule) to outfight the linesmen, and Boynton looks like the best goalie fighter since Ron Hextall. 

Perhaps none of that is true, but perception can be reality. And the reality is, somebody needs to instruct these linesmen the proper way to break up a fight. This has been a problem the past couple of years in the USHL, and makes us realize how much we really do miss Scott Brand!

In the end, only three players on each team ended up with majors, including the charging major to Bradley. In a bizarre twist, Boynton ends up with a game misconduct as an aggressor, which means fighting after the linesmen step in. Ironic, since the linesmen never did step into his fight. 

Everything else aside, this was a nightmare night for Sioux City. Playing in front of a nearly sold out lower level, they were down 3-0 after one, and it was the first goal that people will likely be talking about. It was borderline goaltender interference (actually, Fargo’s Jake Braccini plowed into the goalie right after the puck went in, the only question was whether he was pushed), the net being off (replays show the puck went in slightly before), and whether it was kicked in (it clearly went off his foot as he crashed into the goalie, but it was declared to not be a distinct kicking motion). 

It wasn’t that Fargo dominated as much as Sioux City lacked the intensity and emotion they brought into Omaha last weekend. The brawl may have been exactly what they needed, but the way it started and played out was not. The Musketeers now face a tough challenge Saturday in Fargo, where a large crowd will be ready to celebrate a conference title. 

CHICAGO 3, MUSKEGON 2 (OT)

In what was a much quieter game, USHL leading goal scorer Matt Coronato scored the winner part way through the first overtime. 

The game was not especially physical, but the Lumberjacks did a good job of taking time and space away from the Steel most of the night. For two teams that average nearly five goals a game each, the offenses seemed to lumber much of the night. 

Game two goes tomorrow at 6 pm CDT in Muskegon. No word if Kid Rock will be on hand. 

Kid Rock throws his support behind Muskegon

 Looks like the USHL East Division final is drawing the big hitters. 

Earlier this week, Kid Rock appeared on Muskegon Lumberjack social media saying “Go Lumberjacks!” The Detroit music superstar appeared with Muskegon captain Dylan Wendt for the roughly ten second spot.

https://twitter.com/muskegonjacks/status/1390038002425122816?s=21 

Muskegon seems especially fired up about this series, as these two teams have been the class of the East in recent years. While Muskegon favors the same wide open, 80s style hockey as Chicago, it was their defense that dominated the opening round. The Jacks gave up just three goals in their two game sweep of Green Bay, and even their playoff t-shirts read “Watch us grind.” 

And grinding is the type of hockey Michigan loves. Who can forget the grind line of Darren McCarty, Kris Draper, and Kirk Maltby? Or McCarty’s band Grinder? The term grind has become a Michigan proud point, walk through Ann Arbor any Saturday night and you will see all kinds of shirts using the word grind in different instances.

Safe to say, this series should be a great break from the daily grind.

USHL West Final preview: Sioux City on an unstoppable roll

It would be pretty easy to say the Sioux City Musketeers have already done the hard part, because they have. 

Sioux City had to go on the road for all potential three first round games, but they only needed two to dispatch of the hometown Omaha Lancers. Thanks to Fargo upsetting first place Tri-City in three games, the Muskies find themselves in the unexpected position of having home ice advantage in the second round. 

In a year where home ice has meant little in the USHL, this feels different. The league changes formats every round, so this round will be 1-1-1 with the first and last games in Sioux City. In the first round, the Musketeers showed they are built for the playoffs, coming out hitting, engaging in scrums, imposing their will on the Lancers, and doing all the things a good playoff team does. 

In some ways, it is hard to imagine Fargo winning this series. They won just three of their last ten regular season games, falling from first in the division to fourth in the process. After a great start to the season, the Force have been relatively mediocre. Of course, this is a season unlike any other, so anything can happen. 

Of note, of the four remaining teams, Sioux City has the best goals against, is the biggest team, the most physical, and has the most penalty minutes. In the playoffs when things get nasty, as in good hockey, all of those things matter. 

PREDICTION: Sioux City has now won 11 of their last 12 games. They are the league’s hottest team, and anything less than a sweep would be a surprise. Musketeers in two.

* Thanks to Kevin Kasel for the amazing stats, and to Nia Koenck Melonie Zublis-Brown Todd Caster Ronell Hubbell - I was really wrong in round one! See you in the final!

USHL East Final preview: Chicago, Muskegon are virtual mirror images

This year’s Chicago Steel have been called the best USHL team of all time, the “dopest” team in hockey (I sure hope that means something different than the dopiest team in hockey), and have been considered a shoo-in to win the Clark Cup. They have been featured everywhere from Sports Illustrated to NBC to Eliteprospects. 

Forgive the Muskegon Lumberjacks if they feel a little left out. After all, they were only nine points behind the Steel, like Chicago, they averaged over five goals a game, and they were nearly .500 against the Steel this season, Chicago posting a 5-4-1 record against the Jacks (technically, Muskegon was 5-5-0 against Chicago, but the Steel had 11 points head-to-head while the Jacks had 10). *thanks to Kevin Kasel for the great stats analysis as always!

Chicago doesn’t always outplay their opponents, they are not a big team or especially physical, and they are prone to slow starts like the one in game one against Dubuque, where they only posted three shots in the first period. But in that game, as with so many this season, the difference was Matt Coronato. He scored the winner late in the second period on his trademark hard, accurate, quick release wrist shot. If that sounds like Joe Sakic, it should. Having watched both at the same age, Coronato reminds me a lot of Sakic at that age. 

While Chicago has the league’s top four scorers, Danil Gushchin was the league’s top scorer who did not wear a Steel jersey. He can match Coronato step for step in a short series, so this won’t be easy. 

PREDICTION: Because of the odd schedule this year, most of the league never faced Muskegon and have no idea how good they are. But Chicago really is as good as their media clips say. Still, it will take all three games for the Steel to advance, and expect at least one to go to overtime.

Disappointing finish as USA falls short at World U18s

 I guess we shouldn’t be surprised, after all, the US Under 18 team was a below average USHL team, finishing below .500 and missing the playoffs by finishing fifth in a six team division. So losing in the quarter finals wasn’t a total shock for the team that usually wins the spring Under 18 tournament, but it still stings. First of all, the tournament was at home, in suburban Dallas. Second of all, they were knocked out by an average Swedish squad, falling 5-2 tonight. Remember this is the same Sweden team that lost 12-1 to Canada earlier in the tournament. 

The sad reality is, this US team was likely not in the top six, as Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic) and Belarus both looked very good through the tournament. The US was too small, lacked desperation, and really looked like a subpar USHL team. When you consider a lot of the NHL picks from the program have underperformed after being drafted the past few years (for example, Jack Hughes), has the program run its course? Or did the death of Jim Johannson have that big of an impact? There is no doubt he was one of the great hockey minds and hockey people in the country. 

There will be lots of talk, at least among those who were aware the tournament was going on. But right now, there are more questions than answers.

USHL round one thoughts and observations - Coronato, Sioux City both impressive

 So a few thoughts on the USHL...

- I underestimated the ability of a road team to win two of three in the same road building on consecutive nights. Sioux City was especially impressive in sweeping Omaha. Can anyone stop them right now?

- I don’t think Fargo can. Sioux City came out hitting, engaging in scrums, imposing their will on Omaha. In other words, they played playoff hockey. Scary note to the rest of the league? None of the remaining three teams that Sioux City could face are nearly as tough as Omaha. 

- Matt Coronato reminds me so much of Joe Sakic at the same age. The similarity comes in a very quick release on a hard, accurate wrist shot. He was the sole reason Chicago won game one. Where would I take him in the draft? First overall, seriously. There are very few snipers that good in the game. 

- I sometimes wonder how Chicago dominates the way they do, then I remember, it’s Coronato. They often get outhit, outshot, outmuscled, but win 6-2. One caveat, they did not have to play the West because of this year’s odd schedule. The West is bigger and more physical, and those are the teams that give the Steel trouble. As good as they are, they are as small of a junior team as I have ever seen. 

- Muskegon has somehow flown under the radar despite being a slightly more physical version of Chicago. They looked good in imposing their will against a bigger Green Bay team that seemed built for the playoffs. 

- The Fargo vs Tri-City series was a strange one. It did not have the intensity of the other Western series, and the crowd of a few hundred for game three played right into Fargo’s hands. It has to be a let down for the Storm to have such a small crowd for the year’s biggest game when the night before drew several thousand. 

- Predictions will follow later in the week, but I see the East going three games. The West, not so much. Who am I picking? I’ll let you know as soon as I figure out in the East. The West? I think you know!