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.
No comments:
Post a Comment