CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – After a thrilling win last Saturday over the Wilderness, the Chippewa Steel (3-3-0) refocus their attention to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs (3-4-1) this Saturday, Sept. 30 at 7:00PM CT inside the Chippewa Area Ice Arena. The Steel enter their contest winning back-to-back games for the first time this season sitting in fifth place in the Midwest Division just one point behind the Ice Dogs. Fairbanks has three straight and coming off a sweep of the Wisconsin Windigo last weekend by scores of 4-1 and 4-2.
TICKET AND BROADCAST INFORMATION
If you have not already purchased tickets to tomorrows contest click HERE. If you are unable to make it to the Chippewa Area Ice Arena, you can watch the game from the comfort of your own home on NAHLTV. You can watch the Steel all season long on NAHLTV and listen to the “Voice of the Steel” Joey Erickson.
SCOUTING THE STEEL
After a rocky first few games for the Steel, first year Head Coach Chris Ratzloff is finding stability up and down the lineup which is contributing to a fast style a play that his teams are known for. A line that has shined for the Steel of late is the trio of rookie Jacob Ligi, and veterans Tomas Trunda and Joe Kelly. Kelly leads the Steel in scoring with seven points in the first six games, closely followed by Trunda and Ligi who both have six points. Trunda played hero against the Wilderness with a beautiful wrap around goal in OT to finish off Minnesota with his second goal of the night, and Ligi picked up a couple of assists as well to help the Steel win 4-3. After giving up six or more goals in the first three games, the Steel have limited their opponents to less than four goals a game by a combination of less giveaway in their own zone and some solid goaltending.
SCOUTING THE ICE WOLVES
Fairbanks lost five straight including a shootout loss versus Colorado in the NAHL Showcase to begin the year, but have regained their footing and enter Saturday on a three game winning streak. The Ice Dogs have been very competitive even in their losses, and have surrendered a few leads which have not helped the cause. Marc Lund leads all scorers with seven points including three goals and four assists, Lance Mengel leads the team with five goals with three of them coming in the last two games. Their defensemen are not afraid to chip in offensively either, Jack Thomas and David Clarke both have six points and Nikola Murgic has added five from the backend, so the Steel will have to be extra aware in the defensive zone.
BIG BAD OT
The Steel did not win one game in overtime last season, the majority of their games that went passed 60 minutes finished in a shootout where they picked up three wins in the skills contest. However, the Wilderness were the loan team to defeat the Steel inside the five minutes of three on three back on Nov. 18, 2022.
WINNING SOLVES EVERYTHING
Fairbanks currently holds the leagues longest win streak with three games dating back to the final day of the NAHL Showcase where they defeated the Austin Bruins 3-2. That streak will have either extended or busted after Friday since Fairbanks is traveling to Janesville to take on the Jets the night before.
Stay connected during the season by following the Steel @chippewasteel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at chippewasteelhockey.com.