FLATTENING THE STEEL: The U17s will face-off against the Chicago Steel in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the Clark Cup playoffs starting on Saturday (April 21) at USA Hockey Arena. Team USA will host Games 1 and 2 before traveling to Chicago for Games 3 and 4. If necessary Game 5 will be at USA Hockey Arena on Sunday (April 29).

Team USA won the season series against the Steel, 4-2 with one of the victories coming in a shootout.

Chicago topped Muskegon in three games to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinal. The Steel finished their season with a record of 28-25-2-5 (W-L-OTL-SOL) for 63 points, sixth in the Eastern Conference. They are 5-3-1-1 in their last ten games. The Steel have the second-ranked offense, recording 219 goals for, but they hold the third worst defense, allowing 218 goals against. Jack Dugan finished third in league scoring this season and ninth in points-per-game with 1.22. Graham Lillibridge is tied for second in assists with forty-one.

Chicago has the fifth best power play, scoring 21.3% of the time, and they have scored the second most power play goals with fifty-eight. Aaro Vidgren is tied for first in power play goals with twelve. The Steel have allowed the second most short-handed goals against at fourteen, and they are tied for the fewest short-handed goals for, only scoring three all season.

The Chicago Steel are the defending Clark Cup Champions having won their first championship last season.

Team USA has outscored Chicago, 35 to 31, over their six-game season series. Team USA also holds a lead in shots, recording 200 to Chicago’s 187. Chicago has been better on the power play against Team USA scoring on seven of their twenty-three opportunities while Team USA has only scored on six of their thirty opportunities.

In their most recent game on March 25, the U17s lost to Chicago, 9-6. Ryder Rolston (Birmingham, Mich.) registered a hattrick and an assist for a four-point night. Drew Helleson (Farmington, Minn.) also recorded a four-point night with four assists. Alex Vlasic (Wilmette, Ill.), John Beecher (Elmira, N.Y.), and Trevor Zegras (Bedford, N.Y.) also scored in the loss.

Steel Top Scorers: Jack Dugan (31-35-66 in 54 GP), Blake McLaughlin (23-29-52 in 54 GP), Baker Shore (23-25-48 in 60 GP)

Steel Plus/Minus Leaders: Derek Daschke (+10), Jordan Seyfert (+7), CJ Walker (+3)

Steel Goaltenders: Oskar Autio (20-16-1-0 in 39 GP, 2.90 GAA, .904 SV%), Justin Robbins (8-9-1-5 in 25 GP, 4.11 GAA, .873 SV%)

2017-18 Results/Schedule vs. Chicago Steel: October 7, 2017, U17s @ Chicago (W, 10-5); November 17, 2017, U17s vs. Chicago (L, 6-2); January 20, 2018, U18s @ Chicago (W, 4-3); March 23, 2018, U18s vs. Chicago (W, 5-4 in SO); March 24, 2018, U18s vs. Chicago (W, 8-4); March 25, 2018, U17s @ Chicago (L, 9-6)

NTDP All-Time Record vs.  Chicago Steel: 29-22-7 (W-L-OTL) Home: 16-10-3 Road: 13-12-4