DECEMBER 22, 2016 - The Steele County Blades finished the 2016 year at the USPHL Chicago Showcase. The Blades played four games against the top two teams as well as the bottom two teams in the standings. The USPHL showcase format consists of two 25 minute halves instead of the three 20 minute frames played during non showcase league games.
First up on the four game stretch was the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings. The Riverkings currently sit atop of the Midwest Division among Elite teams. Prior to this matchup, the Blades had been dealt two of their five losses by the Riverkings and having been outscored 12-3 in the process. The marquee matchup featured plenty of tenacity on both sides as well as impressive defensive performances. Second year goaltender Mike Severson, was given the nod in net for the opening game and posted a strong performance. Severson stopped 35 shots only allowing one goal during either half of the game. Unfortunately, the Riverkings netminder Erik Schuette played flawless and did not surrender a single goal to the Blades. The Blades would eventually fall to the Riverkings with the final score of 1-0.
The second game featured a familiar foe, the Dells Ducks. Both teams have two wins and two losses in the season series so far, with every game being decided by just one goal. The Dells got a quick jump on the Blades, scoring just one minute and thirty-six seconds into the first half when Will Francis snuck a backhand shot past Tim Grounds. Neither team would falter the remainder of the first half, snuffing out any threat from their opponent. The Dells opened the scoring in the second half as well giving them a 2-0 lead just over five minutes into the second half. The Blades refused to go down quietly and made their first strike while on the power play.
Chase Wedding scored his eighth goal of year when he unleashed a wrist shot from the face-off dot to the right of the Ducks net. The Ducks regained their two goal lead with six minutes remaining in the second and final half of the game. Steele County brought the game within one goal when Jake Friese tipped a shot from the point into the Ducks net. Unfortunately, it was too late as the Blades dropped game two of the showcase to the Ducks 3-2.
Looking to rebound after dropping their first two games on the showcase, the Blades took on the Blaine Energy. The Energy posted two wins in their first two games of the showcase. The 8:00am start did not seem to effect the boys from Steele County when captain Chase Lewis scored just nineteen seconds into the game. Oskari Valli continued to carry the momentum just forty-one seconds later, registering a goal of his own. The Blades scored often and early in this contest, eventually winning the game with a score of 13-0. Soren Colstrup notched four goals, sequentially gaining a natural hat trick in the process. Jagr Wasem scored the first goal of his junior career as well. Lewis, Valli and Kaleb Combs all ended the game with three points a piece and Severson picked up his first shutout on the year.
With one game remaining, the Blades had the chance to salvage the week and improve to 2-2 or 1-3. The only thing standing in the way was the Detroit Fighting Irish. The Blades and Irish had not played one another in almost three months heading into the last game of the showcase. Blades new addition Zach Bettmeng scored his third goal in his first five games to give the Blades a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the contest, when he slammed home a rebound stemming from a Freise slapshot. Wedding upped the ante just thirty-one seconds later on the power play with assists from Erik Colstrup and Lewis, giving E. Colstrup his second assist of the game. The Fighting Irish countered with a slapshot from the point that beat Nick Mizen five-hole, bringing the score to 2-1 in favor of the Blades.
After almost twelve minutes of scoreless hockey, S. Colstrup found Clayton Huss alone in the slot with a back hand pass that Huss eventually put in the back of the net. Yet again scoring in waves, Blades center Kyle Wadden tallied a goal of his own fifty-one seconds later, while even-strength, to give the Blades a 4-1 lead heading into the intermission. The second half opened up with a goal from S. Colstrup just under fifteen minutes into the frame, giving him his 19th tally on the year.
Detroit wasn't done quite yet, countering on the power-play to bring the score to 5-2 in favor off the Blades. The final nail in the coffin came from Wadden as the Blades went on to win 6-2. Nick Mizen improved to 3-0 on the season, with his three wins coming against three different teams.
Some top performers during the showcase were Chase Lewis and Soren Colstrup. Lewis posted seven points in four games, while Colstrup added six points to his team leading 34 points in 23 games. Erik Colstrup, Oskari Valli and Kyle Wadden also each had four points on the week. The Blades will enjoy an extended break for the holiday season before heading to the USPHL Winter Showcase, held at the New England Sports Center. The Blades will face off against P.A.L. Jr. Islanders, Rochester Monarchs, Team Beijing and Potomac Patriots.
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