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STEAM SEASON ENDS TOO SOON

3HL's final four is set after thrilling Sunday

After Flint clinched the first spot in the 3HL’s final four on Saturday, the stage was set on Sunday for the final three teams to make their way into the mix.  Despite the fact the lower seeded teams had the early edge in the Divisional Finals round, it would be all three top seeds in each division who would come out on top on Sunday, earning their way to Chicago for the 3HL Championship Tournament, which will feature all four division winners  from the regular season. Here is a look at Sunday’s action:

North Division
Queen City 4 @ Toledo 6 (Toledo wins series, 2-1)
The Steam gave the Cherokee everything they could handle and then some.  It was a very even 1st period in Game 3.  Queen City scored twice with goals from Lucas McCammant and Zach Newman.  Toledo answered back with goals from offensive stars Ryan Kelly and Joe Skrzynski.  Queen City’s best period of the game came in the 2nd period when Nick Okada scored a power play goal and Ryan Faucheux scored a shorthanded goal to give the Steam a 4-2 lead after two periods.  However, the upset was not to be thanks in large part to Mike Baker, who took over the game as he scored three, 3rd period goals along with a goal from Christos Papaioannou to give Toledo a 6-4 win thanks to the four goals in the 3rd period.

Central Division
Peoria 0 @ St. Louis 4 (St. Louis wins series, 2-1)
St. Louis goalie Mitch Fernsler saved his best game of the series for last as he stopped all 24 Mustangs shots to help St. Louis advance to the 3HL Championship Tournament.  St. Louis took a 1-0 lead in the 1st period on a goal from Johnny Mueller, who ended up having two goals and an assist in the game.  Trace Jablin scored in the 2nd period to give the Jr. Blues a 2-0 lead.  Patrick Gregory and Mueller added 3rd period goals to put the game out of reach.  St. Louis outshot the Mustangs 36-24 for the game.  Mustangs goalie Michael Parda, who face a barrage of shots in the series, made 32 saves in the loss for Peoria. 

West Division
North Iowa 2 @ Granite City 3 (Granite City wins series, 2-1)
Two goals from Peter Lindblad in the opening eight minutes would be the difference as the Granite City Lumberjacks edged the North Iowa Bulls 3-2 to claim the West Division playoff crown.  Lindblad scored :40 seconds into the game and again eight minutes later to give the Jacks an early 2-0 lead.  Bobby Chapman scored late in the 1st period to bring the Bulls within one.  TJ Christianson added the only goal of the 2nd period to increase the Granite City lead to 3-1 after two periods.  Steve Heller scored for North Iowa in the 3rd period with just over six minutes remaining in the game, but with goalie Matt Martels pulled in the final minute for the extra attacker, North Iowa could not get the equalizer.  Granite City’s Matt Grove made 26 saves in the win, while Bartels made 27 saves in the loss.

STEAM Beat Toledo move to 3-0 in Playoffs

The Queen City Steam gutted out a close 4-2 win against the Toledo Cherokee.

Queen City gained the winning advantage on a goal by Trevor Voelker 1:44 into the second period and hung on until final buzzer.

After the loss made the series score 1-0 in the best of three series, Toledo faces elimination next time out.

Voelker had two goals to lead the Steam to victory.

The Steam fell behind 2-0 in the first six minutes of period one, but came back strong to score the next 4 goals and Toledo could not put another one by Steam goalie Joey Rebedew. Queen City stifled the Cherokee's power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. The Steam kept Toledo's goalie busy throughout the game, and Lukas Gavalier made 29 saves on 33 shots.

Queen City additionally got points from Henry Smith, who also tallied one goal and one assist and Ryan Faucheux, who also finished with one goal and one assist. In addition, Queen City receivedassists from Lucas McCammant and Nick Okada, who contributed one a piece and Trevor Anderson and Taylor Penman, who each chipped in two.

Queen City was unable to stop the Cherokee from sending pucks towards the net, and Toledo eventually piled up 41 shots on goal.

The Cherokee were helped by Patrick Smiatacz, who had one goal. Smiatacz scored 6:08 into the first period to make the score 2-0 Toledo. Austin Fletcher assisted on the tally. James Steele also scored for Toledo. Other players who recorded assists for Toledo were Charles Kingston, Joe Skrzynski, and Ben Henry, who contributed one a piece.

Joey Rebedew rejected 39 shots on goal for the Steam. Queen City incurred 12 minutes in penalty time with six minors. Toledo incurred 12 minutes in penalty time with six minors.

STEAM WIN SERIES TOLEDO UP NEXT

Anderson, Newman lead Queen City over Michigan, 7-2

Behind one goal from Trevor Anderson and three goals Zachary Newman, the Queen City Steam downed the Michigan Mountain Cats 7-2.

Anderson scored short handed 19:24 into the second period to make the score 3-2 Queen City. A charging call on Trevor Voelker put Queen City on the penalty kill. Ryan Faucheux picked up the assist.

The win by the Steam clinched the best of three series at 2-0.

Queen City's offense rang up 31 shots on Michigan's net.

Queen City also got points from Trevor Knoll, who also had one goal and one assist. Queen City also got a goal from Zachary Barngrover as well. More assists for Queen City came via Henry Smith and Matt Duncan, who contributed one a piece.

The Mountain Cats did not rack up many penalties in the contest, racking up just one minor for two minutes in penalty time. Michigan got an offensive boost from its blueliners, who contributed two goals during the game.

The Mountain Cats were led by Tyler Schofield, who grabbed two goals. Schofield scored the first of his two goals on the power play at 14:06 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Queen City. Michigan had taken the advantage when the Steam's Niels Olesen got sent off for holding. Andrew Carlson assisted on the tally. Schofield's next tally on the power play made the score 2-2 with 2:02 left in the second period. The Mountain Cats earned a power play opportunity when Knoll was put in the box for checking from behind. Ethan Baker provided the assist. In addition, Michigan received assists from Erick Chamberlain, who had one.

Joey Rebedew made 21 saves for Queen City on 23 shots. The Steam incurred 10 minutes in penalty time with five minors. Schuyler Ferguson recorded 24 saves for Michigan. The Mountain Cats registered two goals on five power play opportunities.

STEAM WINS GAME 1

Queen City beats Michigan 5-3 after comeback scare

The Sphere Fri, Mar 16, 2012

The Michigan Mountain Cats tried to dig themselves out of a four-goal hole, but the Queen City Steam held on for a 5-3 victory.

Queen City took a 5-1 lead during the second period, only to have Michigan storm back on a Ethan Baker goal 14:08 into the third period to pull to two goals down.

After the loss made the series score 1-0 in the best of three series, the Mountain Cats face elimination next time out.

The Steam got the win on the strength of a great game by Trevor Voelker, who had two goals and one assist. Voelker scored the first of his two goals at 17:56 into the first period to make the score 2-1 Queen City. Lucas McCammant provided the assist. Voelker's next tally made the score 4-1 Queen City with 11:12 left in the second period. Eric Woodward picked up the assist.

Queen City's offense rang up 33 shots on Michigan's net.

Nick Okada also scored for Queen City. Other players who recorded assists for Queen City were Niels Olesen, who had one.

Michigan additionally got points from Andrew Carlson, who also racked up one goal and one assist and James Koonce, who also finished with one goal and one assist. More assists for Michigan came via Erick Chamberlain, David Salazar, and Marshall Helton, who contributed one a piece.

Alex Lazarski recorded 23 saves for the Steam. Queen City incurred four minutes in penalty time with two minors. The Mountain Cats' Schuyler Ferguson stopped 28 shots out of the 33 that he faced. Michigan totaled 37 minutes in penalty time with six minors and one major and went 0-for-1 on the power play. The Mountain Cats ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Koonce was ejected from the game.

STEAM Defeat Michigan 3-2 in Overtime

Taylor Penman gave the Queen City Steam a 3-2 (OT) victory over the Michigan Mountain Cats when he scored 28 seconds into the extra period.

Queen City overcame a two-goal deficit to capture the victory. The Steam trailed 2-0 after a goal by Michigan's Marshall Helton at 7:17 in the second period. Queen City tied things up at 2-2 on a power play goal by Trevor Voelker at 11:04 in the third period.

In addition, Queen City received assists from Eric Woodward, Zachary Barngrover, and Matt Duncan, who contributed one a piece.

More assists for Michigan came via Erick Chamberlain and Paul Elezaj, who each chipped in one.

Joey Rebedew rejected 17 shots on goal for the Steam. Queen City incurred 18 minutes in penalty time with four minors. Jordan Wood recorded 25 saves for the Mountain Cats. Michigan incurred 10 minutes in penalty time with five minors.