CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” feels like the most accurate way to describe the first half of the season for the Chippewa Steel. After 30 games, the Steel find themselves in fourth place in the Midwest Division with a 15-12-3 record adding up to 33 points and more importantly a playoff spot. Yes, the Steel may have the youngest team in the North American Hockey League and yes, Head Coach Chris Ratlzoff is in his first season, but the Steel had the best start in Franchise history! Let’s shed some light on the positives, negatives and everything in between that you may have missed up to this point.
A hockey season is full of ebbs and flows and the Chippewa Steel were on a roller coaster of emotions for three and a half months highlighted by a seven game winning streak spanning a month followed by losing six straight. Within the two extremes of the first half, the answer is certainly somewhere in the middle. The first trip to Alaska may have been the turning point of the season, a lengthy road trip far away from home could of caused a spiral, but ended up coming back with seven out of the possible ten points to get back on track. Five wins in the month of November pulled themselves back over five hundred and back into the playoff conversation.
HOMEGROWN
The two Eau Claire natives and third year forwards Peyton Platter and Joe Kelly have been instrumental in the offensive success this season. Platter leads the team in scoring with 28 points including 15 goals and 13 assists and is well on his way to smashing a career high set a season ago at 31 points. The Alaska-Fairbanks commit featured a 10 game point streak in the month of November and has 15 points in his last 15 games headed into the break. He also leads the Steel with seven multi point efforts. Kelly had 10 goals in 59 games last season and has already matched that mark after a stellar first month. Kelly had 13 points in the first 11 games highlighted by a four point day against Danbury at the NAHL showcase and opened the season on a scoring tear. He leads the Steel with two shorthanded goals this season on a squad that has set the pace with eight shorty’s which leads the NAHL.
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING
Each year NHL Central Scouting releases their preliminary players to watch list which is a compilation of draft eligible prospects from major developmental leagues across North America and Europe. The Chippewa Steel boast three players who made the list, goaltender Ajay White, forward Alex Lunski and recent addition defensemen Mason Peapenburg. White, who recently committed to St. Thomas, is turning heads this season in the crease, in 17 games this season, White has a 9-6-1 record with a 2.65 GAA and .906 save percentage including a 34 save shutout against Fairbanks. Lunski has not been with the Steel since electing to play his senior season with Minnetonka in his home state of Minnesota, but accumulated six points in his first taste of junior hockey. Also, who can blame him for wanting to win back to back state championships in the State of Hockey, by the way he has 10 points in his first seven games this season. Peapenburg hopped on board just before the break and adds size and skill to the backend for the Steel, the Larson, Wisconsin native already picked up his first career assist and showing why he has the potential to excel at the next level.
CALL UPS
The Chippewa Steel have also had their fair share of call ups to the USHL this season, this time of year can be chaotic with the amount of players being moved so here is a quick rundown. We start with Talan Blanck, Blanck played the majority of the first half with Steel and leads the team with 14 assists and is 2nd in points this season. Not only did he commit to Alaska-Fairbanks this past month, he was called up to Sioux City in the USHL and has two assists in his first six games. Lukas Peterson was the teams highest scoring defensemen with 11 points in 16 games and a key part of the power play before heading to the Green Bay Gamblers. Peterson has three assists in six games this season in his first year of junior hockey. We can’t forget about Carter Wishart who was called up to the Fargo Force this month, the Colgate commit has a 3.00 GAA and .898 save percentage in 15 games this season with the Steel. Also, Ajay White was called up to Sioux City and won in his first career start! He made 20 saves in a 4-3 win over Des Moines.
Making the playoffs for the first time as a franchise last season was a huge step forward for the Steel, followed up by the best first half in franchise history continues that momentum. The season is far from over and a lot of hockey is still left to be played, but the Steel are right in the mix and can solidify themselves as a formidable opponent with a strong second half.
The Chippewa Steel want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays over the break. The Steel return home on Dec. 29 and 30 against the Anchorage Wolverines. Puck drop is set for the 7:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, tickets can be purchased online here or at the door for cash only both days.
Stay connected during the season by following the Steel @chippewasteel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at chippewasteelhockey.com.