Played on Dec 27, 2025
Game Played in Fox Valley Arena
General Game Notes: December 27, 2025 – Chicago, IL Youngstown and the Chicago Steel delivered an excellent, tightly contested matchup, trading scoring chances throughout regulation. Both goaltenders were sharp, turning aside high-quality looks and keeping the game deadlocked after sixty minutes. Extra time was needed to decide the winner, and Youngstown capitalized in overtime. Forward #91 Malachi McKinnon found the back of the net to end it, lifting Youngstown to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Steel.
Veeti Louhivaara (G, L, 6’4″, 207, Chicago Steel, 02/06/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Louhivaara is a bigger goaltender who uses his size to ‘block’ pucks, but he also has athleticism, making his game well-rounded. When necessary, he fights through traffic and will stretch out, using his long arms to trap pucks and get a piece of them. He’s smooth with his transitions from his posts out to shooters, getting out far enough to cut down the angle without putting himself out of position. At times, he can over-utilize the RVH, which is common for bigger goaltenders. Despite being efficient and good at it, he can get caught there for longer periods, wasting energy and struggling to find pucks in his feet from off-angle shots. He smothers pucks, limiting second-chance opportunities, and plays with a calm demeanor while still showing intensity. He’s got a high ceiling and is a promising goaltending prospect.
Kolin Sisson (RW, R, 5’9″, 183, Chicago Steel, 09/30/2006, Providence)
Game Rating
B
Kolin Sisson brings a high level of energy to the ice, using his speed and explosiveness to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He showcases impressive skill on the power play, making creative plays from the half-wall and using pump fakes to deceive defenders. Sisson’s defensive awareness is also notable, as he consistently chases down plays, breaks up chances, and puts in effort to put pressure on opposing forwards.
1 Viewing
Comments: Sisson has a lot of high-end skill to go with some high-end speed. He isn’t the biggest player on the ice, but he always has his feet moving to create separation and generate good offensive looks. He’s creative with the puck and has the ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations with nifty stick-handling and footwork. His ability to find soft pockets and get pucks on net is impressive, and he’s hard to defend against because he can get shots off quickly while also making crisp passes to teammates in scoring areas.
Jackson Crowder (C, R, 6’3″, 184, Chicago Steel, 04/26/2007, Ohio State)
Game Rating
B+
Jackson Crowder showcased a dynamic blend of physicality and hockey skill, making him a formidable presence on the ice. His ability to chip pucks past defenders was complemented by aggressive forechecking, allowing him to quickly regain possession after losing it. This combination of disruption and puck pursuit created challenges for opponents, as Crowder wasn’t afraid to engage in battles along the boards or in corners. He demonstrated excellent strength and balance, absorbing contact while maintaining control of the puck. Additionally, Crowder possessed the skill to capitalize on his physicality, making plays with the puck when opportunities arose. His unique blend of power forward play and hockey acumen made him a difficult player to defend against.
1 Viewing
Comments: Crowder is big, strong, and physical. He leans on opponents in all three zones and is hard to play against, wearing them down with a hard-nosed game. He also has skill to go with it and isn’t solely a grinder. He showed great vision on the Steel’s first goal by firing a seam pass across the ice to a teammate, who made no mistake. His versatility as a player is dangerous in the offensive zone, and he made his presence felt every time he was on the ice.
James Scantlebury (C, L, 5’9″, 172, Chicago Steel, 01/15/2009, Boston University)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Scantlebury had a good motor and kept his feet moving, especially off the rush. He played with a pace that was hard to defend. A good example came in the second period, when he went outside to inside in a hurry, beating defenders to the net and generating a great scoring chance on a partial breakaway. In addition to his speed on the offensive attack, he showed the same pace on the back-check, getting into his own zone to pick up loose pucks in the slot and transition play the other way.
Tobias Ohman (C, L, 5’7″, 176, Chicago Steel, 01/12/2006)
Game Rating
B-
Tobias Ohman is a skilled forward who excels with puck control and smart decision-making. He patiently holds onto the puck to set up effective plays, whether it’s finding a teammate or creating an offensive opportunity. His vision and passing ability are solid, and he has a talent for driving towards the middle of the ice to create space and generate shots on net.
1 Viewing
Comments: Öhman scored a beautiful shorthanded goal off the rush, opening up in the high slot, gathering the puck, and-without dusting it off-releasing a quick shot top shelf that beat the goaltender cleanly. The quick release, taken in motion with his head up, was impressive and ultimately sold the shot. All game, he played with pace, and by keeping his feet moving, he created energy and generated offensive opportunities.
Cole Tuminaro (D, R, 6’3″, 231, Chicago Steel, 01/24/2007, Cornell)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Tuminaro is a big, rugged defenseman who lays big hits and plays a physical game. He has an ‘in-your-face’ mentality in the defensive zone, doesn’t back down, and plays hard in all facets of the game. Despite being more of a stay-at-home type defenseman, he showed confidence with the puck. For example, in the first period he walked the blue line, faked a shot, got in tight, and just missed his shot wide. It was a great example of him moving his feet and using his reach to gain body position and get to the inside ice and scoring areas.
Miles Burgin (LW, L, 5’8″, 166, Chicago Steel, 02/07/2006)
Game Rating
C+
Burgin showcased his tenacity on the ice, consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic. He excelled at getting into tight spaces and making plays with minimal space to operate. His ability to distribute the puck effectively on the rush also stood out.
1 Viewing
Comments: Burgin showed flashes of skill when he had the puck in the offensive zone. He attacked with speed and made nifty moves in tight, showcasing his hands. He hunted pucks on the forecheck and was able to create chaos by doing so. He isn’t the biggest player, but he plays with pace and can make plays when given time and space.
Tobias Trejbal (G, R, 6’4″, 188, Youngstown Phantoms, 11/09/2007, UMass Amherst)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Trejbal is calm and composed and makes hard saves look easy. He’s big and owns good positioning, making small adjustments that frustrate shooters, as he’s square almost all the time. As a southpaw, he catches opposite and has a good set of hands, catching pucks, killing plays, and limiting second-chance opportunities. He transitions well post to post, whether on his feet or in the RVH, sealing low and pushing out to challenge shooters when the puck moves from low to high. He competes in tight and fights through traffic, using his big frame to find pucks and control the game.
Matej Teply (D, L, 6’1″, 198, Youngstown Phantoms, 03/02/2005, Vermont)
Game Rating
B
Matej Teply is a smooth-skating defender who relies on his hands for effectiveness. He excels at puck retrievals, making short, effective passes to teammates rather than wasting time with long throws. When attacking, he shows confidence by joining rushes and creating opportunities, often using subtle slip plays to get the puck to his teammates quickly.
1 Viewing
Comments: Teply had some good opportunities by activating from the blue line, catching pucks in stride and attacking the net. Although he wasn’t able to capitalize on his chances, it showed off his versatility as a two-way defender. Defensively, he was solid – not doing anything out of the ordinary, but winning puck battles and moving the puck up ice. He made a good first pass and wasn’t afraid to join the rush when necessary.
Evan Jardine (LW, L, 5’11”, 182, Youngstown Phantoms, 10/23/2007, Ohio State)
Game Rating
B+
Evan Jardine demonstrates a strong ability to find open space in the offensive zone, allowing him to quickly capitalize on scoring opportunities. From various defensive positions, he shows good awareness, often making smart plays that benefit his teammates rather than just throwing pucks away. Jardine’s hockey IQ and vision are notable assets, enabling him to create chances for himself and others by getting pucks into position. His precision passing and ability to generate offense through calculated movement make him a reliable presence in the zone.
1 Viewing
Comments: Jardine is an elite passer. He puts himself in positions where he can create just enough separation to see the ice and find his teammates in dangerous scoring areas. He plays with his head up at all times, surveying the ice and recognizing what is happening before it happens. His hockey IQ is high, allowing him to think the game at an advanced level. Although he’s a strong passer, he can also shoot and put himself into scoring positions. His edge work and hockey sense allow him to do so. For example, he can open up his hips, sell one move, and do another, making him tricky to defend against. He made a beautiful pass on the game tying goal in the last minute of the game, that not many players could execute.
Carter Murphy (D, L, 5’8″, 177, Youngstown Phantoms, 02/13/2007, Minnesota Duluth)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Murphy stepped up in the neutral zone more than once to lay some big hits. Despite his size, he plays with tenacity and isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body for the betterment of the team. He competes hard, shift in and shift out, constantly smothering opponents and doing what he can to avoid losing battles. Offensively, he moves the puck well and can get his shots through from the blue line.
Jack Hextall (C, R, 6’0″, 188, Youngstown Phantoms, 03/23/2008, Michigan State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Hextall scored the game-tying goal in the third period by positioning himself in the high slot, slipping behind defenders, receiving a pass, and executing a shot that beat the goaltender. As a younger player, he has plenty of upside, consistently getting to scoring areas and being relied upon in important situations, such as being on the ice in the final minute of the game while down a goal. He’s not an overly ‘flashy’ player, but he consistently does the little things right, putting himself in positions to succeed with or without the puck.
Cooper Simpson (LW, L, 6’1″, 186, Youngstown Phantoms, 02/05/2007, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Simpson has extremely good edge work, which he displayed multiple times in the offensive zone. He would collect pucks and cut back multiple times, creating separation before attacking the net. He knows how to beat defenders one-on-one without over-handling the puck, instead using his edge work and finesse to get to the net. He’s dynamic off the rush, distributing pucks while also being willing to take it himself. He makes those around him better because his hockey IQ is high and he thinks the game at a high level, allowing him to make plays with or without the puck-often the right one.
Matous Kucharcik (C, L, 6’4″, 181, Youngstown Phantoms, 02/03/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Kucharcík is a tall, lanky forward who plays at pace and excels in all three zones. He shows defensive responsibility by back-checking with purpose, creating turnovers and starting the transition the other way. He has a long reach that can disrupt plays in the defensive zone and neutral zone, clogging lanes and breaking up attacks. Offensively, he isn’t afraid to hold onto pucks, draw defenders toward him, and either attack the net or facilitate to teammates in scoring areas. He has a good shot, which was displayed on the first goal of the game when he one-timed a puck from the high slot, beating the goaltender and showing off his quick release and accuracy.
Ryan Rucinski (C, R, 5’10”, 188, Youngstown Phantoms, 12/01/2006, Ohio State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Rucinski is strong on his skates and not easily knocked off pucks. There was an example in the third period where he collected a puck in the offensive zone and wheeled the entire zone before eventually getting into a Grade-A scoring position. He released a quick shot that created a net-front scramble. Despite being hacked and whacked, he remained calm, held onto the puck, and was able to create a scoring opportunity. Much of what he does comes from puck possession and his ability to get into hard areas. He has a good skill set, a high IQ, and can play in all facets of the game.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images