Decatur, Ill. - The puck dropped on a high-stakes weekend for the Chicago Crush Elite as they laced up their skates for a four-game gauntlet in the heart of Illinois. From October 4-6, 2024, the Decatur Civic Center became a battleground for USPHL supremacy, with the Crush looking to make their mark against stiff competition.
Head Coach Phil Bushbacher's squad entered the showcase with a chip on their shoulder and fire in their eyes, ready to prove they're more than just Windy City warriors. With a mix of veteran leadership and young guns eager to light the lamp, the Crush aimed to crush their opponents' hopes and solidify their position in the league standings.
As the zamboni made its final passes and the crowd filed in, one question hung in the air like fog off Lake Michigan: Could the Crush weather the storm of this grueling showcase and emerge as contenders, or would they melt under the pressure? Buckle up, hockey fans – it's time to drop the puck on a weekend that would test the mettle of Chicago's finest.
Game 1: Chicago Crush vs. Fort Wayne Spacemen
Final Score: Chicago Crush 5, Fort Wayne Spacemen 0 Date: Friday, October 4, 2024
1st Period
The Crush came out of the gates like they were shot out of a cannon, hemming the Spacemen in their own zone from the opening faceoff. At 5:54, Joshua Yeates broke the ice, burying a feed from Alex Matysiak to put Chicago up 1-0. The floodgates opened as Alex Guida and Konstantinos Koufopoulos each found twine, leaving the Spacemen reeling. With just 49 ticks left on the clock, Mac King added insult to injury, sending the Crush to the locker room up 4-0 and leaving Fort Wayne searching for answers.
2nd Period
The middle frame saw both teams locked in a chess match, with Chicago content to protect their lead and Fort Wayne desperate to find a foothold. Goaltender Johnny Augusta stood tall between the pipes for the Crush, turning aside all 18 shots he faced in the period. The Crush's penalty kill flexed its muscles, stifling Fort Wayne's lone power play opportunity and keeping the goose egg intact.
3rd Period
Any hopes of a Fort Wayne comeback were dashed early in the third when Mac King notched his second of the night, assisted by Alexander Hodge. With a five-goal cushion, the Crush went into lockdown mode, limiting the Spacemen to just 7 shots in the period. When the final horn sounded, Augusta had secured a 33-save shutout, and Chicago had made a statement to open the showcase.
Three Stars:
Johnny Augusta (CHI) - 33 saves, shutout
Mac King (CHI) - 2 goals
Alex Matysiak (CHI) - 1 assist, strong two-way play
Game 2: Chicago Crush vs. Metro Jets Elite
Final Score: Chicago Crush 5, Metro Jets Elite 4 Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024 (Morning)
1st Period
The Crush's early-morning tilt against the Metro Jets Elite started with a bang. Alex Matysiak continued his hot hand, lighting the lamp at 4:16 to give Chicago the early edge. However, the Jets showed they hadn't come to Decatur to play shinny, answering back with two quick strikes from Tyler Dix and Christopher Otero. The opening frame ended with Metro Jets up 2-1, despite being outshot 21-7 by a buzzing Crush offense.
2nd Period
The see-saw battle continued in the middle stanza. Ronnie Lubbers extended the Jets' lead to 3-1 just 1:23 in, but the Crush weren't about to let this one slip away. Keith Watkins answered the bell 27 seconds later, cutting the deficit to one and reigniting the Chicago bench. Both teams traded chances, but the goalies stood tall, sending the game to the third
with everything to play for.
3rd Period
With their backs against the boards, the Crush showed the heart of a champion in the final frame. Ronnie Lubbers struck again for the Jets at 2:10, seemingly putting the game out of reach. But Chicago's never-say-die attitude shone through. Alex Matysiak notched his second of the game at 6:10, and the momentum shifted. Vincent Cerrentano played the hero at 14:36, knotting the game at 4-4 and sending the Crush faithful into a frenzy. With overtime looming, Grant Paullo delivered the dagger, finding twine with just 33 seconds left to complete the improbable comeback.
Three Stars:
Mac King (CHI) - 4 assists, offensive catalyst
Alex Matysiak (CHI) - 2 goals, including the spark for the comeback
Grant Paullo (CHI) - Game-winning goal
Game 3: Chicago Crush vs. Fort Wayne Spacemen
Final Score: Fort Wayne Spacemen 5, Chicago Crush 2 Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024 (Evening)
1st Period
In this grudge match, Fort Wayne came out with a chip on their shoulder, looking to avenge their earlier loss. The Spacemen struck first, with Landyn Ringenberg solving Crush netminder Aidan Millerick at 6:55. Riley Murphy doubled the lead at 9:48, leaving Chicago searching for answers. Despite outshooting Fort Wayne 13-7, the Crush found themselves in a 2-0 hole after 20 minutes.
2nd Period
Fort Wayne kept their foot on the gas, with Ringenberg potting his second of the night just 1:04 into the middle frame. The Crush, showing signs of fatigue from their morning thriller, struggled to find their rhythm. But the never-say-die attitude of this squad shone through late in the period. Mac King got Chicago on the board at 14:46, followed by Alex Guida at 18:15, giving the Crush life heading into the final stanza.
3rd Period
With momentum on their side, the Crush came out flying in the third, peppering the Fort Wayne net with 17 shots. But the hockey gods can be cruel, and it was the Spacemen who found twine. Samuel Baldry restored the two-goal lead at 2:12, and Alex Kryukov put the final nail in the coffin at 4:46. Despite their best efforts, Chicago couldn't solve Brendan Kusbel again, falling 5-2 in a physical affair that saw both teams combine for 26 penalty minutes.
Three Stars:
Landyn Ringenberg (FW) - 2 goals, including the game-winner
Brendan Kusbel (FW) - 34 saves on 36 shots
Mac King (CHI) - 1 goal, continued strong play
Game 4: Chicago Crush vs. Motor City Gamblers
Final Score: Motor City Gamblers 3, Chicago Crush 1 Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024
1st Period
The final day of the showcase saw tempers flare and the gloves come off – literally. Brandon Thomas drew first blood for Motor City at 6:59, but the real story was the physical play. Both teams came out hitting everything that moved, setting the tone for a penalty-filled affair. Despite outshooting the Gamblers 18-11, the Crush couldn't solve Tyler Houle and entered the first intermission down 1-0.
2nd Period
The middle frame saw the chess match continue, with both teams trading chances but neither able to find the back of the net until late. Kibwe Weaver extended Motor City's lead to 2-0 at 15:05, capitalizing on a Crush turnover in the neutral zone. Chicago continued to press, outshooting Motor City 12-9 in the period, but Houle stood tall between the pipes for the Gamblers.
3rd Period
The final stanza erupted into chaos at the 9:15 mark when a massive scrum resulted in multiple fighting majors and game misconducts for both squads. When the dust settled, the teams were playing 4-on-4 hockey, and the Crush found new life. Alex Matysiak finally solved Houle at 13:38, cutting the deficit to one and giving Chicago hope. But with time winding down and the Crush pressing for the equalizer, Tadd Siglow put the game on ice with an empty-netter at 19:59, sealing a 3-1 victory for Motor City.
Three Stars:
Tyler Houle (MC) - 42 saves on 43 shots, 1 assist
Kibwe Weaver (MC) - Game-winning goal
Alex Matysiak (CHI) - 1 goal, 7 shots on goal
Showcase Statistics and Standout Performers
Record: 2 wins, 2 losses
Goals For: 13
Goals Against: 12
Power Play: 0 for 24 (0%)
Penalty Kill: 15 for 15 (100%)
Top Performers:
Mac King: 3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points – A tour de force performance from the Crush's offensive dynamo.
Alex Matysiak: 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points – Clutch scoring when it mattered most.
Johnny Augusta: 1 shutout, 33 saves on 33 shots in the opening game – A brick wall when the Crush needed it most.
Looking Ahead
As the Crush pack up their gear and head back to the Windy City, they do so with a mix of optimism and determination. The showcase revealed both the team's potential and its areas for improvement. With the offensive firepower of King and Matysiak, the stellar goaltending of Augusta, and the grit shown throughout the weekend, the Crush have the ingredients for success. If they can shore up their special teams play and maintain discipline, this Chicago squad could be a force to be reckoned with in the USPHL.
The road ahead is long, and the ice can be unforgiving. But for now, the Chicago Crush can hold their heads high, knowing they've weathered their first major test of the season. As the leaves turn and the winds off Lake Michigan grow colder, one thing is certain: the Crush are just getting warmed up.
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