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Steel go unbeaten in Blaine, push winning streak to 6 games

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Steel continued their solid play over this past weekend as they ran their winning streak to six games with wins over Maine (3-0), NAPHL Selects (3-2) and followed that up with a 7-1 shellacking of the Wisconsin Whalers in the NA3HL Showcase Tournament at the Schwan Super Rink ice arena in Blaine.

The wins improved their season mark to 15-10-0-1.

Incidentally, the West Division, where the Steel plays, went 19-2 in the tournament.

“I thought that we could have done better in our first two games,” Steel coach Andrew Kolb said. “I did not think that we played up to our potential at all. But in all three games we played with the lead. When you play with a lead, you are able to keep the pressure on and keep playing with what was successful in that game.”

The Steel held almost a 2-to-1 edge in shots on goal at 45-21 in the first game.

“We were on offense and cycling — we were getting pucks to the net. We were all over them,” Kolb said. “When you are at the showcase and playing teams from other parts of the country, you want to win and build off of each win.”

New Ulm then defeated the NAPHL Selects team which consisted of players from all over the United States.

“They have some players from Shattuck-St. Mary’s and players from Washington and Nashville, “Kolb said. “It was basically a hand-picked team. They were all 18 years old and had to wear caged helmets. They were basically future prospects (for the NA3HL). We did push them around. I did think that in the first two games, there was not much flow.”

The Steel then finished their Showcase Sweep with a 7-1 win as they scored three goals in the first and second periods.

“That game was better as far as offense and we did not give them much,” Kolb said. “Overall for the Showcase, we got contributions from a lot of different guys and that was nice for our players to showcase themselves. A lot of our players talked to a lot of college coaches and teams. It is good to see that.”

The Steel are now on Christmas break now, with players going back home for the holidays.

“I think that our players are feeling better and more confident about themselves now,” Kolb added.

Steel players will return to New Ulm on Thursday, Dec. 27 for practice and return to NA3HL action on Dec. 28 for a game at Rochester.

New Ulm then has two home games at the New Ulm Civic Center, hosting Willmar on Dec. 29 and then Breezy Point on New Year’s Eve day. Both home games have 7:10 p.m. puck drops.

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