Five Michigan natives win USHL’s Clark Cup with Chicago Steel

By @MichaelCaples –

Last night, five Michigan natives became Clark Cup champions.

With a 2-1 victory in overtime of a winner-take-all Game 5 showdown with the Sioux City Musketeers, the Chicago Steel claimed a league championship.

Mitch Lewandowski – Left Wing – Clarkston native
Lewandowski, a Michigan State commit, posted 12 points in 13 postseason games for the Steel. The Chicago assistant captain had logged 34 points in 55 regular-season contests – his nearly point-per-game pace in the postseason was huge for the Steel.

Alec Regula – Defenseman – West Bloomfield native
Michigan commit Alec Regula impressed in his freshman season with the Steel. The Cranbrook alum logged five points in 53 regular-season games, along with a +6 rating, before playing in five postseason contests with a +4 total.

Derek Daschke – Defenseman – Troy native
A midseason move sent Daschke from Muskegon to Chicago, and he served as an anchor for the Steel in their march to the Clark Cup. The Western Michigan commit recorded five points in 20 regular-season games after the trade, and then he logged two points and a +3 rating in 14 postseason contests.

Xan Gurney – Defenseman – Grosse Ile native
After playing in only one regular-season contest with the Steel, Gurney was a postseason call-up, and he played in 10 playoff games for the Steel. The Western Michigan commit finished with a +2 rating – not bad for truly starting your USHL career in the playoffs.

Peter Mannino – Assistant Coach – Farmington Hills native
Mannino joined the Steel coaching staff after a seven-year professional career as a netminder; he’s certainly found success behind the bench in his two seasons in Chicago.