Cunti, Luca

2008 USHL CLARK CUP PLAYOFFS – ROUND 1

Game 1: (4) Chicago Steel 4 @ (1) Indiana Ice 3
Chicago leads Best of 5 series 1-0

W/C Luca Cunti, CHI:
Game: 1-1-2, +1, 2 PIM (high sticking), 2 shots on goal

Chicago upset top-seeded Indiana 4-3 on Indiana’s home ice to take an early 1-0 lead in the Best of 5 series. Cunti scored Chicago’s second goal late in the second period to tie the game at 2. He would earn the secondary assist on the Steel’s third goal, which came just a minute after the Ice had taken a 3-2 lead early in the third period. Chicago would score the game winner with 2 1/2 minutes left in the third. Game 2 is Saturday in Indiana.

Green Bay Gamblers 2 @ Chicago Steel 3
W/C Luca Cunti, CHI: 0-1-1, +1, 0 PIM, 2 shots on goal

Chicago ended their season with a win over last place Green Bay. As the East Division’s No.4 seed, the Steel will open their first round playoff matchup against the top-seeded Indiana Ice on Thursday. Indiana won the season series 4-3 over Chicago, though the Steel pounded the Ice 10-3 in November.

Cunti ended his regular season with 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 34 games. He had a plus-16 rating and 37 penalty minutes while averaging more than 2 shots per game.

Ohio Junior Blue Jackets 4 @ Chicago Steel 2
W/C Luca Cunti, CHI: 0-1-1, +1, 0 PIM, 0 shots on goal

Finally, after playing them in 5 of their last 8 games, Chicago is done with Ohio. Incidentally, Ohio won the mini-series 3-2. Chicago finishes up their regular season Saturday vs. Green Bay.

Chicago Steel 6 @ Ohio Junior Blue Jackets 7
W/C Luca Cunti, CHI: 0-1-1, -1, 2 PIM (delay of game), 1 shot on goal

Chicago has played Ohio three straight games and four of their last six. They play them one more time before season’s end. Ohio will not make the playoffs.

Note: Kevin Wey of McKeen's Hockey, an old friend of the Bolt Prospects staff, recently published an interview he had with Luca. Wey addresses such issues as Cunti's struggles with the NCAA earlier this year, the NCAA's decision to forbid Cunti to play college hockey, Cunti's future, and which scorer he most admirers at the NHL level.

To read the interview, click here: McKeen’s Hockey: Q & A With Luca Cunti

Ohio Junior Blue Jackets 1 @ Chicago Steel 6
W/C Luca Cunti, CHI: 2-1-3, +1, 0 PIM, 7 shots on goal, *First Star*

I have a feeling we’ll see more stat lines like this from Cunti in the coming years. Chicago has clinched a playoff spot. Their last regular season game is April 5.