Chicago Union Shut Out Minnesota, 5–0, to Stay Perfect
LOCKPORT, Ill. — The Chicago Union remained perfect Monday night, delivering a complete performance in a 5–0 victory over the Minnesota Squatch at Summit Ice Center South.
Chicago established the lead in the opening period, strengthened its position in the second and put the game away with three third-period goals. The Union received scoring from five different players, converted twice on the power play and played disciplined hockey in front of a flawless Zamana.
GAME SNAPSHOT
Final: Chicago Union 5, Minnesota Squatch 0
Date: Monday, September 28, 2026
Location: Summit Ice Center South
Shots: Chicago 36, Minnesota 33
Power play: Chicago 2-for-4, Minnesota 0-for-2
Penalty minutes: Chicago 4, Minnesota 17
Chicago goaltender: Kiryl Zamana, 33 saves
Union record: 3–0–0
THE RECAP
Chicago generated the game’s opening breakthrough at 2:47 of the first period. Colin Murphy finished a play created by Ronald Bender Jr. and Ilija Marich, giving the Union an early 1–0 advantage.
The Union controlled the opening-period shot count, 11–8, while maintaining the discipline needed to keep Minnesota from finding an immediate response.
The Squatch pushed back during the second period and produced a 9–5 advantage in shots, but Zamana turned away every opportunity. Chicago extended its lead at 16:58 when Ben Bakutis scored from Bender and Mikita Amelka.
Bender’s second assist of the night helped send the Union into the second intermission with a 2–0 lead.
Chicago wasted little time taking control of the third period. Just 1:04 after the opening faceoff, Amelka scored from Nathan Novak to increase the advantage to three.
The Union then capitalized on Minnesota’s penalty trouble with two power-play goals in 68 seconds.
Daniel Radkevich scored the first at 14:21, with Amelka and Matsvei Hlyzin earning the assists. Hlyzin followed at 15:29, finishing a play set up by JJ Mueller and Radkevich to close the scoring.
Chicago produced 20 shots during the third period and finished the night with a 36–33 advantage.
At the other end of the ice, Zamana remained composed through Minnesota’s strongest stretches. The Squatch generated 16 third-period shots, but none found a way through. Zamana stopped all 33 attempts to secure the Union’s first shutout of the season.
TURNING POINT
Chicago carried a two-goal advantage into the third period, but Minnesota remained within striking distance after generating the better of the second-period shot count.
Amelka’s goal 64 seconds into the third changed the game’s direction.
Instead of allowing Minnesota an opportunity to build momentum, the Union immediately expanded the lead to 3–0. Chicago controlled the period from there, producing 20 shots and adding two power-play goals to turn a competitive game into a decisive result.
CHICAGO UNION IMPACT PLAYERS
Kiryl Zamana: Stopped all 33 Minnesota shots to record the shutout. Zamana made 16 saves during the third period alone.
Mikita Amelka: Led the Union offense with one goal and two assists. He contributed to Chicago’s second, third and fourth goals.
Daniel Radkevich: Finished with a power-play goal and an assist, contributing to both of Chicago’s late special-teams goals.
Matsvei Hlyzin: Recorded a goal and an assist on the power play.
Ronald Bender Jr.: Supplied two assists, helping create Chicago’s first two goals.
Colin Murphy: Opened the scoring and recorded the game-winning goal.
BY THE NUMBERS
5: Different Chicago goal scorers
33: Saves by Kiryl Zamana
20: Chicago shots during the third period
3: Points recorded by Mikita Amelka
2: Power-play goals by the Union
2-for-4: Chicago’s power-play performance
0-for-2: Minnesota’s power-play performance
4: Chicago penalty minutes
3–0–0: The Union’s record through three games
13–4: Chicago’s scoring margin to begin the season
WHAT IT MEANS
Chicago’s opening stretch has featured three different types of victories.
The Union began the season with a 6–3 road win, followed it with a tightly contested 2–1 result and then delivered a 5–0 shutout against Minnesota.
Monday’s performance demonstrated another step forward. Chicago combined balanced scoring, productive special teams, disciplined play and dependable goaltending to control the game without relying on any single area of the lineup.
Through three games, the Union have scored 13 goals while allowing four. They have earned six points and remain undefeated at 3–0–0.
UP NEXT
The Union return to Summit Ice Center South on Wednesday, September 30, for a matchup with the Minnesota Blue Ox.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:45 p.m.
Three games. Three wins. The standard continues.
Comments