When It's Summer...

It's Tuesday Steel fans, hopefully the gloomy weather outside isn't making you too sleepy today. Although this entire week is suppose to be filled with storms and rain, for many summer is right around the corner. While most of our players started summer in early April, most colleges are finishing their school year either this week or next week. Since schools are beginning to wind down, students are beginning to make plans for their break. These plans might include working, going to the beach, getting tan, going on a vacation, or just hanging out with friends. For many, summer is the best time of the year. Today we asked the boys what they plan to do this summer. Check it out!!

What do you plan to do this summer??

Connor Yau #2

Tanning and bicep curls

Photo By: MJB Images

Jake Bunz #3

Hang with Peter every day

Photo By: MJB Images

Liam McGing #4

Get jacked

Photo By: MJB Images

Nate Kwiecinski #5

Eat, sleep, get better at hockey

Photo By: MJB Images

Peter Tischke #6

Hangout with Bunz

Photo By: MJB Images

Zach LaValle #11

Have fun with friends and get better at hockey

Photo By: MJB Images

Brendon Kearney #12

Enjoy time with friends and family

Photo By: MJB Images

Brian LeBlanc #14

Everything

Photo By: MJB Images

Mason Bergh #15

Rip biceps and triceps with Victor and go to Country Thunder with the boys. 

Photo By: MJB Images

John Schilling #16

Go on vacation and chill with friends

Photo By: MJB Images

Freddy Olofsson #17

Eat, sleep, party

Photo By: MJB Images

John Ernsting #18

Work, workout, chill time

Photo By: MJB Images

Brady Jones #19

Get YOLO

Photo By: MJB Images

Robbie Payne #21

Work and get ready for college

Photo By: MJB Images

CJ Smith #22

Drink pop...a lot of it

Photo By: MJB Images

Robby Jackson #23

Workout and hang with family and friends

Photo By: MJB Images

Connor McDonald #24

Workout and have fun with friends and family

Photo By: MJB Images

Michael Booth #25

Hang out with family and friends and workout

Photo By: MJB Images

Danny Fetzer #26

Go to the beach and hangout with friends

Photo By: MJB Images

Victor Bjorkung #27

Hangout with my family and friends, workout, and go to the beach

Photo By: MJB Images

Alec Vanko #28

Work and get ready for next year

Photo By: MJB Images

Chris Nell #31

Golf, workout, and hang with friends

Photo By: MJB Images

Cale Morris #35

Eat, sleep, hockey, and chill with friends

Photo By: MJB Images

Have a great day everyone!!

Memories Are Forever

Happy Thursday everyone! Webster's Dictionary defines a memory as "a particular act of recall or recollection; an image or impression that is remembered." Memories are created everyday. They can be recalled by pictures in a photo album or on a phone, specific places, objects, or even through the mind. While the moment might only last for a specific time, memories will last forever. This season was not only filled with memories of goals, fights, wins, laughs, and friends for the fans, but also for the players. Today we asked the boys what their best memory of the season was. Check it out!!

What is your best memory of the season??

Connor Yau #2

Justin York's cabin after Fargo

Jake Bunz #3
Being Peter's defensive partner

Photo By: MJB Images

Liam McGing #4
Trash ball


Nate Kwiecinski #5
Everything

Peter Tischke #6
Being paired with Bunz




Zach LaValle #11
Coming back to beat Cedar Rapids after being 
down 4-0 for our first win of the season.

Photo By: MJB Images

Brendon Kearney #12
The excitement of being in the playoff race.


Brian LeBlanc #14
Everything


Mason Bergh #15

Vanko falling in Des Moines, and coming from behind in Cedar to get the first points of the season.

Photo By: MJB Images

John Schilling #16
Our first win


Freddy Olofsson #17
Everything


John Ernsting #18
Facetiming with Pete and Freddy




Brady Jones #19
This one time at band camp...


Robbie Payne #21

Photo By: MJB Images

Neil

CJ Smith #22
When Vanko fell in Des Moines and the crowd went crazy.


Robby Jackson #23

The first win of the season.


Connor McDonald #24
Outdoor game and bus rides


Michael Booth #25
Trash ball

Photo By: MJB Images

Danny Fetzer #26

Everything

Victor Bjorkung #27
Our first win against Cedar at home.


Alec Vanko #28
The comeback we have made after our 0-10 start.



Chris Nell #31
The first win.


Cale Morris #35
Pre-game adventures with the boys.

What were some of your best memories this season?
Have a great day everyone!!

Time To Plan Summer Fun!

Happy Tuesday Steel Fans!! We hope that you are all had a wonderful Easter weekend! May is rapidly approaching, which means that it won't be long until kids are on summer break. Many of you parents probably already know, kids like to stay active and are always looking for something to do with their days. You might have already started looking for some camps or activities for your child to do during the summer. Well parents we might have a solution for you! Think about these questions:

1. Do your kids like make new friends?
2. Do they enjoy playing hockey?
3. Would they like to meet and hang out with the Steel coaches and players?
4. Does you child want to spend time this summer playing hockey?
5. Do they want a day full of hockey, swimming, and other fun activities?

If you've answered "YES" to any of these questions then we have something for you!! 

YOUTH HOCKEY CAMP!! 

Youth Hockey Camp is a full day of fun activities. Campers will get 2+ hours of ice time each day, on ice instruction with Chicago Steel Coaches and Players, and a camp jersey. They will also be able to play other sports like soccer, baseball, basketball, football, kickball, and much more. Additionally, every day the campers will be able to go swimming. On the final day of camp their will be a final on and off ice game followed by a BBQ for all campers, where they will receive a Chicago Steel Prize Pack!

Parents sign up NOW for your child's fun filled week of hockey!!

To recap:

What: YOUTH HOCKEY CAMP

Where: The Edge Ice Arena

When: August 5th - August 8th 

Time: 8:30am - 5pm

Register by July 1st and pay only $300!! 

Registrations after July 1st will be $350. 

We hope to see you this summer!! 

Easter Traditions

Happy Thursday everyone! We are only three days away from Easter, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Make sure to leave some carrots out for him Saturday night. During the holidays everyone has special traditions. Your Easter tradition might be waking up early, going to church, searching for eggs, and then having dinner with family. No family is the same when it comes to their Easter plans. Today, we asked the guys what are their plans for Easter. Check it out!!

What are your plans for Easter??

Photo By: MJB Images

Connor Yau #2

Church

Jake Bunz #3
Dinner with Peter's family

Liam McGing #4
None




Nate Kwiecinski #5
Church with the family

Photo By: MJB Images

Peter Tischke #6
Hang out with Bunz


Zach LaValle #11
Hide Easter eggs around my billet house


Brendon Kearney #12
Spend time with family


Brian LeBlanc #14
Church

Photo By: MJB Images

Mason Bergh #15

Be with family

John Schilling #16
Hang out with family


Freddy Olofsson #17
Church


John Ernsting #18
Go to church and breakfast with my family

Brady Jones #19
Church

Photo By: MJB Images

Robbie Payne #21
Go to church with Neil

CJ Smith #22
No clue


Robby Jackson #23

Be with family

Photo By: MJB Images

Connor McDonald #24
Hang out with family


Michael Booth #25
Hang out with family


Danny Fetzer #26

Be with family

Victor Bjorkung #27
Sleep

Photo By: MJB Images

Alec Vanko #28
Go to church, be with family


Chris Nell #31
Go to church and find some Easter eggs


Cale Morris #35
Church

Steel fans, what are your plans for Easter? Let us know in the comment section below! 
Have a great day everyone!!

An Inside Look With CJ Smith

Today’s inside look is with forward, CJ Smith. CJ, a Des Moines, Iowa native, is one of the players who did not start this season in the Steel’s roster. Smith was acquired by the Steel earlier this season on Nov. 5 in a trade with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. While playing in 13 games for the Lumberjacks, Smith registered four goals and an assist. 

Since being acuqired to the Chicago Steel, Smith has appeared in a total of 46 games, totaling 23 goal and 17 assists. Through his time at the Steel, CJ has displayed determination, motivation, and a positive outlook both on and off the ice. Check out the video below to learn more about the guy behind the jersey!! 

Have a great day everyone!!

You're Going To Miss This...

Photo By: MJB Images

Happy Tuesday everyone! At the end of hockey season staff members, fans, and players reflect back on games, special events, and funny moments that occurred within this eight month period. We think about what might change from this season to next season and what we are going to miss, because let's face it, for the last eight months, hockey has been life. Some things people might miss include seeing some of the players who are moving on to college, wearing their favorite Steel apparel to a game, getting together with family and friends to cheer on the boys, or even spending weekends at the Edge. We are all going to miss something between now and September. Today, we asked the guys what they are going to miss about the season. Check it out!!

What are you going to miss about the season??

Connor Yau #2

Photo By: MJB Images

The boys

Jake Bunz #3
Peter

Liam McGing #4
Trash ball


Nate Kwiecinski #5
The boys

Photo By: MJB Images

Peter Tischke #6
Bunz


Zach LaValle #11
The boys

Brendon Kearney #12
Coming to the rink everyday and seeing the guys.


Brian LeBlanc #14

Photo By: MJB Images

The boys


Mason Bergh #15

Being with the boys and playing hockey every day.

John Schilling #16
Trash ball

Freddy Olofsson #17
Facetiming with Ernie and Pete

Photo By: MJB Images

John Ernsting #18
Brady Jones

Brady Jones #19
Getting hacked by Vanko in practice everyday.


Robbie Payne #21
Neil

Photo By: MJB Images

CJ Smith #22
Da boyz


Robby Jackson #23

The boys


Connor McDonald #24
The boys

Photo By: MJB Images

Michael Booth #25
The boys


Danny Fetzer #26

The boys

Victor Bjorkung #27
Trash ball

Photo By: MJB Images

Alec Vanko #28
Everyone involved with the Steel organization


Chris Nell #31
Joking around with the guys and trash ball.


Cale Morris #35
Making fun of Bunz.

Have a great day everyone!!

At The End Of The Day, It's About Family!!

Happy Thursday Steel Fans! Today we would like to take a moment and send a shout out to our player's families, as well as, their housing families. These families are usually behind the scenes taking care of the players off the ice and cheering them on during games. 

They support the boys throughout the season as they continue to work hard to obtain their dreams. The Chicago Steel organization would like to send out a huge thank you to all of the parents, siblings and housing families of the boys this season! We appreciate everything you did!! 

If you would like to become a housing family for the 2014-2015 season or learn more please visit: http://www.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com/roster/housing-parent/.

Have a great day everyone!! 

3 Appearances in 2 Days!!

Happy Wednesday Steel fans! We hope that you are having a great week. These past two days the boys have been on a total of three appearances, and we thought that we would share them with you today.

On Monday, Alec Vanko, Peter Tischke, John Ernsting, and John Schilling visited Alexian Brothers Children's Hospital. They went from room to room to visit some of the kids. Check it out below.

The kids and nurses all enjoyed having the players there. It made everyone's day a little brighter. We can't wait to go back next year. 

Our next two appearances were on Tuesday. First, Jake Bunz and Robbie Payne visited our friends at A Book Above Bookstore, to read some hockey books to kids. The kids loved it and by the end, the boys were getting book recommendations about the books they should read. Check out some pictures below! 

The kids and staff members were bummed when they heard that we wouldn't be back until September, however, we assured them that we wouldn't forget about them!

The last appearance we had yesterday was playing Bingo at the DuPage Convalescent Center. Brady Jones, Connor McDonald, Nate Kwiecinski, Robby Jackson, Cale Morris, and Freddy Olofsson were in attendance for this event. The boys were all excited to get their Bingo on last night. Brady Jones was the MC for the night, while Robby Jackson assisted him with calling the numbers. The rest of the boys were able to play Bingo with the folks at DCC. Check out some of the pictures below!

After Bingo was over, the boys got to hang out with this little girl before she began visiting patients. They all wanted to hang out with her as you can tell! 

It has been a great two days filled with appearances. Being able to see the smiles and excitement the boys bring to the people they visit makes it completely worth with. We would like to thank Alexian Brothers, A Book Above, and the DuPage Convalescent Center for allowing us to visit you this season. We look forward to working with you next season!

Have a great day everyone!