Chicago Steel Youth Hockey Camp is Next Week

By CHRIS ERNSTING and JOEY CAPUTO

The Chicago Steel are hosting their annual youth hockey camp next week, Aug. 5-8, at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville. Camp participants will receive instruction from Steel players and head coach Scott McConnell.

The campers will lace up the skates for on-ice drills to enhance their hockey skills and will partake in off-ice games such as basketball, wiffle ball and soccer.  On the last day of camp, they will have the opportunity to showcase their hockey skills in a scrimmage at John Street Ice Arena.  A BBQ will follow the scrimmage. 

For more information on the 2014 Chicago Steel Youth Hockey Camp, please call 630-594-1161.  Campers can register up until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

All-Access With Robby Jackson

By JASON LOWENTHAL

Today we take a look at reigning United States Hockey League rookie of the year Robby Jackson. Still a 16-year-old until Aug. 22, Jackson is set to begin his second season in Chicago and is excited for the year ahead. We caught up with him as he enjoys the final weeks of his offseason.

Q: What did winning rookie of the year last season mean to you?

           

Jackson: It was a huge honor. I couldn’t have done it without the guys and the coaching staff. Every single one of those guys helped me develop and get that award.

-Jackson became the first member of the Steel to capture the award since Danny Richmond in 2001-02.

Q: How do you build off of that momentum coming into this year?

Jackson: We have so many guys coming back and they’re all great hockey players. Once we got it going last season, we were a force to be reckoned with. We got off to a rough start last year and missed playoffs because of it, but we’re going to use that as motivation.

Q: What was it like coming into an elite hockey league like the USHL and producing right away?

           

Jackson: It was a lot of fun. The USHL is such great hockey and I was fortunate enough to have a good season. My mom actually texted me about the record when she heard, because I didn’t know about it. Hopefully, I can continue to build off that coming into this season. 

-Jackson stepped into a leading role right away last season as he tallied a USHL record 28 goals as a 16-year-old.

Q: During the recruitment process, what attracted you most to St. Cloud State University?

           

Jackson: Everybody always asks me that question and I never have one specific answer. I fell in love with everything, the coaches and the facilities. I’m really excited to continue on and play at the college level.

Q: Next month when you compete for Team USA over in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, that will be your first international experience. What are your feelings about playing for your country?

           

Jackson: I’m not even going to be able to put it into words. To be able to represent my country and put on that USA jersey is incredible. Hopefully we take home gold, but even if we go over there and do nothing, it’s going to be an amazing feeling representing my country, the Steel, and my family.

Q: Being from California and moving to what is a huge hockey market here in Chicago, what is that like for you?

Jackson: It was awesome. I was over the moon getting the chance to come to Chicago. You can actually have a decent hockey conversation here versus in California. It’s great to be in a city where people not only know hockey but love it too.

Q: What was the experience like having to leave home to really realize your true potential?

Jackson: It’s tough. Last season was my second year living away from home because of hockey. I had lived with a teammate back in California, but it was still closer to home. When I came to Chicago last year, I was used to living away from home, but it’s still really hard. It’s something that almost every hockey player has to go through at some point though.

Q: Growing up, who was your biggest hockey influence?

Jackson: My dad was my biggest influence. He coached a lot of the younger teams that I was on. He’s able to keep me in line and has done wonders for me and my hockey career.

Q: This offseason, what have been two of your hockey-related goals?

Jackson: Making the USA team was one of my biggest goals. I really wanted to prove that I could accomplish that. I’ve also been trying to balance resting and staying focused for this season.

Q: What is your outlook for this upcoming season for the Steel?

Jackson: We’ve got a great group of guys coming back. We’re going to be a good team. The potential we have as a team really is scary and I’m just excited to get back out there with the group of guys we have.

USHL Prepares for Season of Change

By JASON LOWENTHAL

This offseason has been a bit hectic for the United States Hockey League, which saw significant change to its structure in the past couple months. Today, we take a look into some of the major changes to the nation’s lone Tier I junior hockey league that will take effect this upcoming season.

New Commissioner

The USHL welcomed Bob Fallen as president and commissioner of the league in June 2014. With nearly three decades of experience in marketing, publishing, sales, media relations, and management, Fallen replaces former president and commissioner Skip Prince, who has assumed a senior advisor position and will remain on the USHL administration. Fallen most recently worked for Reebok-CCM Hockey. He becomes the third commissioner for the USHL in the last 20 years.

Champs Go Dormant

After capturing their second Clark Cup title in team history last season, the Indiana Ice were granted dormancy for the upcoming season. Players from the Ice entered a dispersal draft this offseason, but the team will remain a Member Club in the USHL. The Steel selected defensemen Zach Osburn, forward Nick Kunin, and the rights to right wing Tyler Andrew with their dispersal draft picks.

Madison Capitols

The USHL welcomed the Madison Capitols as one of two new teams to the league back in November 2013.  Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter is a member of the team’s ownership group. Former Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) head coach and general manager Luke Strand was named the team’s head coach in its return to the league. The Capitols will call the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center home for the 2014-15 season. The Steel will meet up with Madison for the first time on Nov. 2.

Bloomington Thunder

The Bloomington Thunder will join the Steel as a second USHL team in the state of Illinois. Dennis Williams, former head coach of the Amarillo Bulls in the North American Hockey League, will assume the same position with Bloomington in its inaugural season. The team will play their home games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Steel will play host to Bloomington in the home opener Oct. 3.

New Coaches

The USHL will see five new head coaches behind the bench this season, including Luke Strand and Dennis Williams, who will take over expansion teams in Madison and Bloomington. The other three newcomers are Dave Allison, Chris Hartsburg, and Pat Mikesch. Allison, most recently an assistant coach of the 2013-14 Midwest Division champion Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League, was named the 14^th head coach in Des Moines Buccaneers team history. He has to his name head coaching experience at the IHL, ECHL, UHL, OHL, AHL and NHL levels. Hartsburg, 34, returns to the USHL as the Lincoln Stars’ fourth head coach in team history. He guided the OHL’s Erie Otters to a 52-win season last year after only registering 19 victories the prior season. The Green Bay Gamblers announced Mikesch as the team’s eighth head coach in team history. Mikesch was already on staff with Green Bay as an associate head coach and director of player personnel. He also has served as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech.

Get To Know Marketing Intern Chris Ernsting

By JASON LOWENTHAL

Chris Ernsting will be a junior at DePaul University this year and has enjoyed his time with the Steel throughout the summer. He is involved in sales and marketing and helped out selling merchandise during Chicago's selection camp in June. 

Chris enjoys watching his brother John on the ice for the Steel. John will be entering his second season as a forward with Chicago.

Steel Represented Well at Prospect Camps

By JASON LOWENTHAL

Earlier this week, National Hockey League hopefuls started toward their ultimate goal as prospect camps got underway. Prospect camps not only give NHL teams a chance to peak into the future of their franchises, but also enhance the development of these players. For many, it is their first taste of what it will take to be a professional hockey player. The Chicago Steel are proud to be well represented at prospect camps around the NHL this year as nine current or former Steel members vie to become the next generation of hockey players in their respective organizations.

Current Steel member Freddy Olofsson, a fourth round selection in last month’s NHL Entry Draft, is attending the Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp. The Swedish-born left wing will be enjoying his second season with the Steel this year after posting four goals and 15 points last season with the Steel. Olofsson was acquired in a mid-season trade last year with Green Bay. He had posted two goals and six points in 36 career games with the Gamblers. Former Steel forward Cole Gunner also attended the Blackhawks development camp. Gunner tallied 11 goals and 36 points over parts of two seasons with the Steel.

Defenseman Matt Berkovitz is about to begin his first season with the Steel before he heads off to advance his hockey career at the University of Wisconsin. The Green Bay, Wis. native was drafted in the fifth round, 123^rd overall to the Anaheim Ducks in this year’s draft. Berkovitz opted to stay at Ashwaubenon High last season instead of reporting to the Steel. He was awarded the Davis Drewiske award as the state’s top high school defenseman. In addition, he was nominated as a finalist for player of the year award in Wisconsin. Kevin Lind joined Berkovitz at prospect camp. Lind, a former Steel defenseman, played at the University of Notre Dame following two seasons with the Steel and also appeared in one game for the American Hockey League’s Norfolk Admirals last season.

Five other Steel alumni attended various prospect camps around the league. Dean Chelios, son of NHL hall of famer Chris Chelios, appeared in 49 games for the Steel during the 2008-09 season. Chelios was at the Detroit Red Wings prospect camp. Dean’s brother Jake is also a former Steel member who now plays for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Alex Krushelnyski (Edmonton Oilers), Thomas Ebbing (New York Islanders), Mackenzie MacEachern (St. Louis Blues), and Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes) also have donned the Steel jersey in the hockey careers. Krushelnyski and Slavin were teammates at Colorado College last season while Chelios, Ebbing, and MacEachern teamed up at Michigan State University.

Get To Know Marketing Intern Jim Ulczak

By JASON LOWENTHAL

A graduate of St. Ambrose University, Jim Ulczak is beginning his time with the Steel as a marketing intern. His current task is helping to decide what the team slogan will be for the upcoming season.

Jim applied for the internship through an online job site and is appreciative of the opportunity to work for the Steel. His ultimate goal is to be a part of the front office for a sports team, preferably hockey.

Q&A With Matt Berkovitz Post Anaheim Ducks Prospect Camp

By JASON LOWENTHAL

Today we take a look at Steel defenseman Matt Berkovitz, a fifth-round selection of the Anaheim Ducks in this past month’s National Hockey League Entry Draft. Berkovitz was one of 35 Ducks prospects that recently attended Anaheim’s six-day development camp. We caught up with him following the camp.

Q: What did it mean to get drafted by an organization such as the Ducks that has been on the rise over the last couple seasons?

Berkovitz: It was a dream come true. Anaheim is such a high-profile team and a great organization.

Q: When did you know that the Ducks were going to take you? Did they say anything to you beforehand?

Berkovitz: I really had no clue. I was sitting there at the draft and it kind of just happened.

Q: Anaheim has an aging defense right now with five guys over 30-years-old. Did anyone in the organization speak to you about what that means for you in the future?

Berkovitz: Obviously I’m a few years down the road, but I’ll be ready to step in when they need me.

Q: As far as prospect camp goes, how do you feel you performed personally?

Berkovitz: I thought I had a pretty good showing. A couple guys told me they liked what they saw.

Q: What can you say about the general talent you saw at prospect camp?

Berkovitz: I saw a lot of strong players there. Anaheim has a good system that they’ve got going and I’m excited for the future.

Q: What have you been working on the most this offseason hockey-wise?

Berkovitz: I’ve really been trying to raise my consistency and intensity lately. I’m also trying to put on a few pounds.

Q: Do you feel your decision to stay at Ashwaubenon High last season instead of coming to the Steel paid off in the end?

Berkovitz: Looking back on it, I’m very happy with my decision. I think it definitely paid off in the end.  Berkovitz tallied 41 goals and 126 points in 132 career high school games.

Q: What did it mean to you to finally get that scholarship offer from Wisconsin knowing that you would get to play hockey for your home state?

Berkovitz: You grow up idolizing these guys and now you get to follow in their footsteps. It’s another dream come true.

Q: What is your outlook for this upcoming season here with the Steel?

Berkovitz: I’m hoping for a nice winning season this year and a good run into the playoffs.

Breaking Down the Schedule

By JASON LOWENTHAL

On Tuesday afternoon, the United States Hockey League released its full schedule for the 2014-15 season. Today, we take a look into some key matchups for the Steel.

Chicago Steel @ Green Bay Gamblers 
(Sat, Sep. 27, 7:05 PM)

The Steel will open up the 2014-15 season on the road against Green Bay in late September. The two teams split the season series last year, with each side winning four games. It will be the first game as a head coach for Green Bay’s Pat Mikesch. Chicago and Green Bay faced each other in last season’s season opener as well, with the Gamblers coming out with a 5-1 victory.

Bloomington Thunder vs. Chicago Steel (Fri, Oct. 3, 7:30 PM)

Chicago will play host to Bloomington in the home opener as the Thunder begin their inaugural season as a part of the USHL. The Steel have won three of their last five home openers.

Chicago Steel @ Madison Capitols (Sun, Nov. 2, 3:00 PM)

In early November, the Steel will meet up with the USHL’s other newest team, the Madison Capitols. Madison will play its inaugural season at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center. Ryan Suter, defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, is a part owner of the organization.

Waterloo Black Hawks vs. Chicago Steel (Thu, Nov. 6, 7:00 PM)

The Steel will meet up with defending Anderson Cup champion Waterloo for the first time in early November. Waterloo claimed the USHL’s best regular season record last year at 44-11-5.

Road Trip (Wed, Nov. 26 – Wed, Dec. 31)

The Steel will enter a long stretch of road games starting in late November and ending on the final day of the calendar year. Chicago will play nine of ten games on the road in that span. The trip begins against Bloomington and will finish up against Muskegon.

Home Stand (Fri, Mar. 6 – Fri, Apr. 10)

Prior to the regular season finale, Chicago will play ten of 11 games at home. Last season, the Steel finished 14-13-1 in home games. The first game of the stretch sees Omaha come to town and the final game comes against Green Bay.

Chicago Steel @ Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Sat, Apr. 11, 7:05 PM)

Chicago will finish up the regular season on the road against Cedar Rapids. The RoughRiders finished second in the Eastern Conference last season with a 35-21-4 mark. The Steel were 2-3-1 against Cedar Rapids last year.

Get To Know Marketing Intern Joey Caputo

By JASON LOWENTHAL

Joey Caputo is a junior at Indiana University with an intended major in sports marketing and management. He is enjoying his time with the Steel this summer as a marketing intern after applying for the job through teamworkonline.com. 

Joey’s primary tasks with the team include running the Steel’s twitter account and helping out in general with the marketing campaign for the upcoming 2014-15 season. His goal is to someday work for a professional sports team in the marketing department.