Pregame Chat With Coach McConnell - Week Six

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STEEL: John Lethemon has played very well this season.  Can you talk about his play last Friday against Cedar Rapids?

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McConnell: Johnny had a great game last week.  He was strong, square to the puck and didn’t give out too many second opportunities.  The goal he gave up in the second period was a shot that kind of bounced off his pad and we didn’t pick up a guy coming in late.  Cedar Rapids’ defenseman came up in the rush and put the puck in the back of the net. 

Johnny has been really good, and we are really proud of how he has adjusted from high school hockey in Michigan to the USHL.  We are excited that we have two goaltenders that can play at a high level.  Johnny has given us an opportunity to go out and win when he is out there, just like Cale [Morris] does.

STEEL: Ben Blacker also had a great game with 40 saves and only allowed the one goal late in the third.  How do you plan to get through their defense on Friday, including converting on the power play?

McConnell: Ben played outstanding, and I thought their whole team played well.  We put up 40 shots and most of them were first chances.  If you look at our goal that we scored with 52 seconds left in regulation, it was a second chance opportunity we received.  We were able to get to the net with our stick on the ice and put it upstairs on Blacker.

It’s something we have to get to a little more to start the game and penetrate their defense.  We have to get behind their defense, get our stick on the ice and want to develop a junkyard dog mentality when we get around the net. 

With the three and three this weekend we are facing three good goaltenders. We are excited to play three games this weekend and are looking forward to the opportunity to gain six points.

Chicago Steel Week Six Game Preview

This weekend, the Chicago Steel (3-3-2) have their first three and three of the season. On Friday, they host the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in a rematch of last Friday’s overtime thriller. On Saturday, the Steel welcome the Des Moines Buccaneers to the Edge for the first time this season. Sunday the Steel head to Wisconsin for the first ever regular season matchup against the Madison Capitols. Puck drops are at 7:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.

Last Friday’s game against the RoughRiders was a tough one for the Steel. John Schilling was able to tie the game in the final minute of the third period, only to see Cedar Rapids forward Clark Kuster notch the game winner in overtime. “Last weekend was a tough one against Cedar Rapids,” said Steel forward Connor Murphy. “We know we did a lot of good things, and we just have to really pay attention to the details this week and we can give them some payback on Friday night.”

The RoughRiders (7-1-0) are currently on a four game win streak and have the best win percentage in the league. Goaltender Ben Blacker has been superb so far this season, posting the top save percentage in the league at .951 percent.

Saturday’s game will not get any easier for the Steel, as the Des Moines Buccaneers (6-2-1) come to the Edge tied for second in the Western conference. Although the Buccaneers lost twice last weekend, goaltenders Ryland Pashovitz and Ryan Ruck have proven to be one of the best tandems in net this season. Des Moines will host the Sioux Falls Stampede on Friday night prior to traveling to Chicago.

On Sunday, the Steel face the Madison Capitols (1-5-2) on the road. Madison has struggled in their first season as a franchise but do have some momentum coming into the weekend as they earned their first USHL win last Friday against Sioux Falls.  The Steel faced the Capitols twice in the preseason, splitting the two matchups.

In the spirit of Halloween, the Steel will host a costume contest on the ice during Friday’s game against Cedar Rapids. Additionally, anyone that comes in costume will receive a Steel Trick-or-Treat bag and can participate in the Trick-or-Treat during the game! For tickets to this weekend’s games, please call the Steel box office at 630-594-1161 or visit tickets.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com.

All Access: Nate Kwiecinski

Photo by: USHL

In his second season with the Chicago Steel, defenseman Nate Kwiecinski is adjusting to life as a veteran player in the USHL. Originally from Michigan, Kwiecinski joined the Steel in 2013 as an undrafted player and appeared in 40 games last season, tallying one goal and four assists. Now seen as one of the team leaders, Kwiecinski touched on how he is trying to help the new guys acclimate to the Steel and the USHL, just as the veterans helped him last year. He believes the welcoming atmosphere has helped his development and hopes the new players can benefit just as he has. Looking ahead, Kwiecinski is excited for this season and believes the Steel has what it takes to compete with the best in the league.

Q: Can you talk a little bit about this season, any goals you may have and how you feel you have performed so far this year?

A: Yeah, we finished strong last season. Coming into this year, we have a lot of great new players and we feel that we are a great team. We’re fast, strong and we need to keep playing the way we need to play every game. We have to stick to the process and play the right way. My main goal for this season is to just get better every day. Every day is a new day so I am just trying to do my best to improve and go from there.

Q: What do you enjoy most about playing for the Steel?

A: Definitely the atmosphere. All our guys and coaching staff are very welcoming and it makes you want to come to the rink every day. I have really enjoyed my time here because of that.

Q: Does the team do anything to bond and help welcome in new players?

A: Usually before practice we play “trash ball,” it’s a type of soccer game. Some of the guys play miniature golf in the locker room to relax and get ready for practice.

Q: Do you have any pregame rituals or routines that help you get focused for games?

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A: I don’t try to get too serious, just kind of do my own thing. I stretch, listen to my music, which consists of a mix of upbeat songs, and then I have a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich before every game.

Q: What is your favorite memory as a hockey player, either growing up or with the Steel?

A: My favorite hockey memory was probably in my Pee Wee year (Ages 11-12). I played for Little Caesars in Michigan and we went to Quebec for two weeks. We stayed with a French billet family there and got to play in front of thousands of people so that was really cool.

Q: Do you know any French?

A: “Merci” [thank you] and the only other word I remember is apple juice, “jus de pomme,” because apparently I drank that a lot. Quebec was also where I was introduced to Nutella, and since then I’ve been addicted to it.

Q: Now in your second season with the Steel, has anything been different so far and have you done anything to help the new guys now that you are a veteran?

A: Well now that I am in my second year, I’m not getting my feet wet anymore, and I know what the league is like. I’ve been more comfortable with the puck and I can make better plays. I’ve tried to lead by example with the new guys. The vets really took care of me last year and showed me how to do things the right way. We’re all on the same team, so we are just trying to show them the ropes and lead by example.

Q: Do you have any passions outside of hockey?

A: I enjoy playing golf in the summer, and going to concerts. I like to be around my family and spend time with friends as well. My family is actually coming in this weekend. They try to come at least once a month, so I’ll get to spend some time with them this weekend.

Q: Can you talk about the three games this weekend and how you guys have been preparing in practice for all three opponents?

A: This weekend, again, we just have to focus on playing our game. When we get away from our game, nothing good happens. We have to stick to the process, and play as a team. We have to play hard, give an honest effort and we should have no problem competing.

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Halloween Face Time With The Steel

Scenes From The Steel Game

The Steel in the Tunnel
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Cass Junior High Choir
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Captain, Connor McDonald
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Youth Hockey Faceoff
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Bruins Youth Hockey
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Robby Jackson
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John Schilling's Game-Tying Goal
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Schilling Goal Celebration
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Post-Game Autograph Session with Laczynski, Gilbert, and Bunz

Game Milestones

-John Schilling tallied his 30th USHL career point on his game-tying goal

- John Lethemon made his 100th save in his first USHL season

- Freddy Olofsson earned his 10th point of the season

Pregame Chat With Coach McConnell--Week Five

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STEEL: This is the first meeting with Cedar Rapids this season.  Cedar Rapids’ head coach Mark Carlson consistently comes to the Edge Ice Arena with a team prepped and ready to go. What adjustments have you made during the week to get set for the RoughRiders?

McConnell: “We don’t necessarily make too many adjustments based on Cedar Rapids.  We spent the last week fine tuning some of our deficiencies in our game. So, we are hoping that the adjustments that we make are going to take away some of their systematic hockey.  We are really hoping that we can come in play a better game, because I think Cedar Rapids is a great team. They play a systematic game and so do we.  It’s basically going to come down to who is going to execute their system better tonight.”

STEEL: The RoughRiders as a club have a +42 on-ice rating this season, which includes nine of their players tallying five points or more.  What do you tell your players going into the game in order to neutralize Cedar’s firepower?

McConnell: “ As a far as neutralizing Cedar Rapids, we have to do a good job of finding out where their guys are in our own zone.  We must make sure we mark their guys and really take away their time and space in our own end.  If we can do that and get their defenseman to turn and get back and play defense, then we hope we can neutralize their team by possessing the puck a little bit more and getting pucks below their goaline.  As a team, we need to execute better than we have the last few weeks.”

Chicago Steel Week Five Game Preview

The Chicago Steel have one game on the schedule this weekend, as they welcome the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders to the Edge this Friday. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.

The Steel (3-3-1) are coming off a split this past weekend behind strong offensive play from Freddy Olofsson. The Steel beat the Bloomington Thunder at home last Friday, 4-3, with Olofsson recording his first career hat trick, including the game-tying and game winning goals in the third period. Mason Bergh also registered three assists in the win. On Saturday, the Steel traveled to Michigan and dropped a close game to the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 4-3. Olofsson posted two more goals and an assist, bringing his weekend total to six points. Robby Jackson also had two assists in the loss.

The RoughRiders (5-1-0) find themselves tied for first in the Eastern Conference and propose a tough challenge for the Steel. Net-minder Ben Blacker has posted a .948 save percentage this season, good for third in the USHL among all goaltenders. Cedar Rapids is coming off two strong wins last weekend, defeating both Waterloo, 6-2, and Madison, 5-3, on the road. Last year, the Steel earned their first victory of the season against the RoughRiders, winning 5-4 in a shootout.

Tickets for Friday’s game are still available. They can be purchased online at tickets.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com or by calling 630-594-1161. Following Friday’s game, we are holding a postgame autograph session with defenseman Jake Bunz, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and forward Tanner Laczynski.

All Access: Freddy Olofsson

Two days after committing to the University of Nebraska Omaha, Freddy Olofsson recorded his first career hat trick in a 4-3 victory against Bloomington last Friday, including the game-tying and game-winning goals. The following night, Olofsson scored two more goals and added an assist to bring his weekend total to six points. Originally from Sweden, Olofsson moved around as a kid before his family settled in Colorado. He joined the USHL in 2012 as a member of the Green Bay Gamblers and played there until being traded to the Steel last season. Olofsson was also selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth-round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. We had a chance to catch up with the Steel forward and get his thoughts on his college commitment, his play last weekend and his future on the ice.    

Q: First off, congratulations on an excellent weekend and being named CCM Forward of the Week. Can you talk a little bit about your play last weekend and how you feel moving forward?

A: Yeah, thank you! I’ve been trying to play a lot simpler and we’ve been trying to play a harder game as a team as we felt we started off a little soft. We’re getting there though, driving to the net, getting into those greasy areas, and I was rewarded for that this past weekend. It’s too bad we couldn’t get both wins as we felt we could have. But we will bring that into our game tomorrow against Cedar [Rapids], and hopefully we get the outcome we want.

Q: You’ve already scored more goals this season than you did in all 52 games last year. Have you made any changes or does anything feel different this season?

A: To be honest, not really. I’ve just been trying to get to the net more. Like I touched on before, you can only do so much as a perimeter player and you really have to go into those areas and get the goals. I am just sticking to what I am and playing hard. Nothing special.

Q: Of everything that has happened in the past week, your first career hat-trick, earning Forward of the Week honors and committing to the University of Nebraska Omaha, what has stood out the most to you as your biggest accomplishment?

A: Probably committing to college. For all of us, when we enter juniors, you’re looking for that school and where you are going to play. And when you finally make the commitment, you get that much more comfortable. I know everyone else on the team that commits starts playing better. It’s obvious that you get more comfortable, knowing where you are going to play, and things start falling into place. It had put a little weight on my shoulders and now that that’s taken care of, I can just focus on playing. It was nice, definitely a big accomplishment. 

Q: How has being a member of the Steel helped your development and are there any major differences between here and Green Bay?

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A: I came from a team last year where I didn’t play too much and didn’t really get an opportunity. I came here and was lucky enough to play and have fun. Every day we are trying to get better and incorporate that hard work with a lot of fun. The coaches here have done a great job, and also all of the guys here, we’re just a big family and constantly help each other out.  It is definitely a different feel here than it was in Green Bay. Everyone is together here. We stay together after practice and do extra skill practice every day. It’s just small stuff like that and the attention to detail that makes the Steel different from my past teams and it has helped my development a lot.

Q: You were named an assistant captain for the 2014-15 season. What does that mean to you and have you changed in any way?

A: I’m just trying to stay the same person. The letter is nice, but in the end, we are all leaders. We have so many veteran guys back this year, which has helped our team. I’m just trying to be the same guy, relax and lead by example on the ice by playing hard. I make sure that anyone can come talk to me if anything comes up, but I’m just the same old Freddy.

Q: How was the scavenger hunt this week?

A: Yeah, we just went downtown and did all that. It was a fun experience. Downtown is huge so it was quite a haul. It’s too bad now that the weather is going downhill and winter is coming around. It was nice though to see all the sculptures, I guess that’s what you would call them. Chicago definitely has a nice downtown area.

Q: Coming from Colorado, what do you like most about living and playing near Chicago?

A: I really like the feel. Even though we aren’t specifically in downtown Chicago, it’s so close and it’s great that we can go enjoy that when we want. It’s a nice set up and the city is spectacular.

Q: NHL teams have drafted both you and your brother (Freddy was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2014 and Gustav was drafted by the Wild in 2013). Has it always been a goal to play professional hockey in the U.S.?

A: Yeah, obviously everyone’s goal is to be a pro but right now we are just trying to play for as long as we can. That’s what we are all working for and we were both lucky enough to get drafted. There is still a long way to go but hopefully one day we will get there - well, he is basically already there - but I still have a long way to go.

Q: Do you have any pregame routines or rituals that help you get focused for games?

A: Not really. I know some guys do the craziest things, but I just tape up my sticks and play a little soccer with the guys. I don’t really do anything special, just relax and get ready for the game. Everyone focuses up after the on-ice warm up, but I just try to keep it cool. I feel like I play better when I don’t have a lot on my mind. I like to just have fun and work out there.

Q: Lastly, can you talk about Cedar Rapids and how you have been preparing for the game tomorrow evening?

A: We are trying to just play a simpler game and play harder, like we did this last week. We have to get rid of the turnovers and get pucks in the areas that we like. We’re just going to play our game. We feel like with the skill we have this year, mixed in with the work ethic that we ended with last year, we will be a force in our conference. We will really try to bring that tomorrow and keep that going for the rest of the year. 

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Player Appearance: Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate School

Chicago Steel forwards Brendon Kearney and Mason Bergh had the opportunity to participate in a Bully Prevention and Awareness assembly at Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate School in Itasca yesterday. The third through fifth grade students have been partaking in discussions and activities related to Bully Prevention and Awareness Month. Kearney and Bergh spoke about the importance of being a good person and how they look for teammates who can collaborate and respect each other on and off the ice. The Steel players had a great time and look forward to seeing the Franzen students in the future.

Below are scenes from the event as well as a clip of Mason Bergh's advice for young athletes and students.

Posters displaying how bullying makes others feel

Brendon Kearney

Mason Bergh

Scenes From The Steel Game

Friday Milestones

- Freddy Olofsson completed his first USHL hat trick 

- Max Zimmer tallied his first USHL goal

- Mason Bergh earned his league leading 11th point of the season

Saturday Milestones

- Dennis Gilbert recorded his 1st USHL point assisting on a Freddy Olofsson goal

- Robby Jackson scored his 50th career USHL point

- Cale Morris made his 700th career USHL save

- Freddy Olofsson picked up his 10th career USHL goal and 30th career USHL point

Chicago Steel Week Four Game Preview

This weekend, the Steel will have their work cut out for them, facing the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. On Friday, the Steel host the Bloomington Thunder for the second time this season. The Steel travel to Muskegon for a matchup against the Lumberjacks Saturday night. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.

The Steel (2-2-1) return home after a weekend in Nebraska where they split two games with the Tri-City Storm, losing 4-0 on Friday but winning 2-1 on Saturday. Robby Jackson netted the game-winning goal in the third-period and John Lethemon made 34 saves on the way to his first career USHL win.

The Thunder (3-1-1) are coming off a split of their own, taking down the Gamblers 6-2 last Friday, but falling 3-2 at home on Saturday in a shootout against Youngstown. The Steel lost the first regular season matchup against the Thunder 3-2. Including the preseason, these two teams have played three straight games decided by one goal, with the Thunder taking two of them. Bloomington currently sits in second in the Eastern Conference with seven points.

Saturday’s opponent, the Muskegon Lumberjacks, enters the weekend sitting atop the Eastern conference with eight points and a 4-3-0 record. The Lumberjacks are coming off a weekend where they split two games with the Lincoln Stars. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Steel went 3-1-1 against Muskegon last season, outscoring the Lumberjacks 25-16 over the five contests.

Tickets for Friday’s game are still available. They can be purchased online at tickets.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com or by calling 630-594-1161. Following Friday’s game, fans will have the chance to meet Steel defensemen Zach Osburn, Nathan Kwiecinski and Peter Tischke in the first postgame autograph session of the season.

All Access: John Lethemon

Photo by: USHL 

In just his second USHL start, Steel goaltender John Lethemon earned his first career win last Saturday against the Tri-City Storm, making an astounding 34 saves in the process. Originally from Michigan, Lethemon was in net for Farmington High School last season as they did the improbable and won the Division 3 State Championship. In May, Lethemon joined the Steel as a first round draft choice in Phase II of the USHL draft, something he considers one of his proudest hockey accomplishments, just behind capturing the high school state title. We had a chance to catch up with the Steel net-minder and get his thoughts on Saturday’s victory, the upcoming season and his hockey career.

Q: You had an excellent game last Saturday and earned your first career win. Can you comment on that and tell us a bit about the game?

A: First of all, it was a great team effort. The guys in front of me played really well, offensively and defensively, and then to get the two goals at the end was big. I thought that we stuck to our game the whole time. They came out very strong, but we continued to match their intensity, and we got some quality chances. I just made the saves that I was supposed to make, controlled my rebounds, and tried to make it as simple on the team as possible. I felt very confident and the team felt confident, so it was an overall great team effort.

Q: Do you have any specific goals for this season?

A: I would like to be in the top of the goalie rankings statistically, and it would obviously be really cool to get my first shutout. But really just help the team in any way possible, and every time I am in net give them a chance to win the game.

Q: What are your favorite things about being a member of the Steel?

A: It’s a fun group of guys to be around. We have a very positive atmosphere where you don’t have to feel intimidated by anything or anyone. It’s just a lot of fun coming to the rink every day.

Q: Tell us a little bit about growing up in Michigan and how you ended up becoming a goalie.

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A: When I was three years old, I started skating and playing mini-mites so I’ve been playing for about 15 years. I played a little bit of baseball and lacrosse growing up, but hockey has always been my number one sport. In mini-mites, I started out playing all positions, but in my second year, I decided that I really wanted to play goalie. From then on, I've always played goalie.

Q: How have you learned to focus over the years and stay motivated each and every day?

A: Before each game, I listen to my hockey playlist and get focused. I get fully dressed and go out to stretch. Then, I just close my eyes, think about the game and visualize making saves. In between every whistle, I skate to the boards and try to tap the same place on the boards with my stick just to keep me focused and locked in. I do the same thing, tapping my posts after every whistle.

Q: You are new to the Chicago area. What do you think about the atmosphere of Chicago versus Michigan and what has the transition been like?

A: Yeah, it’s very cool to be a part of Chicago. There is a lot of stuff going on so it definitely keeps me busy in my off time. It is a great area to play in and I love it so far. It has been an easy transition because it is very similar to where I’m from. There’s a lot of stuff going on back in Michigan too, so it’s been easy to adjust and a lot of fun.

Q: What are your thoughts going into tomorrow’s game against the Bloomington Thunder?

A: Bloomington is a hard-working team, so it is going to take a lot of hard work to win. We just have to stick to our game plan and outwork them for three periods.

Photo by: MJB Images

Chicago Steel Week Three Game Preview

The Chicago Steel head to Nebraska this weekend for back-to back games against the Tri-City Storm, a team that they have had success against in the past. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday.

The Steel (1-1-1) head into the weekend coming off a 3-2 home loss last Friday to the Bloomington Thunder and a 4-3 overtime loss to the Green Bay Gamblers on Saturday. The Storm (2-1-0) were defeated 5-3 last Friday by the Sioux Falls Stampede, but rebounded on Saturday, earning a 2-1 shootout victory against Des Moines. The Steel were able to take both games against the Storm a season ago, and have not lost to Tri-City since the 2011-2012 campaign.

Steel Forward Mason Bergh continued his hot start, picking up two points (1g, 1a) this past weekend. Bergh leads the USHL in points (8) and assists (6). The Steel offense will have to find a way to score on Storm goaltender Alec Dillon who has proved to be a force in net this season, turning away 69 of 73 shot attempts against him and posting a 2-0 record on the season.

Scenes From The Steel Game

Photo Credit: MJB Images

Photo Credit: MJB Images

Photo Credit: MJB Images

Photo Credit: MJB Images

Photo Credit: MJB Images

Friday Milestones

- Peter Tischke tallied his first career USHL goal

- Robby Jackson scored his 30th career USHL goal

Saturday Milestones

- Mason Bergh recorded his 20th career assist

Chicago Steel Week Two Game Preview

The Chicago Steel have two games on the schedule this weekend. Friday, the Steel will host the Bloomington Thunder in their regular season home opener at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Steel will return to Green Bay, just one week after opening their season against the Gamblers. Puck drop on Saturday is at 7:05 p.m.

Both the Steel (1-0-0) and the Thunder (1-0-0) are coming off wins, albeit in very different fashion. The Steel offense was clicking on all cylinders on their way to an 8-2 win against Green Bay. The Thunder earned a 2-1 shootout victory against Sioux Falls in their first game as a franchise in the United States Hockey League.

Although this is Bloomington’s first year in the league, these two teams are familiar with one another, facing off twice in the preseason. The teams split the two meetings with both contests decided by one goal.

Saturday, the Steel will return to Green Bay for a rematch with the Gamblers where they saw eight different Steel players score a goal and 14 different players pick up a point. Forward Mason Bergh was the star of the game with one goal and five assists, on his way to being named CCM Forward of the Week.