Ames Elementary School!

Happy Tuesday Steel Fans! We hope that you are enjoying your week so far. It is rumored that we are suppose to get some snow/rain tonight so make sure you drive safely! 

This week Zach LaValle, Mason Bergh, John Schilling, John Ernsting, Liam McDermott, Connor Yau, Artem Artemov, Chris Nell, Alec Vanko, and Liam McGing went to Ames Elementary School to teach hockey to grades K-5. They taught the kids how to stick handle, pass, and shoot.

Before the boys started teaching, they took the time to introduce themselves. They told the kids, their name, number, age, position, where they are from, when they started playing hockey, and what they plan on doing after hockey. 

Following that it was time to learn how to control the puck and stick handle their between cones. 

To go along with the stick handling and controlling the puck, it was then time to learn how to pass the puck from one person to another.

What fun would it be to only stick handle and pass, if you aren't able to shoot the puck. The players were the goalies as the students started firing away pucks at them. 

After all the learning, it was time to have some fun. The classes were about to play either a game of hockey, or a game of red rover. Red rover wasn't the normal game that everyone knows. The kids had to run from one side to another without getting hit with a puck that was just being shot at them by players. 

 

Overall, I think that it is safe to say that all the boys enjoyed teaching hockey, and the students LOVED having them there!! 

There is still plenty of time to get the team out to your child's school. All you have to do is go online and fill out a simple form, or call 630-594-1159 to set it up! Don't let your child's and their friends miss out on this great opportunity, which is completely FREE!! 

Have a great day Steel Fans!! 

 

An Inside Look With RJ Bosworth

Happy Thursday Steel Fans!! 

Today we talked with RJ Bosworth, Director of Ticket Sales. 

Check it out!!!

Originally from Justice, IL, R.J. Bosworth started out as an intern during the 2007-2008 season. This is his sixth season with the Chicago Steel. R.J. graduated from Columbia College with a major in sports management. Through high school and college, R.J. worked at Park Printing, before accepting a job with the Chicago Steel. Currently, R.J. is the Director of Ticket Sales for the Steel. His favorite part of the job is the family atmosphere within the organization and knowing that everyday is going to be different. Additionally, he enjoys the challenge of being a junior hockey team in a major market. When R.J. is not at the Steel he enjoys golfing, watching the Chicago White Sox, and spending time with family and friends.

What is your primary role (what do you do) with the Chicago Steel?

I focus on the Ticket Sales and Ticket Operation for the organization.

How did you first get involved with the Steel?

In 2007 I was a senior at Columbia and applied for an internship with the team. I worked the 07-08 season as the marketing intern and was offered a job at the end of the season as an account executive.

What is your favorite part about working for the Steel?

As cliché as it sounds it’s like a second family here. During the season I spend more time with the front office than I do my wife. They make it a fun and entertaining every day. I would hate to go into an office everyday dreading work because the co-workers made the atmosphere feel like a funeral.

What would you say is the hardest part about your job?

The biggest challenge we face is being a small team in a large market. People in Chicago have so many options when it comes to spending their entertainment dollars. We have to be creative in getting people into the building.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Mascot night is always a entertaining. Last year it was a sell out and the building is always electric on that night.

What is your typical day like at the Steel for you?

I usually get in and check my e-mails and voicemail. During the day I am usually working on ticket sales and operations end of things. I help out with other things around the office from community relations to marketing. Every day is different.

What is a typical game day like for you?

I get here around 7:30am and put together the agenda for the staff and help put together the media guide. During the day I am usually filling ticket orders and getting the box office organized. At 5 we have our staff dinner and meeting. Doors open up an hour before the game and I’m in the box office until the end of the second intermission when I go and talk to group leaders and season ticket holders. 

Join us next week as we talk to John Montalbano who is the 
Director of Business Operations and Marketing Manager. 

ATTENTION STEEL FANS: 
We created an additional Twitter account to give you a better inside look into the organization. Make sure to follow us @chisteelinsider!! 

Let's Play Halloween Dress-Up!!

Happy Tuesday Steel Fans!! We are only a few weeks out till Halloween and everyone is getting their costumes ready for the big day. Every year kids and adults try and find a better costume than the one they did last year, however, their is always that one costume that you can never forget and love to wear. Today, we asked the boys what their favorite Halloween costume was. Check it out! 

What is your favorite Halloween costume??

Mason Bergh #15
I was a pirate for like 3 years in a row.


Victor Bjorkung #27
The Joker


Jake Bunz #3
Hanson Brothers


Chris Dodero #22
Spider-Man


John Ernsting #18
Shrek




Danny Fetzer #26
Batman


Robby Jackson #23
Superman


Brady Jones #19
Moses


Nate Kwiecinski #5
I was a gorilla.


Zach LaValle #11
Dressing up as Mario and Luigi with my buddy.


Brian LeBlanc #14
Buzz Lightyear


Biagio Lerario #9
Batman


Liam McDermott #12
Buzz Lightyear


Connor McDonald #24
Hockey Player


Liam McGing #4
White Power Ranger


T.J. Moore #10
Cucumber when I was 7.

Cale Morris #35
Superman


Chris Nell #31
Hockey Player

Patrick Polino #17
A beat up hockey player.


John Schilling #16
Land Shark


Peter Tischke #6
Superman


Alec Vanko #28
When I dressed up as the Hanson brothers from Slapshot.


Connor Yau #2
Chameleon (Pokemon) when I was 6.

Steel Fans tell us what your favorite Halloween costume, 

and we will post them on Thursday's blog!! 

Have a puck-tastic day everyone!! 

Candy...Candy...Candy!!

Happy Thursday Steel Fans!! We are only a few weeks out till Halloween and, as I am sure you have seen, all the stores have isles full of candy. People are starting to stock pile candy so they can be ready for all the trick or treaters! Since candy is huge during this time of the year, we asked the boys what their favorite Halloween candy is. Check it out! 

What is your favorite Halloween candy??

Mason Bergh #15
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups


Victor Bjorkung #27
I don't eat candy...haha


Jake Bunz #3
Any king size candy bars


Chris Dodero #22
Reese's


John Ernsting #18
Candy Corn



Danny Fetzer #26
Snickers


Robby Jackson #23
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups


Brady Jones #19
Protein Bars


Nate Kwiecinski #5
3 Musketeers


Zach LaValle #11
Caramel Apple Suckers


Brian LeBlanc #14
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups


Biagio Lerario #9
Candy Corn


Liam McDermott #12
Reese's


Connor McDonald #24
Sweetarts


Liam McGing #4
Twizzlers


T.J. Moore #10
Chocolate ones, I just really like chocoalte.


Cale Morris #35
Laffy Taffy


Chris Nell #31
Snickers


Patrick Polino #17
Milky Way


John Schilling #16
Candy Corn


Peter Tischke #6
3 Musketeers


Alec Vanko #28
Starburst


Connor Yau #2
Twix

Steel Fans tell us what your favorite Halloween candy, 

and we will post them on Thursday's blog!! 

Have a puck-tastic day everyone!! 

Score With Reading

Happy Tuesday Steel Fans! We hope that you had a great weekend, and were able to take advantage of the gorgeous weather we had. Today Danny Fetzer, Patrick Polino, Jake Bunz, Victor Bjorkung, Liam McGing, and Liam McDermott when to St. Pius X School to read to 15 classrooms!

They read a variety of books to kids from 

preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 5th grade. 

Following the the stories the children were able to ask the players questions about the book or personal questions about themselves. Some of the questions the players were asked included: What position do you play? Where are you from? What is your favorite part of hockey? What do you do during a normal day?

After the classes finished all of their questions, they all wanted to take a picture with the players, so instead of individual pictures, we figured we would take a group picture. Some of the classes opted for a funny picture instead of a regular picture.

However, before we could leave, the boys needed to sign some autographs for their biggest fans. 

To have the players visit your school call (630) 594-1159 or visit http://www.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com/fan-zone/school-programs/. 

Have a great day Steel Fans!!

Halloween Memories

Happy Tuesday Steel Fans!! It is officially October 1st, which means that Halloween is only 30 days away. There is nothing like the thrill of dressing up, getting candy, and hanging out with friends. Many of us have special memories from past Halloweens that we will cherish forever. So to start off the month of October we figured we would ask the guys about past Halloweens. Check it out! 

What is your favorite Halloween memory??

Mason Bergh #15
Just hanging out with friends.


Victor Bjorkung #27
Trick or treating with my friends.


Jake Bunz #3
Hanging with the whole family celebrating.


Chris Dodero #22
I went to a scary haunted house.


John Ernsting #18
Haunted houses.


Danny Fetzer #26
Getting candy


Robby Jackson #23
Handing out candy to girls...wheeling



Brady Jones #19
I dressed as Moses and guided my friends, who were dressed like Israelites, through the neighborhood.


Nate Kwiecinski #5
Always getting together with family and friends.


Zach LaValle #11
Playing the Star Wars theme song on a boom box during passing times at school and fighting all my friends with light sabers.


Brian LeBlanc #14
Carnival at Hermantown Middle School.


Biagio Lerario #9
Trick or treating with my friends and family.


Liam McDermott #12
Going trick or treating with my brother and friends.


Connor McDonald #24
Walking around with my family, getting candy.


Liam McGing #4
Hanging out with friends.




T.J. Moore #10
Super crazy partiez.


Cale Morris #35
Roller blading from house to house for candy.


Chris Nell #31
When I went to one house and took the whole bucket of candy.


Patrick Polino #17
I honestly can't remember anything fun.


John Schilling #16
Going out trick or treating and going to haunted houses.

Peter Tischke #6
Trick or treating with my little brother.


Alec Vanko #28
Just always tring to get more candy than my brother every year.


Connor Yau #2
Haunted house with my friends.

Steel Fans tell us what your favorite memories are from Halloween, 

and we will post them on Thursday's blog!! 

Have a puck-tastic day everyone!!