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!! 

An Inside Look With Dan London

Happy Thursday Steel Fans!! 

Today we talked with our new Account Executive, Dan London. 

Check it out!!!

Originally from Portland, OR, London joins the Steel for his first year as an Account Executive in Ticket Sales.  Previously, he served as an Account Executive for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League.  Additionally, London is familiar with the USHL environment, having interned with the Steel in 2012, as well as the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in 2011. Collegiately, London earned a degree in Business with an Entrepreneurship Certificate from the University of Iowa.

London’s favorite part of working in ticket sales is facing the challenge of filling the rink each game, and he hopes to help create memorable experiences for fans. Outside of work, London’s interests include watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and Oregon Ducks among other sports, golfing, and spending time with his dog, Dexter.

What is your primary role with the Chicago Steel?

To sell tickets and to make sure that everyone who comes to the game is satisfied with their experience.

How did you first get involved with the Steel?

I interned the end of last summer, took a job opportunity in Phoenix, kept in touch with RJ and Monty, and came back.

What is your favorite part about working for the Steel?

Trying to grow our crowd from night to night in hopes that we can get to a sustain level of success where we can expect a certain level of attendance per game.

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

It’s hard to get to where we want the crowd levels to be. To fix this I try to establish as many relationships as possible through existing relationships and new relationships.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Seeing how our compete level increases, as well as, mascot night. I didn’t get a chance to see it last year so it will be exciting to see.

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

During a typical day I generate leads, make phone calls, process ticket orders, and have meetings here and there.

What is a typical game day like for you?

Processing ticket orders, setting up the box office, make sure everything for group orders and suites is set up, and work the box office.

Join us next week as we talk to Steve Newton who is in charge of Corporate Sales. 

Make sure to follow us on Instagram 

to catch all of our videos and photos!!

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Happy Tuesday Steel Fans!!We hope that you had a great weekend and were able to catch one of the games this weekend. If you were unable to catch a game, here is a recap along with comments from Coach Scott McConnell, and Forward, #10, TJ Moore. 

The Chicago Steel dropped the opener of the 2013-2014 season on Friday evening as the Green Bay Gamblers beat the Steel 5-1 at the Edge Ice Arena. 

The first period began with both teams exchanging penalties before the scoring started. Green Bay was first to find the back of the net at the 15:42 mark. Evan Tironese took a nice feed from Drew Best and beat Steel goaltender, Chris Nell, on the backside. The first period closed with Green Bay's Gavin Stoick taking his second penalty of the game. 

The second period opened and the Gamblers quickly pushed their lead to two, still playing a man down. Ryan Lough scored the shorthanded goal while Tironese picked up the assist. Chicago responded less than three minutes later when a couple of Steel newcomers hooked up for a goal. Zach LaValle fed Robby Jackson to cut the lead to 2-1. That was as close as the Steel were going to get as Sebastian Weberg scored another for Green Bay. The Steel dug themselves a hold at the end of the period when Mason Berg and Brian LeBlanc were sent to the box within minutes of each other, but managed to kill off the five on three advantage for the Gamblers

After an uneventful opening half of the third period Green Bay put the game out of reach. The Gamblers added two goals scored by Gates Jr., and Olofsson respectively. Green Bay goalie, Jared Rutledge managed to stop all but one of the shots he faced in a great effort in the net for the Gamblers. 

The Steel put together a late rally but ultimately fell to the Waterloo Black Hawks 3-2 on Saturday evening at the Edge Ice Arena. 

The first period was fairly uneventful for both teams. The Steel and Black Hawks traded opportunities but were unsuccessful each time. There was some excitement with 12:02 remaining in the period when the Black Hawks put the puck in the back of the net but the goal was waived off. The rest of the period remained scoreless and both teams headed to the dressing rooms tied 0-0.

The Black Hawks got things started quickly in the second when they found the back of the net just 1:02 into the period. With 14:46 reaiming Waterloo's Brandon Montour and Austin Vieth found Liam Pecararo for his second goal of the contest and pushed Waterloo's lead to two. Just 31 seconds late the Black Hawks found the back of the net again with a shot from Brandon Salerno. Montour picked up his second assist of the night on the goal. The Steel finally responded just over 10 minutes into the second when Patrick Polino beat Waterloo goaltender Cal Peterson to cut into the lead.

Trailing 3-1, Chicago came out for the third period and cut further into the Waterloo lead when Alec Vanko scored his first goal of the season off a feed from Robby Jackson. The Steel had a great opportunity to tie the game with about three minutes remaining in the game, but Waterloo's Peterson was up for the challenge and stone walled the two on on try. With 41 seconds remaining Chicago pulled goaltender Chris Nell but the Steel could not force overtime even with the extra attacker.

Today we took the time to sit down with Coach McConnell and forward, T.J. Moore, to get their thoughts on the game...check it out!

Coach McConnell
"Friday's game was a good test for our guys. The score wasn't indicative of the game itself. We had opportunities, their goaltender played very well. We didn't capitalize on our opportunities like Green Bay did."

"Saturday was a great hockey game. Both goalies played well, and a major learning step for our team. To be in a 3-0 hole, and continue to battle, and have a chance to tie the game with a minute to go is an invaluable lesson for a young team that we can build off of. We showed this weekend if we battle we can be in any game. There is going to be a few growing pains in certain games. Our objective is to get better every time we hit the ice."

T.J. Moore
Friday: "You could tell it was our first game of the year. We got better as it went on. It was a good sign that we kept fighting even though we were down in the third."

Saturday: "It was a tough loss because it was so close. It was a good sign that we were only a bounce or two away from winning. We played really hard. During the games our best asset was our conditioning and hard work. Even though we couldn't win a game we made progress playing together as a team instead of individuals.


The Steel are away this weekend. On Saturday, September 28th, Team USA U-17's will welcome the Chicago Steel to the Ann Arbor Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. Game time is set for 7pm (6pm Chicago time). Then on Sunday, September 29th, Team USA U-18's will host the Chicago Steel at the Ann Arbor Ice Arena. Puck drop will be at 3:35pm (2:35pm Chicago time). Tune into Fast Hockey to catch some of the action.  

An Inside Look With Nick DeSalvo

Happy Thursday Steel Fans!! Guess what?! TOMORROW IS OPENING DAY!! We hope you are as excited as we are. If you haven't bought your tickets, make sure you order them soon! Remember they can be ordered by going to http://tickets.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com or by calling (630) 594-1161. 

Today we sat down with Nick DeSalvo, who helps with our game videos and scouting. Check out the interview below to get an inside look into Nick's job! 

What is your primary role with the Chicago Steel?

Scout, and being a coach on Illinois AAA level, I continue to keep relationships with each of the four AAA team and our draft picks, as well, as the Midwest area.

How did you first get involved with the Steel?

After spending time in New York with the Islanders as a hockey ops intern, I came back home and was recommended to Coach McConnell. Our similarities and passion for the game have been a great fit. His teachings and understanding of the game has rounded out a very good staff.

What is your favorite part about working for the Steel?

The USHL has come such a long way. It’s the in-between route between college and the NHL. Illinois hockey has seen great strides especially in the recent NHL draft. The Steel and ownership have been a big part in that.

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

The changes in hockey. The game itself is always changing, and you have to be able to adapt as quickly as possible. Each individual has a different way of learning. It’s the hockey staff’s job to get the best out of each player.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Our young team. A lot of people are skeptical of a young team in this league. I believe they will absorb the underdog role very well and each weekend is a chance to get better and earn a college scholarship.

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

Mornings are spent reviewing game film from the previous weekend, more specifically each player. From that we develop practice plans, watch games of opponents from the previous weekend, and then if there are any local game RJ and I will go and watch future potential Steel players. After this I’m on the ice for practice, and then following practice I prepare stuff for the following weekends like confirming the bus, hotel, meals, etc.

What is a typical game day like for you?

In the morning I study game film of the Steel and our opponents. If it is a Friday we will have a morning skate afterwards. Then all of the coaches have a meeting and talk about strategies. We then have our pre-game meal. Once the boys start arriving game planning hits its final course. RJ and I watch warm-ups to match opponent lines and figure out who’s starting in net. During the game I do a live feed of the game or I am on the bench. Following the game I talk with coaches and scouts who have come to watch some of the players. To finish off the night we review game film from our next opponent. 

We hope you enjoyed getting another inside look into the Steel family. Make sure to come back next week when we sit down with Account Executive, Dan London!! 

We hope to see you this weekend Steel Fans!!

Insight From Coach Enga

Happy Tuesday Steel Fans!! This past weekend the Chicago Steel attended the Fall Classic in Indianapolis, IN. The boys put their heart and soul into the games. With the weekend over, the team is now putting their focus onto this weekends games. Today we sat down with Assistant Coach, RJ Enga, to talk about the past weekend, and the weekend ahead. Check it out!! 

How did the players perform this past weekend?

This past weekend was encouraging. The work ethic for this group is high. We are definitely excited about having time to work with this group and add systems and detail to the game.

What needs to be worked on prior to Friday’s opener?

We touched on team systems a little bit before the Fall Classic. Before Friday, we are looking to dial in more detail into those systems.

What aspect of the game, stood out to you (penalty kills, face offs)

Our goaltending for sure. As a group, they have a good hockey IQ. They are able to see the game and plays well. They are also a very coachable group of kids.

What do you think is going to be your biggest advantage this season?

The team’s speed, hockey smarts, and goaltending. This is a hard working, eager, ready to learn and execute group, which will be great this season.

What do you think is going to be your biggest challenge?

The experience in a USHL game. Most of these players do not have a ton of USHL experience, so the biggest challenge will be getting them game experience. We also need to make sure we are constantly teaching and coaching.

Don't forget Steel Fans to order your tickets now!! You don't want to miss the exciting opener! On Friday, the Steel will welcome the Green Bay Gamblers for 7:30 pm game, and on Saturday, the Steel will welcome the Waterloo Black Hawks for a 7 pm match-up. We hope to see you at the rink!! 

Behind The Scenes With Pat Dolan

Happy Thursday Steel Fans!! Today we are giving you another inside look into the organization. Before the players and coaching staff left for the fall classic we were able to sit down with our new equipment manager, Pat Dolan. Check out the interview below!

What is your primary role with the Chicago Steel?

Equipment Manager

What made you pick this career path?

I played hockey since I was 7, and then went to school for a degree in sports marketing. After school I worked for the NCAA in a retail hockey setting, and it was something that I wanted to continue.

What is your favorite part about working for the Steel?

My favorite part is working with the young guys and getting them what they need to be successful on the ice.

What is a typical game day like for you?

The long hours and laundry.

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

Making sure everything is organized and where it needs to be, especially when you have 23 players and the coaching staff to look after.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

This is my first season as an equipment managers so I’m looking forward to learning more about the position and being able to get everyone what they need.

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

I get to the rink around 7:30am for a team workout. Then I start laundry until the players get here. Once players start showing up I get everyone set-up for practice. After practice I do more laundry and any repairs that need to be done. 


We hope you learned a little bit about what our equipment manager, Pat Dolan, does here at the Steel. Come back next week as we talk to Nick DeSalvo!!