15 Steel Alumni to Play in NCAA Tournament
March 21, 2017 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Sixteen teams remain in the hunt for the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship and 15 Chicago Steel alumni will participate in the tournament.
The tournament concludes with the National Semifinals (April 6) and National Championship (April 8) at United Center in Chicago.
The Steel are represented on nine of the tournament's 16 teams. Steel alumni will participate in seven of the tournament's eight first round games.
Steel alumni in the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament:
Cornell: #12 F Connor Murphy (Fr.), #26 F Jeff Kubiak (Sr.)
Michigan Tech: #27 F Tyler Heinonen (Sr.)
Notre Dame: #4 D Dennis Gilbert (So.), #32 G Cale Morris (Fr.)
Ohio State: #9 F Tanner Laczynski (Fr.), #25 F Brandon Kearney (So.), #46 Matt Joyaux (Jr.)
Penn State: #11 D Trevor Hamilton (Jr.), #17 F Zach Saar (Sr.)
Providence: #9 F Brandon Duhaime (Fr.)
UMass Lowell: #19 F C.J. Smith (Jr.)
Union: #1 G Alex Sakellaropoulos (Sr.), #27 F Sebastian Vidmar (So.)
Western Michigan: #35 G Trevor Gorsuch (So.)
The tournament opens Friday, March 24, with First Round games at four regional sites: Cincinnati, Ohio; Manchester, N.H.; Providence, R.I.; Fargo, N.D.; One of four teams in each region will advance to the Men's Frozen Four using a single-elimination format.
Full Bracket
The Chicago Steel are members of the United States Hockey League (USHL). As the nation's only Tier I Junior League, the USHL represents a key step in the ladder of development within USA Hockey. Over 96 percent of USHL players receive an opportunity to play Division I college hockey. Education and development as a player and individual is key to the Steel's success. 24 players on Chicago's current roster are committed to Division I schools. Two Chicago Steel alumni have gone on to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player: Andy Miele took home the trophy in 2011 with Miami (Ohio) University, while Drew LeBlanc won the honor two years later with St. Cloud State University.
36 NHL Draft picks have skated for the Steel, including current goaltender Ales Stezka (2015: MIN - 4th Rd., 111th overall), and four players on Chicago's current roster were named to NHL Central Scouting's mid-season rankings for the 2017 NHL Draft, also taking place at United Center (June 23-24).
This weekend, the Steel play three games in three days with matchups against potential USHL playoff teams. Steel will play Friday and Saturday night in Iowa, visiting Dubuque for an Eastern Conference showdown on Friday (7:35 p.m.), and Des Moines (7:05 p.m.) on Saturday before returning home on Sunday, March 26 for a 3:05 p.m. matinee against the Youngstown Phantoms. It's a Steel Family Pack game - purchase 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas and 4 chuck-a-pucks starting at just $48. Fans are invited to join the entire team on the ice for a post-game Skate with the Steel. For tickets or more information, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2017
- Friedman Makes Pact with Flyers - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Weekly: Keane Notches First Win, Gallant Continues Scoring - Omaha Lancers
- Stars to Host Million Dollar Man, Mascot Mania - Lincoln Stars
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview - Waterloo Black Hawks
- 26 Lancers Alumni Advance to NCAA Tournament - Omaha Lancers
- Media Advisory Twelve Stars Alumni to Play in Ncaa Tournament - Lincoln Stars
- USHL Alumni in 2017 NCAA Tournament - USHL
- 15 Steel Alumni to Play in NCAA Tournament - Chicago Steel
- Down to 3 Home Games in Storm's Season - Tri-City Storm
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
