Six Steel Players Sign National Letters of Intent Wednesday
November 9, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Six members of the Chicago Steel roster participated in the National Letter of Intent (NLI) early signing period Wednesday, making their NCAA Division I student-athlete commitments official. Those signing NLIs included goaltender Tommy Nappier (Ohio State University), Minnesota State University commits Walker Duehr and Reggie Lutz, as well as forwards Mitch Lewandowski (Michigan State University), Eduards Tralmaks (University of Maine) and Johnny Walker (Arizona State University).
Of the 23 players on today's Steel roster, 20 are currently committed to NCAA Division I programs.
Duehr and Lutz join their "Mankato Line" center Jake Jaremko, who signed his NLI last season, in committing to the Minnesota State Mavericks of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Nappier's Buckeyes are Big Ten Conference rivals of Lewandowski's Spartans. Tralmaks' Black Bears compete in Hockey East, while Walker's Sun Devils are figuring out conference affiliation, currently serving as an independent.
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.
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 and has earned 184 players Division I scholarships, as well as 27 NHL Draft picks.
This weekend, the Steel return to Fox Valley Ice Arena for a pair of games on Nov. 11-12. Friday's game against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders is Excellence on Ice: A Benefit for Geneva Schools and the Geneva Academic Foundation presented by FONA International. Saturday's game against the Waterloo Black Hawks is the first Faith and Family Night of the season. Each game is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop. For tickets or more information, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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