Steel Announce 2016-2017 Preseason Roster
September 1, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The United States Hockey League announced Thursday the 30-man protected and affiliate list rosters for its member clubs. The Chicago Steel's preseason roster, listed below, currently includes 17 forwards, 10 defensemen and two goaltenders, all of whom are preparing for the team's Exhibition Game this Sunday, Sept. 4 against the Bloomington Thunder.
15 of the 29 players on today's Steel preseason roster played in at least one game for Chicago last season, including the Steel's leading scorer in 2015-2016, Jake Jaremko (60 GP: 20G + 28A). Headlining the list of newcomers to the roster is Finnish forward Mikael Hakkarainen, the Steel's 1st Round (6th overall) pick in the 2016 USHL Phase II Draft, as well as defenseman Graham Lillibridge, who returns to his hometown of Geneva to play for the Steel in 2016-2017.
Following the departure of Chicago's 2015-2016 goaltending tandem of Daniel Vladar (signed by the NHL's Boston Bruins in April) and John Lethemon (incoming freshman at Michigan State University), the Steel will be backstopped this season by Tommy Nappier, an Ohio State University commit from St. Louis, as well as Czech netminder Ales Stezka, a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2015 NHL Draft.
In total, the roster consists of 24 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools. 24 players are from the United States, with the remaining five players coming from the Czech Republic, Finland (2), Latvia and Sweden.
Forwards: Jack Badini, Walker Duehr, Tyler Gratton, Mikael Hakkarainen, Bobby Hampton, Jake Jaremko, Marc Johnstone, Mitch Lewandowski, Austen Long, Reggie Lutz, Tony Pappila, Greg Printz, Zach Risteau, Jordan Seyfert, Baker Shore, Eduards Tralmaks, Johnny Walker
Defensemen: Wyatt Aamodt, Corson Green, Adam Karashik, Matt Kiersted, Jesper Kokkila, Graham Lillibridge, Adam Parsells, Alec Regula, Colin Swoyer, Reilly Walsh
Goaltenders: Tommy Nappier, Ales Stezka
USHL team rosters must each be trimmed down to 23 players by Monday, Sept. 19 (11:59 p.m. CDT).
The Steel host Bloomington Sunday in Chicago's lone home game of the preseason, and are inviting fans out before the game Sunday for a pregame "Steelgate" tailgate BBQ party in the parking lot at 1:45 p.m. Fans will enjoy games, prizes, a meet-and-greet with the players, and food on the grill provided by Blue Goose Market.
All tickets for the exhibition game are discounted at just $10 and are on sale now at Tickets.ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com. Fans holding Kane County Cougars tickets for Sunday night's game will receive free entry to the Steel game.
The Steel then visit Dubuque Sept. 7, as well as Green Bay Sept. 10, before completing the preseason slate with three games at the USHL Fall Classic in suburban Pittsburgh: Sept. 15 vs. Madison (3:00 p.m.), Sept. 16 vs. Muskegon (12:00 p.m.) and Sept. 17 vs. Cedar Rapids (4:30 p.m.). Chicago returns home to start the regular season at home on Opening Night - Saturday, Sept. 24 vs. Green Bay. The first 500 kids (14 and under) in attendance will receive a complimentary Steel replica youth jersey.
Single game tickets, group tickets, suites and season ticket plans are on sale now. The Steel offer discounts for season tickets and groups, and all fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance to save $2 off day of game pricing. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Steel box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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United States Hockey League Stories from September 1, 2016
- Steel Announce 2016-2017 Preseason Roster - Chicago Steel
- Stampede Single Game Tickets on Sale Now - Sioux Falls Stampede
- USHL Releases 30-Man Protected & Affiliate List - USHL
- Fighting Saints Release 30-Man Roster and Affiliates - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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