Steel Regain Top Spot in USHL Power Rankings
January 9, 2017 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The usahockeymagazine.com USHL January Power Rankings were released this week and the Chicago Steel (21-6-1-3, 46 pts.) have regained the top spot in the standings. In total, 21 media members ranked the teams from 1st to 17th and the votes were compiled into an overall monthly ranking. Chicago received 19 first-place votes, while Sioux City of the Western Conference received two. The Steel have been on top of Power Rankings each month this season except for December, when listed right behind the Sioux City Musketeers.
The Steel finished December with a 6-1-0-2 record to hold their spot at the top of the league standings. Marking the halfway point of the 2016-2017 USHL season, teams throughout the league are racing for a spot in the 2017 Clark Cup Playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, teams holding spots two through five are currently separated by just three points, while those spots in the Western Conference are separated by just one point.
Listed below are the team rankings, with the December Power Rankings position in parentheses:
1. Chicago Steel (2) - 19 first-place votes
2. Sioux City Musketeers (1) - 2 first-place vote
3. Youngstown Phantoms (9)
4. Dubuque Fighting Saints (3)
5. Waterloo Black Hawks (4)
6. Des Moines Buccaneers (7)
7. Fargo Force (8)
8. Muskegon Lumberjacks (5)
9. Green Bay Gamblers (6)
10. Lincoln Stars (11)
11. Bloomington Thunder (10)
12. Omaha Lancers (14)
13. Sioux Falls Stampede (15)
14. Tri-City Storm (12)
15. Madison Capitols (13)
16. Team USA (16)
17. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (16)
January also marks the month of the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which takes place tomorrow - Tuesday, Jan. 10 - in Sioux Falls, S.D. Three Steel players (Walker Duehr, Corson Green, and Brannon McManus) were named to the game's roster, as well as Head Coach Dan Muse, who will serve as the Head Coach for Team East.
The Steel return to Fox Valley Ice Arena this weekend to begin a season-long, eight-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 14 vs. Team USA (U17) on "You're STEEL The One" Night, when one lucky couple will renew their vows during intermission. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. The following day - Sunday, Jan. 15 - Chicago hosts the Sioux City Musketeers in a Steel Family Pack Game on "Daddy Daughter Princess Day," including a visit from special guests Elsa and Anna, as well as a full-team post-game autograph session. For tickets or more information, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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