Four Steel Players Named to 2016 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Roster
December 15, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The United States Hockey League and NHL Central Scouting announced Tuesday the list of players selected to compete at the 2016 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 12 in Omaha, Neb. Chicago Steel forwards Jake Jaremko, Tanner Laczynski and Max Zimmer, as well as defenseman Matt Kiersted, were all named to the 40-player list which will later be split into Team East and Team West rosters. Those selected were chosen by NHL and USHL general managers and scouts as the best 2016 NHL Draft-eligible USHL players to showcase their skills on the ice at Ralston Arena.
Laczynski, a 6-foot-2, 195 pound native of Shorewood, Ill., is the only returning player from the 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Dubuque, Iowa, where he tallied two assists. The Ohio State University commit is the only Chicago player to average more than one point per game so far this season. Through 21 games played this season, the 18-year-old center has scored six goals while being tied for the league lead with 17 assists.
Jaremko, 19, leads the USHL with nine power play goals and 13 power play points. The 6-foot, 185 pound center is committed to Minnesota State University (Mankato). A native of Nowthen, Minn., Jaremko earned the 2014-2015 USHS Minnesota Mr. Hockey award as the best high school hockey player in Minnesota.
Kiersted, 17, tallied his first career USHL goal last week in Chicago's 5-4 shootout win over Youngstown Thursday at Fox Valley Ice Arena. The 6-foot, 180 pound defenseman is committed to play college hockey for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Kiersted debuted for the Steel during the 2014-2015 season and previously played high school hockey for his hometown of Elk River, Minn.
Left wing Max Zimmer is one of four USHL players named to the 2016 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game roster receiving a "B" ranking in NHL Central Scouting's November Players to Watch List, predicting him as a likely candidate for a second or third round selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old native of Medina, Minn. Is committed to the University of Wisconsin. Zimmer has tallied 12 points in 23 games this season with the Steel.
In addition to Zimmer, both Kiersted and Laczsynski were included on NHL Central Scouting's Players to Watch List for the 2016 NHL Draft, to be held June 24-25 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
Laczynski and Zimmer are currently competing for the U.S. Junior Select Team at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge in Cobourg and Whitby, Ontario, Canada. The Steel roster currently includes a USHL-high four players already drafted by NHL clubs: Karch Bachman (Florida), Karlis Cukste (San Jose), Adam Parsells (San Jose) and Daniel Vladar (Boston).
Tickets for the 2016 USHL/NHL Top Prospects game at Ralston Arena in Omaha can be purchased at lancers.com. Broadcast information for the game will be announced at a later date.
The Steel start a ten-game road trip beginning with a rematch against the Gamblers on Friday, December 18. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. Chicago will make their way back to Fox Valley Ice Arena for their next home game Sunday, January 17 at 3 p.m. to take on Muskegon. This game will feature Mommy, Minions and Me Day. Plus, it's a Steel Family Pack game - fans can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $59. Tickets are available at the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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