USHL Chicago Steel

Matt Deschamps Hired as Assistant Coach

Published on January 16, 2020 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release


GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Matt Deschamps has been hired as an assistant coach by the Chicago Steel, the team announced Thursday. The Poughkeepsie, N.Y., native joins the staff after helping the Steel as a guest coach during the club's 2019 Clark Cup Playoffs run.

Deschamps spent the last three years in Canton, NY working for St. Lawrence University (D1-ECAC) as an Assistant Men's Ice Hockey Coach. Prior to SLU, Matt lived in Salzburg, Austria and worked for EC Red Bull Salzburg (RBS) Hockey Club as the head coach of the RBS U18 team and served the club in director and development coordinator roles as well.

The former defenseman played college hockey at the University of Maine, appearing in 111 games for the Black Bears over four seasons from 2001 to 2005 and was teammates with former Steel Head Coach Greg Moore from 2002-2005. Deschamps assisted on a triple-overtime goal in the 2004 Hockey East Championship and helped lead Maine to four NCAA tournament appearances, including two trips to the championship game. Deschamps served as an assistant captain as a senior, received the first annual Shawn Walsh Memorial Scholarship and was presented with the Richard Britt Award for Perseverance. He graduated from Maine in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in public policy and management.

After college, Deschamps attended training camp with the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks in 2005. During a five-year professional career, Deschamps had stops in the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League.

"Matt's work in coaching and hockey development at the Red Bull Hockey Academy along with his coaching experience at the NCAA Division 1 level have prepared him to step into this role and augment our staff with forward thinking ideas as we continue to test the boundaries of player development," said Steel General Manager Ryan Hardy.

The 39-year-old will be relocating to Chicago with his wife of 13 years, Kelly, four kids, Dean (10), Graeme (7), Claire (2), Gordon (5 months) and their Golden Retriever, Oscar.

Deschamps joins Head Coach Brock Sheahan and Assistant Coach Mike Garman on the coaching staff of the Steel, holding a record of 25-4-1-0 (51 pts), first place in the United States Hockey League as of Jan. 16, 2020.

"Given that he spent significant time with our team during our run to the Clark Cup Final last year, we know that he will fit seamlessly with Brock, Mike, the rest of the staff and, most importantly, with our players. We are thrilled to welcome Matt, Kelly, and their four children to our Steel family," said Hardy.

Deschamps will be behind the bench for the two-game homestand against the Omaha Lancers this Friday and Saturday at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Chicago Steel games may be heard on Mixlr at http://mixlr.com/chicago-steel/ (AUDIO) and video may be streamed on available devices through HockeyTV at www.hockeytv.com (VIDEO).

Chicago Steel Upcoming Home Games:

Fri., Jan. 17 vs. Omaha Lancers 7:05 pm (Year 2000 Throwback Night)

Sat., Jan. 18 vs. Omaha Lancers 7:05 pm (Year 200 Rusty the Mascot Bobblehead Giveaway)

Sunday, January 26 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 3:05 pm (Rusty the Mascot's birthday with mascot hockey game, Topgolf Family Pack, full-team postgame autographs)

For more information and to purchase Steel tickets, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Check out the Chicago Steel Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2020


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.

OurSports Central