Seven Steel Players Sign National Letters of Intent Wednesday
Published on November 11, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The National Letter of Intent (NLI) early signing period for hockey student- athletes began Wednesday, and seven members of the Chicago Steel roster made their NCAA Division I commitments official. The players include forwards Karch Bachman, Jake Jaremko, Tanner Laczynski and Max Zimmer, defensemen Jere Astren and Matt Kiersted, and goaltender John Lethemon.
Astren and Zimmer are signed on to be teammates at the University of Wisconsin, while Laczynski (Ohio State University) and Lethemon (Michigan State University) will be their rivals in the Big Ten Conference. Bachman, a 2015 5th round pick of the Florida Panthers, will compete for the NCHC's Miami (Ohio) RedHawks. Jaremko will play in Mankato, Minn., for Minnesota State University of the WCHA.
In total, 16 of the 23 players on the Steel roster are currently committed (verbally or through previous NLI signings) to play for Division I programs. Forward Brandon Duhaime (Brown University) and defenseman Billy Sweezey (Yale University) are each committed to Ivy League schools, which do not participate in the NLI signing process. Additionally, four members of the roster have already been drafted by NHL teams: Bachman (Florida), defensemen Adam Parsells and KÃâÂrlis ÃâÅukste (San Jose), and goaltender Daniel VladaÃ...™ (Boston).
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 95 percent of USHL players receive an opportunity to play Division I college hockey.
The Steel return to Fox Valley Ice Arena for a six-game homestand starting with a two-game weekend against the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday, Nov. 14 (7:00 p.m.) and Sunday, Nov. 15 (3:00 p.m.). On Saturday, Chicago will wear special jerseys from the 2015 Junior Club World Cup in Russia, where the Steel won Bronze this past August. Sunday's matinee is the first Steel Family Pack game, including four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four chuck-a-pucks starting at just $59. Sunday's game also features a poster giveaway for the first 500 kids (14 and under) in attendance with a post-game autograph session. For more details or to purchase tickets, call 855-51-STEEL, visit the box office inside Fox Valley Ice Arena or logon to ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from November 11, 2015
- Stampede Stumble in Lincoln vs First Place Stars - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Stars Rout Stampede, 7-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Program Serves Families of the Fallen - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Seven Steel Players Sign National Letters of Intent Wednesday - Chicago Steel
- Dick Marbes to Serve as Honorary Captain - Green Bay Gamblers
- Four Stars Participate in National Signing Day - Lincoln Stars
- USHL Announces Change in Rookie Designation - USHL
- Storm Acquires Future Considerations from Muskegon - Tri-City Storm
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.
