Steel Set Franchise NHL Draft Record with Eight Selections
October 7, 2020 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The 2020 NHL Draft was the most prolific in Chicago Steel history. A record eight players with Chicago Steel ties were chosen. The previous high for Steel selections in the NHL Draft was four, registered in both 2017 and 2019.
The two-day draft began with 2020 USHL Rookie of the Year, Brendan Brisson, becoming the first Steel forward in franchise history taken off the board in the first round. The Manhattan Beach, Calif., native was chosen with the 29th overall selection by the Vegas Golden Knights. Brisson was named to the First USHL All-Star Team and USHL All-Rookie First Team after the 2019-2020 season.
In back-to-back rounds on Wednesday, the Anaheim Ducks selected two Steel players. Forward Sam Colangelo, who played parts of two seasons with the Steel, was taken in the 2nd round with the 36th overall selection, followed by current Steel defenseman Ian Moore in the 3rd round with the 67th overall pick. Colangelo was a key contributor to the 2019-2020 Anderson Cup champion Steel, leading the USHL in points per game. Moore will make his Steel debut when the team begins the 2020-2021 season.
Forward Sean Farrell was selected in the 4th Round by the Montreal Canadiens with the 124th overall selection. The Harvard University commit shared the USHL lead in assists during the 2019-2020 campaign and returns to the roster for the 2020-2021 season.
Steel alumnus Matthew Kessel was taken by the St. Louis Blues in the 5th Round with the 150th overall selection. Kessel, the Bloomfield Hills, Mich., native, played 20 games for the Steel during the 2017-2018 season.
The Nashville Predators selected defenseman Luke Reid with their 6th Round pick, the 166th overall choice. Reid played in 105 regular-season games with the Steel over two seasons from 2018-2020 and will play the 2020-2021 season with the University of New Hampshire.
Forward Joe Miller was the next player with Steel ties to be taken off the board when the Toronto Maple Leafs used the 180th overall pick in the 6th Round on Miller. The Minneapolis, Minn., native will make his Steel debut when the team begins the 2020-2021 season.
The Nashville Predators selected another Steel Alum in the 7th Round of the Draft, taking forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine with the 202nd overall choice. Fontaine ranks second all-time on the Steel franchise list in goal scoring with 46 career markers and will begin the 2020-2021 season with Northeastern University.
"I hope all of our drafted players enjoy this incredible, and well deserved, moment with their families," said Steel General Manager Ryan Hardy. "I also hope that our players who were not selected use this feeling as motivation to propel them to realize all of their dreams. While we're excited to have eight players come through our program and be selected in the NHL Draft, we are not surprised nor satisfied. We will be back to work in the morning in our continued pursuit of building the best player development program in the world."
Complete list of selections:
Brendan Brisson (Forward) - Vegas Golden Knights 1st Round (29th Overall)
Sam Colangelo (Forward) - Anaheim Ducks 2nd Round (36th Overall)
Ian Moore (Defenseman) - Anaheim Ducks 3rd Round (67th Overall)
Sean Farrell (Forward) - Montreal Canadiens 4th Round (124th Overall)
Matthew Kessel (Forward) - St. Louis Blues 5th Round (150th Overall)
Luke Reid (Defenseman) - Nashville Predators 6th Round (166th Overall)
Joe Miller (Forward) - Toronto Maple Leafs 6th Round (180th Overall)
Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (Forward) - Nashville Predators 7th Round (202nd Overall)
The Steel will begin the 2020-2021 season on Friday, November 6 when they take on the Youngstown Phantoms at the 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:
Friday, November 6 vs. Youngstown Phantoms 7:05 pm CT
Sunday, November 8 vs. Youngstown Phantoms 3:05 pm CT
Friday, November 20 vs. Green Bay Gamblers 7:05 pm CT
For more information and to purchase Steel tickets, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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United States Hockey League Stories from October 7, 2020
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