Two Steel Players Earn USHL Player of the Week
February 15, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - The United States Hockey League ("USHL") announced Monday that Chicago Steel left wing Jack Gessert has been named CCM/USHL Forward of the Week, while Karlis Cukste has been named CCM/USHL Defenseman of the Week, both for the period ending Feb. 14, 2016. Each tallied a career high Friday for points scored in a single game, as Gessert (two goals and two assists) and Cukste (three assists) helped lead the Steel to a 7-0 win over the Sioux City Musketeers at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
Gessert, 21, has tallied six goals and four assists in 15 games with Chicago since being acquired Dec. 29 from Kenai River (NAHL). The 6-foot-2, 205-pound native of Novi, Mich. committed last month to Brown University (ECAC).
Cukste, 18, has registered three goals and eight assists in 27 games this season. The Riga, Lativa native was selected in the 5th Round (130th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. Cukste was named Best Defenseman in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship (Division I-A), as he and fellow Steel player Haralds Egle helped Latvia win the tournament and earn a promotion to the top level of the 2017 World Junior Championship.
Including Cukste and Gessert, the Steel have now had six different players earn USHL weekly honors during the 2015-2016 season. Last week, John Lethemon was named CCM/USHL Goaltender of the Week (Feb. 8, 2016). Goaltender Daniel Vladar and defenseman Ruslan Rakhmatov were each honored on Nov. 30, while former Steel center Tanner Laczynski was recognized on Jan. 4.
The Steel travel to take on their in-state rivals, Bloomington Thunder, Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a visit Saturday to Des Moines. Chicago then returns to Fox Valley Ice Arena on Friday, Feb. 26 as they host the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 7:30 p.m. The Steel will celebrate mascot Rusty's birthday with a visit from Chicagoland mascots and a special intermission mascot game. Plus, it's a Steel Family Pack game with 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 and online at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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