Chicago Steel

The Chicago Steel are members of the United States Hockey League, joining the league in 2000. The Steel have played their home games at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois, since 2015; previously, the team played at Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Illinois, from 2000 to 2015.

Chicago Steel
CityGeneva, Illinois
LeagueUSHL
ConferenceEastern
Founded2000
Home arenaFox Valley Ice Arena
ColorsBlack, red, gray
     
Owner(s)Larry Robbins
Head coachBrock Sheahan
Websitechicagosteelhockeyteam.com
Franchise history
1996–2000Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks
2000–presentChicago Steel
Championships
Regular season titles1 Anderson Cup (2019–20)
Playoff championships1 Clark Cup (2017)

History

The Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks, founded in 1996,[1] moved to Bensenville, Illinois, and became the Chicago Steel in 2000. In May 2015, the majority ownership of the Steel was purchased by Larry Robbins while then current owners Bruce Liimatainen and Mike Greenberg remained involved as minority owners. The announcement for the change of ownership was accompanied by a change of leadership as Ryan Bennett and Dan Muse were hired as the new general manager and head coach, respectively.[2]

On May 22, 2017, the Steel defeated the Sioux City Musketeers 2–1 in overtime of game five, finishing a 3-games-to-2 series win to claim the franchise's first Clark Cup. Head coach Dan Muse would then be hired by the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators as an assistant coach and Mark Abalan would take over as head coach of the Steel.[3] On January 2, 2018, Abalan was let go and Ryan Cruthers was named interim head coach and assistant general manager of the Steel.[4] During the 2018 Clark Cup playoffs, the interim tag was removed and Cruthers was named the permanent head coach,[5] however, Cruthers would leave the team in May 2018 when the Steel hired Ryan Hardy as general manager.[6] Greg Moore was then hired as the head coach for the 2018–19 season after previously serving as an assistant with Team USA.[7] In 2019, Moore left to become head coach of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and Brock Sheahan was promoted to head coach.[8] The Steel then won the regular season championship, the Anderson Cup, in the pandemic-shortened 2019–20 season.[9]

Notable alumni

Team spirit

The team mascot is a dog named Rusty. Occasionally also seen at Steel home games is a puppy named Rascal.

References

  1. "Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks Statistics and History". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  2. "CHICAGO STEEL OF THE UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE ANNOUNCES OWNERSHIP CHANGE AND NEW LEADERSHIP". Junior Hockey News. May 21, 2015.
  3. "Dan Muse Named Assistant Coach of Nashville Predators". United States Hockey League. July 21, 2017.
  4. http://www.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com/news_article/show/871413
  5. "Ryan Cruthers Named Head Coach of USHL's Chicago Steel". OurSportsCentral.com. April 25, 2018.
  6. "Steel Name Ryan Hardy General Manager". OurSprtsCentral.com. May 30, 2018.
  7. "Greg Moore Named Head Coach of Chicago Steel". OurSportsCentral.com. June 6, 2018.
  8. Steel, Chicago (2019-12-01). "GREG MOORE NAMED HEAD COACH OF TORONTO MARLIES (AHL)". Chicago Steel. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  9. "Steel Named 2019-2020 Anderson Cup Champions". OurSports Central. April 1, 2020.
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