Bensenville, IL (October 28th, 2007) -- The Chicago Steel have announced that four current Steel players and two players currently on their Affiliate List have been listed on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s Players To Watch List for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

The preliminary listing is comprised of players who have been identified by NHL Central Scouting using the following criteria: “A” Rating: A player who is predicted to be a potential first- or second-round draft selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft; “B” Rating: A player who is a potential selection in the third to fifth round; “C” Rating: A potential late-round selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

First year Steel defenseman Max Nicastro was rated as an “A” player. The Thousand Oaks, CA native’s rights were acquired by the Steel last season at the USHL trade deadline from the Indiana Ice and he played previously with the LA Jr. Kings AAA team. He has a 1-3-4 line in seven USHL games so far this season and has already committed to Boston University for the 2009-2010 season.

 “B” rated players for the Steel were forward Drew LeBlanc and defenseman Derrick Pallis. LeBlanc is in his first full season with the Steel after joining the team late last season after completing his high school season and winning a state championship with Hermantown (MN) High School. LeBlanc is committed to St. Cloud State for the 2008-2009 season and has five points (2-3-5) in seven games for the Steel. Derrick Pallis currently sits on the Steel’s Affiliate List after being drafted in May and plays for Noble and Greenough Prep out of Massachusetts. Pallis is currently uncommitted and may play for the Steel in 2008. Pallis is considered one of the top defenseman in the New England region and a top prospect for college hockey.

“C” rated players were forward Mark Anthoine, goaltender Nick Pisellini, and goaltender T.J. Massie. Anthoine joined the Steel this year from the AJHL’s Portland Pirates hockey club where he was one of the league’s top players as a high school junior. Anthoine has already committed to the University of Maine and has three points in six games for the Steel this year. Goaltender Nick Pisellini joined the Steel late last season after a strong season with the Chicago Mission AAA hockey team and is currently uncommitted. Finally, goalie T.J. Massie is on the Steel Affiliate List after being selected by the team in last October’s (2006) USHL Futures Draft. Massie plays at Cushing Academy in Massachusetts and is viewed as the top young goalie in prep school hockey. Massie is committed to UMass-Lowell for either 2008 or 2009 and may join the Steel in 2008.

"We very proud of and happy for these young men and the early recognition that they are receiving for the NHL Draft. It’s always nice to be noticed and labeled as a potential pro prospect, but there’s a lot of time yet to boost your stock – and our players know they need to do a lot more than make this list to make the NHL. These next few months will be very important for their development going forward and our organization will do everything we can to help them,” said Steel GM Jason Koehler. “We are very happy to see that our goal of making the Steel not only a great spot for developing college hockey talent, but also a great spot for developing pro hockey players is quickly becoming a reality and will only get better.”

NHL Central Scouting will release its midseason rankings of 2008 draft-eligible players in January, followed by its final rankings in April.

The 2008 NHL Entry Draft will be held on June 21-22 in Ottawa.

To buy your season tickets, group packages, birthday packages, and individual game tickets in advance please contact the Box Office at (630) 594-1165.