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NEWS STORY
Trade Winds Blow – Steel Make
Flurry of Personnel Transactions
Bensenville, IL (February 7, 2007)
--The Chicago Steel hockey club was quite busy on the
day of the USHL trade deadline. Over the last week,
primarily Tuesday, the Steel made several roster
transactions setting the tone for their roster heading
into this year’s USHL playoffs and next season.
Here’s a look at the transactions that have recently
occurred.
Forward Jonathan Milhouse, who was acquired by the Steel
in November 2006 from the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, was
released last week. He has since appeared on the roster
of the Santa Fe Road Runners in the North American
Hockey League.
The Steel added former USA National Team Development
Program Under-18 forward Richard Manley of Buffalo, New
York on a waiver claim. Manley has spent the last two
seasons in Ann Arbor with the USA National Program
playing against junior and college competition and is a
high school senior. He will be joining the Steel this
season and next year. The 1989 born Manley stands 6'5
220 lbs. and plays LW. He is coming off a knee injury
and will not play for the Steel for a few weeks until
healthy. In 7 games of NAHL play, Manley had a line of
1-3-4 with the USA NTDP.
Steel defenseman Dan Lawson (Vermont 2007) was traded to
the Lincoln Stars for Future Considerations, to be
determined at the 2007 May USHL Draft.
Forward Troy Matilla (New York Islanders NHL Draft
Selection 2006) was sent to the Springfield Jr. Blues in
the North American Hockey League for Future
Considerations.
Forwards Mike Embach (Ferris State 2007), Brian Keane
(UMass 2007) and two 2007 USHL May draft picks were sent
to the Indiana Ice in exchange for three draft picks in
the May 2007 USHL Draft, and two Futures Draft Picks /
Affiliate List players - forward Trevor Nill (6’3 185
lbs. 1989) of the Detroit Compuware AAA team (Michigan
State 2008) and defenseman Max Nicastro (6’2 185 lbs.
1990) of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings AAA club. Both Nill
and Nicastro will be with the Steel next season and will
stay on the club’s Affiliate List for this year.
Due to open active roster availability, the Steel added
two of their Affiliate List players – forward Dan Otto
(5’8 175 lbs. 1988) from Chicago, IL, and Minnesota high
schooler Drew LeBlanc (5’11 185 lbs. 1989). Otto is now
healthy from an injury which has kept him on the shelf
most of the season, while LeBlanc will move to Chicago
upon completion of the Minnesota high school season with
Hermantown High School in March at the latest, and will
play with the Steel at the end of the season and in the
USHL playoffs. He will join the Steel full time next
season for his senior year of high school. LeBlanc is
currently ranked as the 77th best North American skater
by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau for their January
2007 Mid-Term Rankings for this year’s NHL Entry Draft
to be held in June.
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh (6’1 200 lbs. 1989) will do an
"after" situation with the Steel upon completion of his
high school season at Cretin Durham-Hall in Minnesota.
McDonagh is headed to the University of Wisconsin in
2007 is projected right now to be a first round NHL pick
in June and is currently ranked the 12th best skater in
North America by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau on
their Mid-Term Rankings List.
“With the moves made recently, the Steel organization
has added youth and talent to a hockey program that is
already on the rise and heading in the right direction”
stated Steel General Manager Jason Koehler. “We were
busy trying to put the puzzle pieces in place that made
sense not only for our run at this year’s USHL Playoffs,
but also next season. We feel very confident that these
moves will take us to a higher level in the very near
future.”
“The Future Considerations portion of our deals will
allow us to address some roster holes for next season
and we are ecstatic to have been able to acquire two of
the best incoming first year junior hockey players in
the country in Trevor Nill (Compuware AAA) and Max
Nicastro (LA Jr. Kings AAA) – they will make a
difference from day one here next season.”
"Richard Manley, with his age (17) and upside, we feel
he has an opportunity in Chicago to really step up to
the plate and earn some respect while adding value to
his stock with NHL scouts in a big time market like
we’re in. I don’t think he’s fully developed at all yet
or reached his peak.” Stated Koehler.
“Getting Dan Otto back is huge. Dan’s a heart and soul
type player that won’t take a shift off. We have really
missed him most of this season,” said Koehler. “We also
get a chance to bring in one of the top Minnesota high
school players, Drew LeBlanc, for a sneak peak at what
he’ll do for a full year next season. Drew reminds us of
Chris Drury of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Finally,
“after” defenseman Ryan McDonagh – he’ll draw more
attention from NHL scouts down the stretch than anyone
playing in the USHL”
On a final note, the Chicago Steel staff would like to
wish all the best to those players moved recently, to
their new situations, and to their futures personally
and in hockey. Good luck!
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