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NEWS STORY
Steel Reload for 2007-2008 With
USHL Draft
Bensenville, IL (May 15th, 2007)
-- Tuesday marked the start of a new look and a new
attitude as the Chicago Steel completed the USHL May
Entry Draft. In all, fifteen new players were acquired
by the Steel from around the country. Here's a brief
look at the players selected in order.
With the number one overall pick the Steel selected 1988
6'4 205 lb. defenseman Will Weber from Gaylord High
School in Michigan. Weber is already committed to Miami
University for 2008 and is currently one of the most
talked about amatuer players in the country and looks to
be a lock for the NHL Draft this June. He'll help anchor
a new look defense for next season.
Their second choice, 8th overall - acquired from Lincoln
in the Dan Lawson trade, Chicago took 1988 6'4 225 lb.
defenseman Aaron Schmit from Culver Academy. Schmit
hails from Grafton, WI and adds another impact
defenseman to the Steel blueline. Schmit's a multi-sport
athlete that will thrive in a hockey focused
environment.
In the second round, centerman Andrew Miller of
Cranbrook Prep School in Michigan was selected. Miller
(5'9 175 1988) is a top scoring line center that simply
makes plays and scores. Miller has already commited to
Yale for 2008 and was named "Mr. Hockey" for the state
of Michigan this past season.
After a delay in picks due to prior trades, centerman
Brian Dowd (1989 5'11 180) of Williamsville, NY and
Thayer Academy Prep School was selected in the fifth
round. Highly coveted by General Manager Jason Koehler,
Dowd is a player that helps win hockey games providing a
high energy intense attitude that the opposition hates
to play against while also being a clutch scorer at
crunch time.
With their two picks in the sixth round - Chicago
grabbed two power forwards in Eric Alexander (1989 6'2
190 lb.) and Spencer Anderson (1988 6'2 200 lb.).
Alexander played high school hockey in Michigan for East
Kentwood where he was a "Dream Team" selection, while
Anderson played in Brampton in the Ontario Provincial
League. Anderson was previously a member of the Steel
during the 2005-2006 season and is the son of current
Chicago Wolves (AHL) head coach John Anderson.
With their final pick in the first phase of the draft,
Chicago grabbed defenseman Barron Smith from the Chicago
Mission AAA U-16 team. Smith already stands 6'5 and is
only a 1991 birthdate. Smith is the son of former NHL
defenseman Steve Smith and is one of the top young
defenseman in the US and is rapidly improving.
Once the second phase of the draft began, the Steel went
east and drafted one of the top players in the Atlantic
Junior Hockey League, 1990 5'11 175 lb. forward Mark
Anthoine. Anthoine played for the Portland Jr. Pirates
and racked up 37 goals as one of the youngest players in
the league. Anthoine is committed to Maine for 2008.
Next, the Steel took the top player in Philadelphia,
1988 forward Brian O'Neill of the Philadelphia Jr.
Flyers AAA team. O'Neill's a slippery scoring liner that
generated national attention at the Midget AAA Nationals
this year.
Forward Zach Golembiewski of the Detroit Belle Tire AAA
U-16 team was next. His team won AAA Nationals and Zach
was a key piece to that championship puzzle. He's
considered one of the top young college prospects coming
out of Michigan and is a 1991.
Victory Honda's 1989 Josh Kesler was the next pick for
the Steel. Kesler has played for head coach Brian Burke
for two years and looks to be on the verge of a breakout
soon. Kesler,a forward, stands 6'3 185 lbs and can
really turn it on when he wants to. Josh is the cousin
of Vancouver Canuck forward Ryan Kesler.
1989 forward Jarod Rickord (5'10 175 lb.) of the Chicago
Mission AAA team was selected next after he was one of
the top scorers in the MWEHL this past season and one of
the top Chicago area players.
'89 6'1 180 lb. LD Derek Pallis of Noble and Greenough
Prep School is widely considered one of the top
defenseman on the east coast and is a smooth skating
two-way player.
Finally, 1990 6'1 180 lb. forward Alex Simonson of Grand
Forks Central High School in North Dakota was selected.
He is viewed as a power forward that teams hate to play
against and plays with an attitude and edge that fans
love and hails from Grand Forks.
At the conclusion of the draft, the Steel released 2006
Futures Pick - Cloquet High School G Reid Ellingson who
has committed to Northern Michigan University for 2007.
Replacing him on the protected list was Swiss forward
Luca Cunti of HC Thurgau. Cunti is one of the top
European's rated for June's NHL Draft and is looking to
play in North America next season.
The next step in the team building process will be the
Steel's Selection Camp which takes place at the Edge Ice
Arena June 11-17 in Bensenville, IL. All drafted players
and returning players will be in attendance. The Steel
is also sending out individual invitations for their
Goalie, Rookie, and Final Camp at the conclusion of the
Draft. For those players that receive invitations, they
are advised to respond and return their forms
immediately in order to solidify their spot at the Camp.
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