NEWS STORY
Entry Draft Results and Information
Bensenville, IL (May 16, 2011) - Today marks
the day of the 2011 USHL Entry Draft and the Chicago
Steel hold the rights to the 1st Overall pick in the
draft. In accordance to league procedures, "The
number of rounds for the 2011 USHL Entry Draft is based
on how many rounds necessary to bring each club's player
roster to 30. Teams will first draft to fill their
roster number to 23 players. Once every team
reaches that number, the Entry Draft extends to allow
all teams to bring their roster to 30. The 15 USHL
Member Clubs other than the NTDP will select players
with the birth year of 1991 or younger during the USHL
Entry Draft. Team USA, in cooperation with the
USHL, conducts a separate player selection process for
its single-age U-17 and U-18 programs. Players selected
in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft will be invited to the
tryout camp of their respective club and will have the
opportunity to earn a roster spot for the 2011-12 USHL
season. Teams are seeking players that can have an
immediate impact in the League. " ushl.com.
With the 1st overall pick in the 2011-2012
USHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Steel were extremely
excited to draft Brian Christie of the
Topeka Roadrunners in the NAHL.
Christie, a 6'2, 180lb LC from West
Chester PA is a 1992 birth year and is projected to step
in immediately and be a top 2 center for the Steel.
While playing for Topeka last season, Brian
recorded 20 goals, 37 assists and 80 PIMS in 57 games;
Christie was also a +38.
Brian will be heading to Merrimack College for the 2013-2014 season.
Newly appointed Head Coach and
General Manager Scott McConnell said "We are excited to
have Brian as the number one pick.
Brian brings us experience having success in a
good Junior A. league.
He is battle tested and has received excellent
coaching from the Topeka coaching staff."
The Scouting
Report: Brian is a big, smart and skilled playmaking
center that plays a responsible two-way game.
His hockey sense is his chief asset - he's a very
smart player both with and without the puck, how he
activates in space without it and how he instinctively
sees the ice and creates plays when the puck is on his
blade. He is
a responsible player defensively and will help our
penalty-kill as well.
We followed up on him all year and he kept
getting better and better.
Recently at the Robertson Cup in Topeka Brian
showed us he can be a tough leader.
With the 7th Overall pick in the draft (pick acquired in
trade with Sioux City), the Steel have selected
Defenseman Ryan Trenz. Ryan is a
6'0, 180lbs, 91 birth year defenseman who played played
for the Michigan Warriors of the NAHL last season.
In 56 games for the warriors Ryan had 8 goals, 17
assists for 25 points and was a +20.
The Scouting
Report: Ryan is a mobile and intelligent two-way
defenseman that will help our transition game and
powerplay. He exudes leadership, is a great skater and
is a skilled puck-mover. He's an instinctive defender
with an active stick and he battles hard.
With the 31st overall pick (3rd Round) in the USHL Entry
Draft, the Steel have chosen Daniel Kucerovy.
Daniel is a Right Wing Forward from the Pittsburgh
Hornets. Kucerovy comes in at 5'11 and 175lbs, and
is a 1994 birth year.
The Scouting
Report: Daniel is a goal-scorer with a pro-caliber
shot release and he plays with an edge. This year with
Pittsburgh he scored 20 goals and had 44 points in 36
games.
The Chicago Steel used their 4th round pick, 48th
overall, to select Defenseman Ryan Fraser-Lee.
Ryan is a 6'2, 200lbs 1993 birthyear defenseman who
played last season with Detroit Belle Tire.
The Scouting
Report: Ryan is a big, smart and tough defenseman
that provides our blueline with the right-handed shot we
are looking for. In 36 games this year Ryan had 103
penalty minutes.
With the 66th overall selection in the 2011 USHL Entry
Draft the Steel have selected Johnny Wingels.
Johnny, a Chicago native, played with Team Illinois last
year, and is the younger brother of Tommy Wingels who
has played in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks.
Wingels is a Right Defenseman who comes in at 5'11and
175lbs.
The Scouting
Report: Johnny is a strong and aggressive two-way
defenseman. He is a hybrid player that can have success
on either the wing or on defense.
The Chicago Steel have used the 76th overall pick,
6th round, to select Left Winger Ali Thomas. Last
season Thomas played with the Chicago Young Americans,
and he comes in at 6'3 200lbs. Last season Thomas
had 23 points and 75 penalty minutes in 35 games.
The Scouting
Report: Ali Thomas is a large winger that is tough
and athletic. He plays with an edge but he is also a
rangy puck-handler with a hard shot and he's a strong
skater. Ali can help us win games in multiple ways and
is tough to play against.
In the second phase of the 2011 USHL Entry Draft,
each team in the draft will bring their roster to 30
players. The Steel had the first pick in this
phase as well, and with the 181st overall pick, they
selected Jeff Kubiak. Last season
Jeff played for the Chicago Fury and comes in at 6'4,
200 lbs and is a 1994 birth year.
The Scouting
Report:
Jeff is a
massive forward that can play either center or the wing.
He is skilled in the hands and is a playmaker. He had 12
goals, 20 assists and 32 points in 40 games for the
Chicago Fury.
With their 14th round pick, the Steel selected
Mathias Dahlstrom from Smedjebacken,
Sweden. Dahlstrom is the first Goaltender selected
by the Steel in this years Entry Draft. Last
season the 6'0, 180lb 1991 birth year played for Kenai
River of the NAHL.
The Scouting
Report:
Terrific
athlete and has good size with a great technical base.
Brings age and experience between the pipes and should
be a rock in the net for the Chicago Steel.
At pick number 219, the Steel selected Defenseman
Alex Baskakov. Alex comes to the
Steel from Pittsburgh Viper Stars of the NAPH18.
Baskakov is a 1993 birth year coming in at 6'1 and
185lbs.
The Scouting
Report: Alex is a dynamic offensive defenseman that
can make poised/skilled plays and he also possesses the
explosiveness to rocket the puck up. He's thick and
strong in build and is a physical player that likes to
step up and pop opponents.
With their 16th round pick, the Chicago Steel
selected Austin Vieth from Marinette
Wisconsin. Vieth is a Forward that played for
Notre Dame Academy. Vieth is a 1993 birth year and
is 5'11, 175lbs.
The Scouting
Report:
Austin is a skilled, fast and gritty winger that
will be a big time player for the Chicago Steel in
2012-2013.
With the 241st overall pick, the Chicago Steel
selected Andy Edelson of the Chicago
Mission. Edelson, a Chicago native, is a
Defenseman that comes in at 5'10 and 160 lbs.
The Scouting
Report: Andy is a mobile and solid two-way
defenseman.
Using their 18th round pick, the Steel selected
Daniel Fetzer, a Forward for the
Chicago Young Americans. Daniel is a 1993 birth year
Forward who is 6'1 and 175lbs.
The Scouting
Report: Daniel is a heart-and-soul player with
great character.
With their final pick of the 2011 USHL Entry Draft,
the Steel selected Chicago native Christian Neumann.
The 5'11, 185lb Defenseman played for the Chicago Fury
last year.
The Scouting
Report: Christian is a mobile and athletic
defenseman that can move the puck and play aggressive
defense. This past year was his first of AAA hockey and
his development curve is rapidly heading upward. He's a
rink and gym rat that won't be outworked.
For more information and to get your 2011-2012 season
tickets, call the Chicago Steel at 630.594.1162.
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