Clark Cup preview: Chicago Steel vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
The Chicago Steel are set to face off with the Sioux Falls Stampede in the 2019 USHL Clark Cup Final. Sioux Falls will open with home-ice advantage after accumulating more… Read more »
Category Archives: Ray Napientek
Chicago Steel select nine players in USHL Phase I Draft
The Chicago Steel participated in the 2019 USHL Phase I Draft, selecting nine players to help build the future of Steel hockey. The selections contained three defenseman and six forwards… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Chicago heads home with series tied 1–1 for games for Games 3 and 4
The Chicago Steel and Muskegon Lumberjacks have split one-goal games so far this series and skate on the Fox Valley Ice Arena rink for Games 3 and 4 this Friday… Read more »
Chicago wins series opener in Muskegon, series tied 1–1
Chicago 5, Muskegon 4 (OT) The Chicago Steel fell behind 2–0 early with two power play goals from Chicago Blackhawks forward prospect Mikael Hakkarainen but fought back for a 5–4… Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 52 – School’s out for Summer
The-Rink.com co-hosts “Gatekeeper” and “JJ” are joined by staff writer Ray Napientek to chat about the few things abuzz in Blackhawks speculation. Blackhawks potential suitors for Ilya Mikheyev Kris Versteeg returns to Rockford… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Chicago defeats Cedar Rapids, advances to conference finals
The Chicago Steel advanced to the Eastern Conference finals after their 3–1 series victory over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Goaltender Justin Robbins stopped 39 of 41 shots faced in the… Read more »
Abruzzese, Pietroniro, Mastrosimone, Power and Hardy earn USHL end-of-season awards
The Chicago Steel were predicted by the media to finish near the bottom of the standings in the USHL preseason poll. With yesterday’s victory over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Chicago… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Abruzzese registers five points in win, teams head to Cedar Rapids tied 1–1
Chicago 6, Cedar Rapids 3 Center Nick Abruzzese registered five points in a 6–3 victory over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinal matchup. Abruzzese… Read more »
Series preview: Chicago Steel vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS (best-of-five) GAME 1 – CEDAR RAPIDS AT CHICAGO Saturday, April 20, at 7:05 p.m. GAME 2 – CEDAR RAPIDS AT CHICAGO Sunday, April 21, at 5:05 p.m…. Read more »
Ruikka enjoys rookie season away from home, adds team-first attitude on defense
Chicago Steel defenseman Uula Ruikka has been a welcome addition to the team’s defensive unit after playing his first regular season in the USHL. The Oulu, Finland, native registered 12… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Chicago clinches first-round bye with weekend sweep
Chicago 6, Central Illinois 5 The Chicago Steel scored three goals in a span of 1:40 of the third period and held off a late push by the Central Illinois… Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 51 – Season Wrap / Draft Lottery
The-Rink.com co-hosts “Gatekeeper” and “JJ” are joined by staff writers Mario Tirabassi, Eric Andrews, Ray Napientek to talk about the end of the Blackhawks season. The Blackhawks moved up from 12th to… Read more »
Moore guides Chicago to playoffs in first season behind the bench
Chicago Steel first-year head coach Greg Moore will guide his team into the Clark Cup Playoffs next week. With one weekend left in the regular season, Moore and his team… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Chicago splits weekend, big weekend ahead in playoff race
Chicago 3, Waterloo 1 The Chicago Steel kept up with their opponents chasing them for second place in the Eastern Conference beating the Waterloo Black Hawks 3–1. Steel goaltender Reilly… Read more »
USHL scoring leader Abruzzese braces for Clark Cup Playoffs, NHL Draft
Nick Abruzzese has quietly made a name for himself in his second season with the Chicago Steel. The crafty forward’s skills show up on the scoresheet most nights, but his… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Chicago drops both, hold onto second place in Eastern Conference
Madison 5, Chicago 4 (OT) The Chicago Steel looked to bounce back after their 1–0 loss to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on Friday, but fell to the Madison Capitols in… Read more »
Chicago beats San Jose 5–4, DeBrincat reaches 40 goals
The Chicago Blackhawks brought their slim playoff hopes into San Jose, looking to bounce back from their 1–0 whitewashing at the hands of the Arizona Coyotes. Head coach Jeremy Colliton… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Chicago earns point, blanked by Cedar Rapids in overtime
The Chicago Steel (34–19–3–0, 71 points) lost a point in overtime to the Cedar Rapid RoughRiders (32–18–3–2, 69 points) keeping the Steel two points ahead of the RoughRiders for second… Read more »
The Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 49 – Steel Deal
The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff “Gatekeeper” Osborn and John “Double J” Jaeckel are joined by The-Rink Junior / Chicago Steel writer Ray Napientek to talk about the Blackhawks and the Steel. We have a new… Read more »
Reid awarded USHL Defenseman of the Week
Chicago Steel defenseman Luke Reid was named the USHL “Defenseman of the Week“ for the week of March 18–24. Read registered three points (1 assist, 2 goals) in three games… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Robbins, Mastrosimone Break Records, Help Lead Steel To Victories
Chicago 8, Green Bay 3 The Chicago Steel defeated the Green Bay Gamblers 8–3, on Friday, after falling behind 3–1 in the second period. The seven unanswered goals the Steel… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Steel Clinch Playoff Berth, Slavin Scores Twice
The Chicago Steel clinched their third straight Clark Cup Playoff appearance after defeating the Green Bay Gamblers 3–1. Forward Josiah Slavin scored twice in the first period, the second being… Read more »
Looking To The Steel Future: Chicago College Commitments
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the country. Since the USHL does not pay their players, members of the Chicago Steel can compete… Read more »
The Steel Deal: After Loss on Friday, Chicago Tops Dubuque on Saturday
The Chicago Steel split their weekend games, losing 4–3 to the Youngstown Phantoms, on Friday, then bounced back to defeat the Dubuque Fighting Saints 3–2. Forward Robert Mastrosimone scored three… Read more »
The Steel Deal: Abruzzese’s 100th Career Point Not Enough
Sioux Falls 7, Chicago 4 The Chicago Steel jumped out to a 2–0 lead against the Sioux Falls Stampede, but a five goal second period by Sioux Falls did… Read more »