CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – The Chippewa Steel (0-0-0) begin their quest for the Robertson Cup tomorrow night, when they host division foe the Kenai River Brown Bears (0-0-0) at Chippewa Area Ice Arena Saturday evening. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. CT, the gates will open at 6:00 p.m. CT and the first 200 fans will receive a Steel Cowbell giveaway.
TICKET AND BROADCAST INFORMATION
If you have not already purchased tickets to tomorrows contest click HERE. If you are unable to make it to the Chippewa Area Ice Arena, you can watch the game from the comfort of your own home on NAHLTV. You can watch the Steel all season long on NAHLTV and listen to the “Voice of the Steel” Joey Erickson.
LAST TIME OUT
The Steel finished the 2022-23 regular season with 66 points comprised of a 31-25-1 record, which was good enough for fourth place in the Midwest division and their very first trip to the Robertson Cup Playoffs in franchise history. The Steel would go on to be swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Wisconsin Windango.
The Brown Bears bested the Steel with 68 points finishing third within the division with a 34-24-3 overall record. Kenai River was also swept in the first round by the Minnesota Wilderness where each game was decided by two or less goals.
The Steel and Brown Bears faced off seven times throughout last season. The season series fell to an advantage for the Steel who held a 4-3 record against the Brown Bears. Four of the seven came on home ice for the Steel who finished last season17-12-1 at home. Just one of the seven contests was decided by one goal, the Steel won by four goals three times.
NEW BLOOD
The Steel come into the 2023-24 season with a new face behind the bench. Head coach Casey Mignone departed after two seasons with the Steel to become an Assistant Coach with Alaska Fairbanks at the NCAA Division 1 level. He is replaced by Chris Ratzloff who spent the last four seasons with the Rochester Grizzlies in the NA3HL. During his tenure, he led the Grizzlies to four straight Central Divison titles, two Fraser Cup Finals and winning the Fraser Cup during the 2021-22 season. Ratzloff was named the Coach of the Year in back to back seasons and compiled a 142-28-10 in his four seasons with the Grizzlies.
LIFE IN THE NAHL
The Steel will be without their top three scorers and number one goaltender in 23-24, Sam Rice led the way with 58 points has made the jump to the USHL and will start the season with the Madison Capitols. Kade Nielsen is headed to Minnesota State preparing for his freshman year, and J.J Grainda is on the same path with Stonehill College. Those three combined for 155 points during the campaign, so the Steel will have to look for contributions from others dawning the green and white.
An even bigger hole will have to be filled in between the pipes as Adam Gajan, a second round pick in the latest NHL draft, is with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. For more on Adam’s draft story click here. Gajan started in 34 games in 22-23, with a 19-21-1 record, 2.57 GAA and .917 SV%, he will be replaced by Carter Wishart who appeared in 25 games last season and put up great numbers with a 2.66 GAA and .908SV%.
Stay connected during the season by following the Steel @chippewasteel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at chippewasteelhockey.com.