The Chicago Steel have a chance to win back-to-back Clark Cup championships next season, but Saturday, they showed they’re already capable of a repeat in a different fashion.
The Steel had eight players selected in the NHL Draft for a second straight year, with three players in the first round and five more in rounds 2-7.
Defenseman Owen Power (No. 1 to Sabres) and forwards Matt Coronato (No. 13 to Flames) and Mackie Samoskevich (No. 24 to Panthers) each went in the first round on Friday night.
Josh Doan
2020-2021: 53 GP, 70 P (31G, 39A)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 87 North American skater
Individual Honors: (2020-2021) USHL Second Team All-Star
Doan finished third on the team in scoring behind Montreal Canadiens prospect Sean Farrell and Coronato. The new Coyotes prospect was passed over in last year’s draft, was selected by his hometown team and the team his father Shane played for. Coyotes fans will be able to see Josh play often during his college career as he’ll suit up for Arizona State.
Jackson Blake
2020-2021: 25 GP, 17 P (7G, 10A)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 87 North American skater
Blake split this past season between the Steel and Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota. He scored the game-winning goal for Eden Prairie in the state championship game and the Steel in the Clark Cup Final. He will play one more season for the Steel before going to North Dakota.
Carolina previously selected Steel alum Jaccob Slavin, a defenseman, in the fourth round in 2012.
Ryan Ufko
2020-2021: 53 GP, 39 P (10G, 29A)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 43 North American skater
Individual Honors: (2020-2021) USHL First All-Star Team
Ufko paced Steel defensemen in assists and points in the regular season and playoffs. His regular-season goal total tied Ducks prospect Ian Moore for the team lead. Ufko, a UMass commit, joins former Steel teammates Luke Reid and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine in Nashville’s system.
Jack Bar
2020-2021: 34 GP, 15 P (5G, 10A)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 41 North American skater
Bar, a more balanced two-way defenseman, planned to play at Harvard this past season, but with the Ivy League not playing, looked elsewhere to play. He skated in some BCHL exhibition games then the Fargo Force traded his USHL rights to Chicago. He’ll go to Harvard next season.
The Stars previously drafted Steel alum Jamie Oleksiak, a defenseman, No. 14 overall in 2011.
Sam Lipkin
2020-2021: 30 GP, 11 P (3G, 8A)
NHL Central Scouting: Not ranked
Lipkin split the season between the Steel and the New Jersey Rockets of the National Collegiate Development Conference. He scored 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 19 games for the Rockets. He’ll return to the Steel then go to Quinnipiac.
Follow On Tap Sports Net on social media!
BET WITH BETRIVERS ILLINOIS
