USHL 2023-24 Preview: Chicago Steel
Chicago loses their top-six forwards but returns a loaded D corps.
CHICAGO — For the first time in several seasons, the Chicago Steel will not return any of their top-six forwards.
The 2022-23 season saw the Steel lead the league in goals scored (275), highlighted by rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini, who paced all USHL skaters with 86 points (46 goals, 40 assists) in 50 games played.
The Boston University commit's production broke the U17 scoring record, smashing Taylor Cammarata's previous record of 69 points, a mark that stood for 11 seasons.
The Steel enjoyed a bevy of scoring from their forwards, finishing with four of the top-six point producers in the USHL. Nick Moldenhauer and Jack Harvey each recorded at least 74 points, while Jayden Perron enjoyed a 72-point campaign before departing for the University of North Dakota.
Perhaps the best surprise for Chicago was the emergence of Michael Emerson, who was limited to just seven points (four goals, three assists) in 36 games in an injury-plagued 2021-22. The 19-year-old had a breakout 2022-23 season, scoring 64 points and reaching the 30-goal mark.
The Steel bolstered their top-six forwards group, acquiring Quinn Finley at the trade deadline. The New York Islanders prospect was an integral piece down the stretch, potting 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) in 32 games as a third-year player in the USHL.
Chicago held off Youngstown for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the Clark Cup Playoffs and swept Dubuque in two games in the second round before falling to the Phantoms in the Conference Finals.
“We were really happy with our year. I think that we had an awesome group, a really young group, a really talented group. We were really proud of how they came together as a team and just got along and united everyone was,” said Mike Garman, who will be entering his second season as head coach and third as general manager of the Steel in 2023-24.
“Then, on the hockey side, I thought that the progress that each guy made in their own games and the development that they had was at a really high level and something that we value a lot. As far as the on-ice performance, there was a lot of success. I felt like, as a team, they really bought in and battled and worked and worked for each other.
“Of course, you want to win the championship every year, but I think we put ourselves in a good spot to have a legitimate chance to do that, and it didn’t go our way.”
Key Departures
Macklin Celebrini, F
Jayden Perron, F
Jack Harvey, F
Michael Emerson, F
Nick Moldenhauer, F
Jake Livanavage, D
Anthony Dowd, D
Jack Stark, G
Christopher Delaney, F (traded to Madison)
Key Returners
Michael Hage, F
Michael Hagens, D
Mick Thompson, F
Charlie Major, F
Jordan Brisson, F
Christian Manz, G
Hunter Hady, D
Reid Conn, D
Thor Byfuglien, D
Key Acquisitions
Kolin Sisson, F (2022 USHL Phase II Draft)
Ben Wilmott, F (2023 USHL Phase II Draft)
Tender Signings
Lukas Sawchyn, F
Three Keys To 2023-24
Top-Six Opportunities
With the top-six forwards moving on, there are undoubtedly opportunities for others to step up.
Similar to Emerson’s emergence in 2022-23, the Steel could conceivably see someone like Michael Hage become one of the top point producers not only on the team but in the league.
The University of Michigan commit missed most of last season after suffering a torn labrum in training camp. Hage made his USHL debut in March and scored five goals and five assists for ten points in 13 games, adding two points in six postseason games as well.
Without Celebrini for most of the playoffs, Hage stepped into a top-six role, so there is certainly some expectation for him to fill that spot permanently in 2023-24.
The Steel will return Mick Thompson, who has experience in the top-six group, scoring 38 points in 57 games last year. Charlie Major, another leading candidate, played well late in the season and had a strong showing at development camp.
Tender signing Lukas Sawchyn, who had 163 combined points in 109 games over the last two seasons at Shattuck St. Mary’s, is a player that Garman previously described as a “player who could play up a lineup.”
Add in 2022 USHL Phase II Draft pick Kolin Sisson, who had 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 24 games for the Mount St. Charles Academy 16U club last year, and the Steel could once again lead the league in scoring.
“When you look at a lot of these guys the year prior, no one expects them to do what they ended up doing, and I’ve kind of seen that for five years here, where it always seems like new players step up,” said Garman.
“You have new top scorers, and it’s something that is great about this level and why we care so much about development. It’s hard to compare every year, but I think we have more than enough ability and more than enough skill and talent.”
Third Year For Manz
While Jack Stark has moved on to Yale University, the Steel will return netminder Christian Manz for a third season.
As part of his commitment to Augustana, Manz indicated earlier in the summer that it was one of the reasons why he committed to the Vikings, in the sense that they left the decision up to the young netminder to return to the USHL for another year of development.
Manz compiled a 21-9-2-1 record, a 3.35 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage last year. He will be the first to admit that he was inconsistent in the early stages of the 2022-23 season. However, from February 1 on, Manz was one of the best netminders in the USHL.
The Steel struggled to find their offensive game in the Eastern Conference Finals against a well-built Youngstown team, but Manz put the team on his back and elevated his game to another level.
Heading into the 2023-24 season, Manz will no doubt be the featured netminder, and without a clear backup at this time, Chicago will be relying on him to play at a high level and provide that consistency out of the gate.
“He’s been awesome since we first got him, and he’s developed really well here. He’s become a leader for us. He is incredibly competitive and works really hard. So, in general, we are just thankful that he is in our program,” Garman said of Manz.
“It’s great coming back for a third year. My experience as a goalie was always every year is unique to your development. At first, you are just kind of getting your feet wet in the league, and then you are trying to figure out how to do it consistently. And then you are trying to figure out how to do it when you are ‘the guy,’ and then it is repeating that over and over,” Garman continued.
“I’m really excited to watch him grow and continue his trajectory on becoming that guy that he wants to be. He’s a great goalie, but he’s also just a very valued teammate for us.”
Defensive Improvements
While the Steel could seem to outscore anyone they played in 2022-23, they probably would admit to allowing a few more goals than they would have liked.
Chicago gave up the fourth-most goals (227) in the league but still managed to secure the No. 1 seed in the East.
While they will be turning over a new top-six forwards group, the Steel return a defensive corps still relatively intact. Losing Anthony Dowd, Jake Livanavage, and Nolan Joyce to the NCAA will undoubtedly be a challenge to navigate.
However, Chicago returns third-year blueliners Chris Able, Reid Conn, Hunter Hady, and Thor Byfuglien, who will provide valuable leadership and experience from the back end.
Second-year players Michael Hagens and Leo Eperjesi have a year under their belt, and the expectation is they will see an increase in production. The former provided the third-most points (26) among all Steel defensemen, and Hagens seems like a candidate pegged for a breakout year.
So, while Chicago will also break in the next wave of prospects, they have a ton of returning experience, which should, in turn, lead to a few more goals being kept off the board.
“Anytime you return six D men from the year before, you are in great shape. We are really excited about the four guys that are coming into camp as well,” said Garman. “Ultimately, hockey is such a team game. So maybe less forwards are returning but maybe more D, so it just really balances out at the end of the day.
“We have a lot of great players back there. It will be highly competitive for ice time, and that is ultimately what we want. We have a lot of really good options, and we are just excited to watch the guys take it and run with it.”