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 from the 2003 birth year.
Chicago selected three players in the second round, starting with forward Jack Harvey (Round 2, 19th overall). Harvey is a forward from Stacy, Minnesota, and recorded 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 13 games played this season.
Jackson Blake (Round 2, 22nd overall) was Chicago’s second selection of the second round. The forward from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, played 27 games for Shattuck St. Mary’s U15 team this season recording 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games. Jackson in the son of former NHL player Jason Blake, who played 871 games in the NHL.
With their last pick in the second round, Chicago selected Sam Lipkin from Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. The 6-foot-1 left wing played 41 games for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, where he scored 69 points (36 goals, 33 assists) for the season. Lipkin also played prep hockey at La Salle College High.
Chicago’s next selection did not come until the fifth round when Brad Lambert (Round 5, 62nd overall) was selected out of Lahti, Finland. The forward played for three different Pelican teams in Finland this season.
Thor Byfuglien rounded out Chicago’s fifth round selections when he was selected with the 62nd overall pick. The Roseau, Minnesota, native is the second cousin to former Chicago Blackhawks player Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien played for the Roseau Bantam AA team this season recording 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 50 games as a defenseman.
With the next three selections, Chicago selected forwards Michael Abgrall (Round 6, 87th overall), Parker Murray (Round 7, 102nd overall) and defenseman Brendan Fitzgerald (Round 8, 117th overall) to finish out their Phase I Draft.
Abgrall, a Richmond, British Columbia, native, skated in 29 games for the Burnaby Winter Club Elite 15’s this season. The forward registered 48 points (26 goals, 22 assists) before also playing in five games for the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League.
A native of Los Angeles, California, Murray played three seasons with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings. With the U16 team this season, Murray tallied 17 points (14 goals, three assists) in 23 games. Murray also scored 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) for the Bantam AAA program in 45 games.
Fitzgerald played in 18 games for the Islanders Hockey Club 16U of the United States Premier Hockey League. The North Reading, Massachusetts, native is the son of former NHL veteran Tom Fitzgerald, who played 1,097 NHL games.
“I’m very pleased with the nine players that we were able to add to our franchise in today’s Phase I Draft,” said Steel General Manager Ryan Hardy. “In preparation for the draft, our scouting department built a 25-player list and we were able to get through all eight rounds without deviating from it. This speaks to the preparation and professionalism of Tristan Musser, Vinny Smith and the rest of our scouting staff. Steel fans have a lot of prospects to be excited about for years to come.”
Chicago is will also partake in the Phase II Draft today. Chicago will also hold their annual Tryout Camp on June 6–9 at Fox Valley Ice Arena.