Chippewa Steel
CityChippewa Falls, Wisconsin
LeagueNorth American Hockey League
DivisionMidwest
Founded2005
Home arenaChippewa Area Ice Arena
ColorsGreen, black, gray
     
Owner(s)Kelly Kasik
Geoffrey Stahl
General managerChris Ratzloff(Also Coach)
Head coachChris Ratzloff(Also General Manager)
AffiliateWisconsin Woodsmen (NA3HL)
Franchise history
2005–2010North Iowa Outlaws
2010–2018Coulee Region Chill
2018–presentChippewa Steel

The Chippewa Steel is a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, that plays in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

History

The franchise began in 2005 as the North Iowa Outlaws based in Mason City, Iowa, where the team played for five seasons until moving to Onalaska, Wisconsin, in 2010 under owner Mark Motz as the Coulee Region Chill.[1] The team was then sold to Michelle Bryant in 2012 and the franchise was eventually moved in 2014 to nearby La Crosse, Wisconsin, with games at the Green Island Ice Arena.


After the 2017–18 season, Chill owner Michelle Bryant sold the franchise to Steve Black of JB Black Enterprise, LLC, the owner of the NA3HL's New Ulm Steel. Black relocated the Chill franchise to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, as the Chippewa Steel to play out of Chippewa Area Ice Arena. Bryant would then rename her NA3HL team from La Crosse Freeze to Coulee Region Chill while continuing to play out of La Crosse.[2] Al Rooney was named the Steel's first head coach and general manager,[3] but was relieved of duties 23 games into his first season with a 5–16–1–1 record.[4] Assistant coach Carter Foguth was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season before be given the role permanently at the end of the season.[5]


In March 2021, it was reported that Steve Black sold the Steel and the Tier III New Ulm Steel to an ownership group led by Kelly Kasik.[6] The sale was confirmed on April 16 along with the announcement of new general manager and head coach Mike Janda.[7] However, Janda was then given a two-year suspension in August 2021 by USA Hockey for manipulating records to use non-eligible players when he held a previous coaching job on a youth team and was subsequently released by the Steel.[8] The Steel then hired Casey Mignone, the assistant coach of the St. Cloud Norsemen.[9]

In July 2023, after Casey Mignone left for a job at Alaska-Farianks, on July 8th, 2023, Owner Kelly Kasik and the Steel hired Chris Ratzloff ,who had previously coached for the Rochester Grizzlies(NA3HL) for the past 4 years. Chris Ratzloff is currently 15-14-4 through 33 games.

Current division opponents for the Steel are the Anchorage Wolverines, Fairbanks Ice Dogs, Janesville Jets, Kenai River Brown Bears, Minnesota Wilderness, Springfield Jr. Blues, and Wisconsin Winidgo(previously Minnesota Magicians)

Season-by-season records


SeasonGPWLOTLPTSGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
North Iowa Outlaws
2005–0658183733914921914395th, Centraldid not qualify
2006–0762272966017419814464th, CentralLost in 1st Round
2007–0858381648019513712091st, CentralLost in 1st Round
2008–0958351857522917111072nd, CentralEliminated in Robertson Cup Round Robin
2009–105815376361472349155th, Centraldid not qualify
Coulee Region Chill
2010–115833205712041809822nd(T), CentralLost in Div. Finals
2011–126018357431622299964th, MidWestLost in Div. Semifinals
2012–136016395371572248496th, Centraldid not qualify
2013–1460312816318118110115th, Midwestdid not qualify
2014–156028239651761829874th, MidwestLost in 1st Round
2015–166033261671771658834th, MidwestLost Div. Semifinal
2016–176031272642202209204th, MidwestLost Div. Semifinal
2017–186017349431622146615th, Midwestdid not qualify
Chippewa Steel
2018–1960193834114922010196th, Midwestdid not qualify
2019–205129184621711467982nd, MidwestSeason cancelled
2020–214814295331161699045th, Midwestdid not qualify
2021–226025314541682067727th, Midwest
24 of 29 NAHL		did not qualify
2022–236031254661861728064th, Midwest
13 of 29 NAHL		lost Div. Semifinals 0-3 to the Wisconsin Windigo
2023-24331514434961124235th of 8th Midwest, 21 of 32 NAHLtbd

Playoffs

  • 2007
First Round - Fargo-Moorhead Jets defeated North Iowa Outlaws 3-games-to-2
  • 2008
First Round - Springfield Jr. Blues defeated North Iowa Outlaws 3-games-to-0
  • 2009
First Round - Owatonna Express defeated North Iowa Outlaws 3-games-to-1
North Iowa Outlaws advance to Robertson Cup round robin as HOST
Robertson Cup Round Robin - North Iowa Outlaws (1-3) - Eliminated (L, 3-4 vs. Wild; L, 1-2 vs. Phantoms; L, 2-3 vs. Bobcats; W, 4-2 vs. Bandits)
  • 2011
Division Semifinals - Coulee Region Chill defeated Owatonna Express 3-games-to-1
Division Finals - Bismarck Bobcats defeated Coulee Region Chill 3-games-to-2
  • 2012
Division Semifinals - St. Louis Bandits defeated Coulee Region Chill 3-games-to-0
  • 2015
First Round - Minnesota Wilderness defeated Coulee Region Chill 3-games-to-2
  • 2016
Division Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Coulee Region Chill 3-games-to-1
  • 2017
Division Semifinals – Janesville Jets defeated Coulee Region Chill 3-games-to-0
  • 2023
Midwest Division Semifinals - Wisconsin Windigo defeated Chippewa Steel 3-games-to-0

Adam Gajan

Adam Gajan is a current goalie for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers and will be a goalie for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey team next season. However, he is important because he is the first player in Steel franchise history to be drafted in the NHL, going 35th overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. During his one and only season goaltending for the Steel, the Poprad, Slovakia native had a 2.56 GAA(Goals Against Average) and a .917 Save percentage in 34 games played. Gajan wore #33 for the Chippewa Steel.


References

  1. ↑ "Coulee Region Chill sold, will move to Chippewa Falls". La Crosse Tribune. May 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Coulee Region Chill sold and relocated to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin". NAHL. April 30, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Chippewa Steel name Al Rooney as Head Coach/GM". NAHL. May 7, 2018.
  4. ↑ "NAHL: Rooney relieved of coaching duties with Chippewa Steel, Foguth named interim head coach". Chippewa.com. November 20, 2018.
  5. ↑ "NAHL: Chippewa Steel name Foguth head coach". Chippewa.com. April 9, 2019.
  6. ↑ "New Ulm Steel have a new owner". The Journal. March 9, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Steel Announce Ownership Transfer and Coaching Change". OurSports Central. April 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ "NAHL: Janda relieved of coaching, director of hockey operations duties for Chippewa Steel". Chippewa.com. August 23, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Steel Name Casey Mignone Head Coach". OurSports Central. August 27, 2021.

10.https://www.wqow.com/sports/steel-hire-chris-ratzloff-as-head-coach-gm/article_300c3aee-1db5-11ee-aca8-835283085342.html

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