Latest news with #ChicagoSteel
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Kitchener Rangers sign Adam Valentini to the team
Adam Valentini signs on with the Kitchener Rangers on May 5, 2025. The Kitchener Rangers have added a new player to their roster. Adam Valentini, a 17-year-old forward from the Toronto area, officially signed with the team on Thursday. He just finished a season with the Chicago Steel, part of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Valentini also played with Canada White at the U17 World Hockey Championships where he racked up four goals and five assists in nine games. 'With his skill, hockey sense and offensive creativity we expect him to make an immediate impact with our team,' Mike McKenzie, general manager for the Rangers, said in a media release. 'He has always been a top tier player in his age group and when his rights became available last summer, we knew we had to do our best to acquire him and try to get him to Kitchener.' The Rangers acquired those rights after a trade last September with the Brampton Steelheads. The deal was sealed thanks to a recent rule change. Players with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) are eligible, as of Aug. 1, to take part in NCAA hockey programs. 'That definitely opened up more options for me,' Valentini told CTV News. 'Kitchener is such a first-class organization. I think it's what suited me best. I want to play here and can't wait to get things going.' He said he was in the crowd when the Rangers took on the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL playoffs, and is looking forward to donning the red, blue and white. Valentini will be wearing number 92 when he reports to training camp in August.
CBS News
7 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Chicago Blackhawks unveil renderings of renovated Fifth Third Arena
The Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday revealed renderings on their planned expansion for the Fifth Third Arena community ice rink a short distance from the United Center. Fifth Third Arena, at 1801 W. Jackson Blvd., first opened in 2017. It has been undergoing major renovations since May of last year. When those renovations are complete in January 2026, Fifth Third Arena will feature more than 250,000 square feet of community hockey space, state-of-the-art training facilities, and "versatile areas for the best athletes in the world, rising stars and the next generation of players," the Blackhawks said. "Through the Fifth Third Arena expansion, we are creating the epicenter of hockey in the Midwest," Danny Wirtz, chairman and chief executive officer of the Chicago Blackhawks, said in a news release. "This venue is where NHL superstars train alongside rising talent, creating an environment where championship dreams can take flight." The Blackhawks expect the revamped Fifth Third Arena to welcome more than 1.5 million guests per year. The team expects the arena will help catalyze an economic boost for the Near West Side, and will serve as the Midwest's leading destination for youth and amateur hockey — with seamless connectivity to the 1901 Project development plan around the United Center. Fifth Third Arena will also remain the official training home for the Blackhawks, and will become the permanent home for the Chicago Steel United States Hockey League team — which the Wirtz family acquired in 2023. The Blackhawks unveiled renderings for the following features: The Championship Arena will be one of two new rinks, with stadium-style seating, hospitality areas for 2,000 spectators, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, and exclusive party decks. This arena will be the new home of the Chicago Steel. Fifth Third Arena: Championship Arena Creative Admin Centennial Hall will celebrate 100 years of Blackhawks history, and will be the permanent physical home to the new Blackhawks Hall of Fame. Fifth Third Arena: Centennial Hall Creative Admin Fifth Third Arena: Centennial Hall Creative Admin Rocky's Bar, named for late Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz, will anchor the food and beverage offerings at Fifth Third Arena. It will feature a premium cocktail menu and curated food offerings. Fifth Third Arena: Rocky's Bar Creative Admin Lounges at the Fifth Third Arena were set up with families in mind — with flexible workspaces, quiet areas with Wi-Fi access, and comfy seating. Fifth Third Arena: the lounge Creative Admin The Patio, an open-air space on the upper level of the arena, will offer unique views of the Chicago skyline and the future 1901 campus. The Blackhawks characterized The Patio as a perfect spot for pre- or post-game cocktails, business meetings, and watching sports on TV. It has room for 150. Fifth Third Arena: The Patio Creative Admin A Walk of Fame commemorative sidewalk along Jackson Boulevard will honor milestone moments and legendary players from the Blackhawks, with engraved plaques for the franchise's six Stanley Cup-winning teams and Hall of Fame inductees. Fifth Third Arena: the exterior Creative Admin
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Chicago Steel Owner Named Gasparini Award Recipient
The USHL named Larry Robbins the recipient of the Gasparini Award on Thursday. The award honors his lasting impact on the league through dedication, leadership, and service. Named after former USHL Commissioner Gino Gasparini, the award recognizes those who have played a key role in the league's growth and success. Past recipients include long-tenured executives, team owners, coaches, and administrators who have shaped the USHL's development. Their contributions range from expanding the league's footprint to enhancing player opportunities and maintaining highly competitive standards. Beyond the rink, they help shape policies, foster partnerships, and strengthen the league's reputation. Robbins owned the Chicago Steel from 2015 to 2023. During that time, he helped elevate the USHL to new heights and establish a new standard for player development, professional advancement, and team success in Chicago. Upon purchasing the team in 2015, Robbins approached ownership with an unwavering commitment to the player experience. "Larry's commitment to enhancing the USHL player experience and elevating the standard of junior hockey was extraordinary," USHL President and Commissioner Glenn Hefferan said in a news release. "His competitive spirit, paired with a bold and innovative vision for player development, reshaped what was possible at the junior level. The methods he championed with the Chicago Steel pushed the boundaries of how we prepare young athletes. His legacy continues to influence the league and the youth hockey ecosystem. We are proud to recognize that impact with the Gasparini Award." Robbins relocated the team to Geneva, Ill., and invested more than $1 million to build out team and business operations facilities and purchase a center-hung videoboard to help modernize the fan experience. After his first three seasons as owner, including the 2016-17 campaign, which saw the Steel capture its first Clark Cup, Robbins decided to focus the team's time, energy, and resources on player development. The Steel introduced daily on-ice skill sessions for players focused heavily on off-ice training, including the introduction of heart rate monitors, force plates, and surveys to measure performance. Chicago boosted video and analytics tools and added mental resilience training and resources for players. The shift helped convince top Canadian and European players to develop in the USHL, helping set a new standard in promoting the league as the preferred path to the NCAA and beyond. Robbins delighted in individual advancement during his time in the USHL. From 2015-23, 39 players with Steel ties were selected in the NHL Draft, including first-overall pick Owen Power (2021, Buffalo Sabres) and third-overall selection Adam Fantilli (2023, Columbus Blue Jackets). One hundred and sixty Steel players earned NCAA Division I commitments. Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini became the first back-to-back Hobey Baker Award recipients to win from the same USHL team. In addition to player advancement, multiple members of the Steel hockey staff advanced to the NHL and NCAA. During Robbins' time as owner, Chicago's staff helped the Steel stack the most regular season and playoff wins in the league while qualifying for the postseason in seven consecutive years (2017-23). Robbins also enhanced Chicago's business operations, increasing its attendance for every non-COVID season (72% growth) from 2015-2023. On-ice success and innovative promotions elevated local, national, and international media exposure for the team and the league. The team's Forged From Steel docuseries premiered in 2021, a creative, behind-the-scenes look that continues to showcase the USHL as a premier destination for aspiring talent. "I am proud to have partnered with so many committed USHL owners and leaders, as well as with USA Hockey's NTDP program, to cooperatively elevate our beloved sport to provide elite competitive and development opportunities for future college and pro players, coaches, and associated professionals," Robbins said. "I am grateful and humbled to accept the Gasparini Award on behalf of the hundreds of members of the Chicago Steel who arrived during our eight years with passion and purpose each day to elevate our players and staff with a relentless pursuit of collective excellence and to generate future leaders and innovators on and off the ice." After selling the Steel, Robbins turned his attention to youth hockey in Florida. He has partnered with Wayne Gretzky and the community of Palm Beach to build a new two-sheet ice arena and launched the Florida Surf, the first new AAA youth hockey program in Florida in the last twenty years. The USHL renamed its Distinguished Service Award in 2010 to recognize the tremendous contributions of its fifteenth recipient, Gasparini. Before the 1995-96 season, he became the USHL commissioner and began a tenure of success that saw growth in league attendance, NCAA Division I scholarships, and NHL Draft selections. Under his leadership, the USHL was established in 2002 as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league.
