Friday, February 25, 2011

McConnell Takes Over as Steel Coach

Press Release

The Chicago Steel announced that Scott McConnell has been named interim head coach of the team following the departure of Jon Waibel who was relieved of his duties on Thursday.

McConnell is in his first season with the Steel after joining the organization in the role of assistant coach in October 2010. It marks his fifth season behind the bench in the USHL. He spent three seasons of the coaching staff of the Indiana Ice (2005-08) and helped lead them to a first-place finish in the East Division during the 2007-08 season. The native of Colorado Springs, Colorado then joined the staff for the Des Moines Buccaneers for the 2008-09 season.

McConnell took a short break from the USHL this winter when he served in the role of video coach for the U.S. National Junior Team that won the bronze medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship in Buffalo, New York.

Last season, McConnell was the video coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has also had coaching stints with Billings in the NAHL and Bay City in the Western States Hockey League.

McConnell played two seasons in the USHL (1998-2000), recording 26 points (12g, 14a) and 101 penalty minutes in 47 games for the Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks during the 1998-99 season. The forward then scored 13 points (7g, 6a) in 28 games the following season for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. He went on to a four-year collegiate career at the University of Denver (2000-04) and was part of the squad that captured the 2004 NCAA Championship.

The 32-year-old McConnell is the grandson of legendary coach "Badger Bob" Johnson who coached the University of Wisconsin to three national titles (1973, 1977, and 1981) and led the Pittsburgh Penguins to their first Stanley Cup in 1991.

Waibel compiled a 9-27-7 record with the Steel after being named head coach prior to the 2010-11 season. It was his fifth season with the organization after serving the previous four in the role of assistant coach. During his time with the Steel, more than 50 players went on to play Division I college hockey and nine others were NHL Entry Draft selections.

McConnell will make his USHL head coaching debut on Friday when the Steel host the Indiana Ice.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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