Chicago Steel Add Enga to Coaching Staf

Press Release

The Chicago Steel announced the addition of R.J. Enga to the team's coaching staff. He will serve as assistant coach to Scott McConnell when the Steel hit the ice for the 2011-12 USHL season.

Enga, 39, joins the Steel after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with the Topeka Roadrunners of the NAHL. The team compiled an 87-21-8 regular season record, consecutive south division championships, and the 2009-10 NAHL regular season title in his time there. He served on the staff of Scott Langer who was named the 2010-11 NAHL Coach of the Year.

"I am extremely excited for this new opportunity with the Steel and I cannot wait to get going," said Enga. "I look forward to working with the players and the staff towards a positive and productive season."

Prior to joining Topeka, Enga was as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Colorado College, during the 2008-09 season. As a player at CC, he missed just one game and was a four-year letterman from 1991-95, collecting 142 points (61g, 81a) in 158 career games. Enga helped the Tigers capture two WCHA regular season championships and was named to the All-WCHA Academic Team and earned conference honorable mention honors in 1993-94.

Enga was selected by the New York Islanders in the 10th round (195th overall) of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. The high-scoring winger played 10 seasons professionally split between the IHL, ECHL, WCHL, and a season in Germany. He also hit the ice in NHL preseason games for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Additional experience for Enga includes serving as the hockey director of the Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association as well as the head coach of Pikes Peak Minors U18 AAA for six years.

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