General 4/1/2026 12:35:00 PM Calvin Bush

Steel Host Final Two Games at Fox Valley Ice Arena

Special post-game ceremony to celebrate 11-year tenure after Saturday’s game

GENEVA, ILLINOIS — The Chicago Steel will add one final chapter to the team's 11-year run at Fox Valley Ice Arena when they host their last two home games in Geneva Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4.

Since relocating from Bensenville to Geneva in 2015, the Steel have had 44 players selected in the NHL Draft, including two #1 overall selections, Owen Power in 2021 and Macklin Celebrini in 2024. They have also had 219 NCAA Division I committed players move on to play college hockey. The team possesses the USHL's best winning percentage in a single season, set in the 2019-2020 season, and has won over 200 games at Fox Valley Ice Arena with over 1,000 goals scored in their 11 years of play.

The Steel will relocate to USG Arena inside Blackhawks Ice Center presented by Fifth Third Bank on the west side of Chicago to begin the 2026-2027 season.

Friday, April 3 is the final Fox Valley Farewell Tour stop. The Fox Valley Farewell Tour is a season-long campaign to celebrate the Steel's final year of play at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Through music-themed promotions, giveaways and experiences, the tour will provide a memorable experience for fans while bringing a sense of nostalgia as the team revisits thrilling highlights, noteworthy alumni, and its connection with fans and the community since 2015.

Friday's theme is Steel-a-palooza, featuring a special Rusty Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Circle K for the first 500 fans when the Steel take on the USA Hockey NTDP U18 team.

Friday's Steel-a-palooza promotion is a play on the iconic Chicago music festival, Lollapalooza, and will feature music from artists who have performed over the last 35 years at the world-renowned event. The commemorative Rusty bobblehead, which has become an annual giveaway with the Steel, features the Steel mascot in the team's black jersey holding a red guitar in a rockstar pose. The Fox Valley Farewell Tour logo is printed on the platform.

Chicago will play its final game at Fox Valley Ice Arena on Saturday, April 4, against the U17 team on Fan Appreciation Night with a Team Poster Giveaway (first 500 fans) presented by Minuteman Press.

Fans are encouraged to stick around after the April 4 game for a brief ceremony to celebrate the team's time in the Fox Valley. The ceremony will be followed by a post-game skate for fans.

Saturday's Fan Appreciation Night is set to feature special tributes to special memories over the last 11 years.

During stoppages throughout the game, the team will celebrate a special "11 Years, 11 Memories" segment which will feature an iconic moment from each season at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Fans can purchase the Mystery Steel Prize Offer, which includes a white zone ticket to either Friday or Saturday's game this weekend plus a surprise Steel-branded item from the vault. The offer may be purchased on the Steel website.

During both games, fans can visit the merchandise stand for a 40% discount on all Steel items.

The Steel (26-26-6-2, 60 pts.) split their weekend series in Lincoln last weekend. Cole Bumgarner scored Chicago's only goal in a lopsided 7-1 loss to the Stars on March 27. The loss officially eliminated the Steel from playoff contention and marked the first time the team missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2015-2016.

The Steel's offense awoke the following night with three goals in the first period and three more in the final two frames in a 6-4 win on March 28. Goaltender Alex Wang made his USHL debut and stopped 46 of 50 shots to record his first career win. It was the second-most saves made by a Steel goaltender this season. Timo Kazda tallied three assists as six different Steel skaters scored goals to give the Steel the win in their final road matchup of the season.

The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for Chicago and marked the first time it scored more than five goals since Feb. 1. The six goals tied the most Steel goals in a road game this season.

Cole Bumgarner scored a goal in each game against Lincoln last weekend, his first goals with the Steel. He also recorded an assist in Saturday's win for his first multi-point game of the season. The 2008-born forward has pointed in three of the last five games (2G-2A).

Dallas Vieau scored his third goal in as many games on Saturday. He has four points (3G-1A) in the last three games and has ten points (3G-7A) in 16 games with the Steel.

Kazda built on a strong end-of-season stretch with a three-assist outing on Saturday. It was his third three-point game of the season and eighth multi-point game. He has scored a point in six of the last nine games (4G-8A) and ranks third in USHL rookie scoring (37 pts.).

The USA Hockey NTDP (27-25-4-1, 59 pts.) had three games last weekend between the U18 and U17 teams. The U17s dropped a 6-2 decision to Youngstown at home on March 27. The NTDP was outshot 41-23 in the loss, as Finnegan Sears scored the team's only two goals. The U18s played at Muskegon that same night and scored three goals in the third period to secure a 5-3 win. Sammy Nelson scored two goals and added an assist, and Brady Knowling stopped 43 of 46 shots.

The U18s battled Muskegon again the following night and scored three goals in the second period, but Muskegon potted two to stay close. The Lumberjacks tied the game with under two minutes left in regulation to force overtime, but Jamie Glance scored the game-winner two minutes into the extra frame to give the NTDP a weekend sweep. Glance finished the night with two goals and an assist, and Knowling again played strongly in net with 36 saves on 40 shots.

Glance has scored a point in three of the last four games (4G-2A) and has 19 shots on goal in that span. He ranks third on the NTDP in overall scoring with 26 points (12G-14A) in 24 USHL games. The Boston University commit recorded six points (1G-5A) in two games against the Steel during their two games in Plymouth earlier this season.

Carter Meyer (U17) has scored in three of his last four outings (1G-4A) and leads the NTDP in points (33), goals (14), and assists (19). Meyer, a fellow BU commit, has not gone more than two games without scoring since the early stages of the season on Oct. 5. He ranks eighth in rookie scoring and has the second-most shorthanded points among league rookies (3).

The Steel are 55-36-7-5 all-time against the NTDP and 31-14-5-2 at home. The U18 team defeated the Steel with a pair of 5-2 wins in Plymouth earlier this season on Nov. 14 and 15 that saw the NTDP go a perfect 3-for-3 on the power play. Glance led the charge for the NTDP that weekend, with Victor Plante potting two goals and an assist in the two games. Knowling and Luke Carrithers each made starts for the NTDP. Chicago's Brady Kudrick found the scoresheet in each game with a goal and an assist.

Tickets for the final two Steel home games at Fox Valley Ice Arena are on sale starting at just $10.

Season ticket memberships for the Chicago Steel's 2026-2027 inaugural season at USG Arena inside Blackhawks Ice Center are on sale now. Memberships start as low as just $15 per game.

For more information, call 855-51-STEEL or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

Chicago Steel Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Friday, April 3 vs. USA Hockey NTDP U18 Team (7:05 pm CT) | Steel-a-palooza | Rusty Bobblehead Giveaway (first 500 fans) presented by Circle K
Saturday, April 4 vs. USA Hockey NTDP U17 Team (6:05 pm CT) | Final Game at Fox Valley Ice Arena | Fan Appreciation Night | Team Photo Giveaway (first 500 fans) presented by Minuteman Press | Post-Game Skate and Special Ceremony

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