25 Man Roster Breakdown: The Defensemen.

Part two of three based on the 25 man roster posted here.

Andrew Noel

     An undrafted '96 from the Ice Jets Academy U18 program, Noel made the all-star game. 6' 2" and 200 lbs, Noel brings a combination of size and skill to the blue line. Unafraid to be physical, but not looking to draw unneeded penalties, Noel could wind up being a big building block moving forward.

Brian Leblanc

     A 21st round pick of the Steel out of high school in 2010, and again picked in 2013 out of Wichita of the NAHL in the 26th round, Leblanc returns to the Steel for the start of the 13/14 season. A veteran swingman capable of playing both defense and wing, Leblanc is a very well known commodity. The only '93 on the roster, Leblanc will have to be a veteran leader.

Connor Yau

     Another undrafted pick, Yau checks in at 5' 10" and 170 lbs. Coming from Chicago Mission's U18 team, I actually don't have any notes on him, but going on memory, I believe he's a right shot with some skill and willingness to jump in on the rush. Eliteprospects has him listed as a forward.

Jake Bunz

     A player I'm almost positive isn't in his first Steel camp, Bunz was the Steel's 9th round Phase II pick. Coming in at 6' 3" and 200 lbs from Team Wisconsin, Bunz brings a combination of size and skill. A wide frame signals potential things to come as he gets older and adds muscle mass to his frame.

Liam McGing

     Now someone I'm positive has been in prior camps (mainly because I remember his brother James McGing, a forward, also being in camp, and brothers stick out in my memory), McGing, a Chicago native, spent last season with Aberdeen of the NAHL. An exceptionally smooth skater, McGing shouldn't make too many mistakes on the blue line.

Matt Berkovitz

     The fourth round Phase II selection of the Steel, Berkovitz comes in at 6' 1" and 175 lbs. Averaging over a point per game as a high schooler in Wisconsin, Berkovitz should add some offensive punch from the blue line. Berkovitz is currently scheduled to join the University of Wisconsin for the 14/15 season.

Niko Coffman

     Taken in the third round of the Phase II draft, Coffman brings the Steel another offense-oriented defenseman. Though he didn't make the All-Star Game, Coffman, a '95, should add to the Steel's offense, despite being somewhat undersized (5' 11", 181 lbs).

Sam Piazza

      The most veteran member of the Steel's defensive corps, Piazza brings all of 43 USHL games in his career. Like Leblanc, Piazza didn't finish the 12/13 season with the Steel. Piazza's still the same player as he was last season: Wide frame, smooth skater, though not amazing speed. He's probably in line for top minutes on the 13/14 Steel team.

Nathan Kwiecinski

     Another undrafted player making it from open camp, Kwiecinski hails from Livonia, MI, the same town that produced former Steel defenseman Mike Gunn. A '96 with above average size (a recurring theme throughout all of camp this year), Kwiecinski checks in at 6' 1" and 185 lbs. Kwiecinski got in a fight with F Hogan Davidson during camp, and wasn't afraid to throw the body. A right shot, Kwiecinski should be a nice addition to the Steel ranks.