The Chicago Steel is actively looking for families in the Chicago area who are interested in opening their doors and provide the team’s players a home away from home during the 2015-2016 season.
The mission of the Chicago Steel is to invest in our nation’s top hockey players and provide them an opportunity to develop their skills while preparing them for their next step in hockey, education and life. Over ninety five percent of the players coming out of the USHL receive Division 1 hockey opportunities. Forty five percent of Ivy League hockey athletes are USHL alumni. Fifty one percent of all NCAA Division 1 captains and alternate captains are USHL alumni. These players can be strong role models for the children of host families.
Our mission also includes providing a safe, positive home life during the hockey season. Our housing program is second to none. Without housing families the hockey club would be hard pressed to succeed. These local families open up their home allowing our players to join their families. Our housing families spend a great deal of time, energy, and commitment to ensure that our players are able to live comfortably and are able to compete each night.
Steel players range in age from 16-20, and the housing families act as surrogate parents for the young men during the hockey season. Housing can be a very exciting and rewarding experience for all those willing to open up their homes to dedicated players of the Steel organization. Many families who have housed in the past usually look back at their experience with fond memories. In fact, many families still keep in contact with their players as they move through the ranks of college and professional hockey.
Erin Keohane, the team’s housing coordinator matches each player’s personality and backgrounds with quality homes. Furthermore, each potential housing family is carefully screened and presented with our team’s expectations of the housing family. Personal visits are done throughout the season to ensure that both player and housing family are meeting those expectations and guidelines.
All players are made aware that their housing families are their new home away from home and are expected to follow and adhere to the general rules and guidelines set forth by the hockey club. Respect for the housing family and their household is a priority and should not be taken for granted.
To qualify, families are required to provide a player with his own room from the start of training camp through the end of the season, and provide the player with his meals. Beginning with the 2015-16 season, the families will receive a monthly stipend of $300 to help pay for groceries, and are provided with season tickets to home games for every member of the household, and invitations to team events.
There may be instances where the player and family match are not optimal. The organization will be proactive to address these situations, and find the proper solution to ensure we have positive outcomes for all involved in the housing program.
For more information or if you are interested in housing a Steel player, please contact Erin Keohane at 708-691-1091 or by email at briananderinkeohane@yahoo.com.
Categories: Hockey Headlines, Junior Hockey