Hockey: Steel promote Brock Sheahan as new head coach

Normally when the Chicago Steel make a coaching change it has to do with the teams' record.

That wasn't the case in the most recent move.

When coach Greg Moore left the Steel for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League earlier this month, the Steel promoted associate coach Brock Sheahan as its new coach.

“We kind of had an inkling in late November something was going to happen,” Sheahan said. “I came here with an understanding eventually I would take over for Greg when he would leave. But when I was told Greg did interview for the (Toronto) job and got hired, I was asked if I would take over the club and I accepted.”

Sheahan was hired by the Steel as an associate coach in July of 2018. He played collegiately at Notre Dame with minor league hockey playing stops in the AHL in Houston and Wilkes-Barre, Pa.. He then became a volunteer coach at Notre Dame.

“I felt from where I was at in my career as a coach, to come to the Steel was the right thing for me to do,” Sheahan said. “When I started here with the Steel I was running the (defense) and special teams. Now I get to take over making decision on the forwards.”

Sheahan said he did not see things changing all that much with the club.

And who could blame him.

Sheahan inherits a team currently sitting in first place in the USHL Eastern Conference (17-4-1, 35 points). He also coaches a club that is on a three-game winning streak with two of those wins in his first two games as head coach.

In his first game as head coach the Steel win 4-2 over Cedar Rapids Dec. 6 in Geneva. His next game, the next night in Cedar Rapids the Steel came back from a three-goal deficit to beat Cedar Rapids again 4-3.

Sheahan's coaching deal with the Steel is a three-year contract, terms not disclosed. Sheahan and Moore developed a friendship as the two worked together and Sheahan said Moore would always be are source whenever needed.

“The day Greg accepted the job in Toronto, he and I spent 40 minutes on the phone just talking hockey,” Sheahan said. “One of the last things he said to me was 'Brock, you are ready for this job. Don't look back.'”

Sheahan said his style may differ a little from that of Moore, but the team will always look to find ways to get better.

“One of the things I will be working on is to how to keep things fresh each day at the rink during both practice and games as well,” Sheahan said. I guess the difference is I will be driving it versus helping to drive the club.”

Steel fans will get their chance to watch Sheahan run the club more this coming weekend as they host the Tri-City Storm in a two-game series Friday night and Saturday night with both games at 7:05 p.m.