Hockey: Steel name Brock Sheahan associate head coach

GENEVA – The Chicago Steel continue to fill out its coaching staff around first-year coach Greg Moore.

The organization announced on Tuesday Brock Sheahan has been hired as associate head coach. Sheahan joins assistant coach Mike Garman behind the bench.

Sheahan, a former defenseman at Notre Dame from 2004-08, played five years of professional hockey in the American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and in Europe.

The Lethbridge, Alberta, native spent the last four seasons in two roles, associate head coach and assistant coach, at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

Sheahan handled a plethora of roles, including video review, teaching sessions, on-ice skill sessions, positional development, recruiting and statistical analysis, per the release.

“Brock’s hockey mind, passion for development, and experience as both a player and an NCAA Division I coach will be a vital resource for our players going forward,” Steel General Manager Ryan Hardy said in the release.

“Throughout this process, we were looking to round out our staff with a candidate who possessed the skill set and demeanor to be a future head coach while also bringing unique experiences to the table."

Sheahan's brother, Brodie, played collegiately at Holy Cross and one season for the Ontario Reign (AHL, Los Angeles Kings). Additionally, his cousin, Riley Sheahan, is a former first round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, and has played 365 NHL games between the Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

“My family and I are very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Steel organization,” Brock Sheahan said via the release. “Ryan Hardy, Greg Moore and I share the same beliefs in the development process for players at the junior level. I am looking forward to getting started and helping to implement this progressive vision.”

The Steel announced its regular season schedule last week, including the home-opening weekend on Oct. 5 and 6.