It’s been quite the start to 2021 for young defenseman, Liam Steele.
On January 4, the talented blueliner committed to Cornell University for the 2021/22 season.
Right now he’s a member of Stanstead College in Quebec, and it was Steele’s current coach who broke the news on Twitter.
The 16 year-old is a dual national who has played all his junior hockey in the UK up until this year.
A native of Cobham, Surrey, Steele has suited up for Bracknell and Guildford U15’s and U18’s respectively.
The right-shot defenseman should have made his Team GB debut in 2020 after being selected to the Mens U18 team due to compete in World Championship Division II Group A in Tallinn.
With that event having been cancelled due to the pandemic, Steele’s international debut will have to wait, at least for now.
Cornell University, or the Big Red as they are known, are one of the NCAA’s storied hockey teams.
Cornell has won the ECAC Championship a record 12 times, the Ivy League Title 24 times and developed many players who’ve gone on to have excellent pro-careers in hockey.
Two such players have their numbers retired.
Namely Ken Dryden, who played 1965–69, and Joe Nieuwendyk, who played 1984–87.
Other alumni include Colin Greening, Ben Scrivens, Riley Nash and Morgan Barron, who was recently added to the New York Rangers training camp.
Barron was selected 174th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers.
Cornell has been coached for the past 25 years by Mike Schafer, who owns a record of 458–259–95, for a 0.623 points percentage.
Steele has shown a propensity of being gifted offensively in the junior ranks but perhaps more importantly is a right-shot defenseman, which is an ability highly valued right now.
Although not turning 17 until late in April, Steele is listed at 6’4” and 205 lbs. Doubtless, there is some growing still to be done, along with maturation but he couldn’t be in better hands moving forward.
Hat-trick
Individual goal
2020 Highlights
2020 Spotlight
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