Noelle Needham hired by the Chicago Steel as Assistant GM

The Chicago Steel announced Thursday two additions to the club’s hockey operations department. Noëlle Needham was hired as Assistant General Manager and Adam Nicholas will serve as Player Development and Hockey Research Consultant.

Needham has been an amateur scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs since the 2018-2019 season in addition to coaching the Sioux Falls Power 16U AAA team. The Elkton, S.D., native co-founded Legend Hockey in 2009 following her collegiate career as a forward with the University of Minnesota State-Mankato.

“I am really looking forward to the opportunity to join the Steel organization,” said Needham. “I’m excited to join an organization that has an unmatched commitment to excellence and a passion for player development. I want to thank the Steel ownership, Ryan Hardy, and the staff for this opportunity and I’m excited to get to work.”

Chicago’s 2019-2020 Anderson Cup-winning club included two players with experience in the Sioux Falls Power program.

“Noelle Needham is a brilliant hockey executive with an expansive skill set and knowledge base,” said Steel General Manager Ryan Hardy. “Her experience, not only as an Amateur Scout with the Toronto Maple Leafs or as a coach with Legend Hockey and the Sioux Falls Power, but also as an entrepreneur and business owner, adds significant dimension to what we are building.  I’m thrilled to partner with her as we continue to grow our organization in the years to come.”