NA Now: Chippewa Steel
The NA Now video series features an in-depth look into all NAHL teams as they prepare for the 2025-26 season. One team will be highlighted every day, leading up to the start of the regular season on September 12, 2025. Each interview features each team’s head coach, as they dive into detail on the expectations and outlooks for this upcoming season.
Chippewa Steel
Head Coach: Steve Dougherty (1st season)
2024-25 Regular Season Record: 30-23-2-4 – 66 points (4th in the Midwest Division)
2024-25 Leading Scorer: Jacob Ligi (12-40–54)
2025 Playoffs: Lost Midwest Division Semifinals 3-1 against the Wisconsin Windigo
2025-26 Division: Midwest Division
Location: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Formation Year: 2018 (8th season)
“I just love [coaching], like just developing and making players better every day,” said Chippewa’s Head Coach, Steve Dougherty. “And then by the end of the season, it just kind of adds up. So yeah, I mean, I'm just in it for just making the guys better every day and just kind of build culture and try to do it the right way.”
Dougherty has spent three seasons on the bench for Chippewa and he was promoted from Associate Head Coach to Head Coach for this upcoming year. He dove into detail on the lessons he has learned from his 14 years of coaching and what is ahead for the Steel organization.
Next up: Corpus Christi IceRays
