The East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) announced today that St. Louis Blues Group Vice President of Brand, Community and Partnership Development Steve Chapman will be inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame as a part of the 2018 class. Chapman, who spent 23-years in the ECHL prior to joining the Blues, will be enshrined during the ECHL’s All-Star Classic, on Jan. 15, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
“This is a tremendous honor,” said Chapman. “I grew up in this league, cut my teeth here, and learned a great deal about the in and outs of the hockey business. I owe a lot of my success to the amazing people I have met and worked with along the way, and this honor is really a testament to all those that have helped me throughout my career.”
Chapman began his career in the ECHL in 1992, working as a sales executive with the Birmingham Bulls. After a three-year stint with the Bulls, Chapman was hired as the general manager for the Mobile Mysticks. While in Mobile, he was instrumental in orchestrating the relocation of the franchise to Gwinnett, a suburb of Atlanta. There, the Gwinnett Gladiators began play in 2003-04. Chapman led the Gladiators to playoff berths in each of the franchise’s first six seasons, including a trip to the Kelly Cup finals in 2005-06. Chapman was able to duplicate the team’s success off the ice as well, helping Gwinnett finish in the top six in attendance in five of its first six years. Chapman also served on the ECHL’s Board of Governors for nine seasons (2005-15) and is the only person in league history to be named the league’s Executive of the Year in consecutive seasons, capturing the award in 2005 and 2006.
Chapman joined the Blues in 2015 and made an immediate impact. Through his leadership in the advancement of the Blues’ brand and his focus on community initiatives and developing new corporate partnerships, the franchise has experienced a resurgence on the business side, including the most profitable season in team history in 2016-17.
