When the St. Charles Chill announced the first three signings in their history, it was all about home grown talent. Forward Jordan Fox (Kirkwood, MO), defenseman Tony DeHart (Ballwin, MO), and forward Kyle Kraemer (St. Louis, MO) were the first three players named to the Chill's roster. The Chill have now added to the roster two more players with St. Louis ties.
5'8, 172lbs forward, Kyle O'Kane, joins the Chill after an adventurous start to his career. O'Kane, 26, first started playing in the North American Hockey League, first with the Springfield Jr. Blues, then with the St. Louis Bandits. After playing 14 games with the Bandits, O'Kane jumped up to the United States Hockey League, playing with the Lincoln Stars. The next year, he returned to St. Louis and joined the Bandits during their 2007-08 season.
O'Kane then turned his sights to school, playing the next four years with the University of Michigan. Playing four years in Michigan, O'Kane amassed 27 goals, 23 assists, 50 points, in 124 games. A +19 over his college career, O'Kane also racked up 51 penalty minutes in his four years in Michigan.
After leaving Michigan University, O'Kane signed a deal with the Louisiana IceGators of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Playing in only 11 games, O'Kane notched a goal and five assists for the IceGators. He then was loaned to the Central Hockey League's, Tulsa Oilers for the remainder of the 2012-13 season. In 29 games, O'Kane scored two goals, two assists, and accumulated 14 penalty minutes.
The Chill also reached a deal with goaltender Kevin McFarland, a native of St. Louis, Mo. McFarland, a tall yet skinny goaltender, standing at 6'2 and weighing in at 174lbs, has a very lanky frame. McFarland played NCAA III tier hockey at SUNY-Potsdam. Playing in 27 games of three years, McFarland posted a 6-14-2 record with one shutout.
McFarland did not play professionally during the 2012-13 season, he did spend a lot of time practicing with the St. Louis Blues as their designated "practice goaltender". He faced went up against some pretty talented players during the Blues practices.
Whiles McFarland is a St. Louis native, and was the first goaltender signed, it's doubtful he'll be come the Chill's starting goaltender. While talented, he hasn't shown he's capable of starting a full season or that he is capable of being competitive as a starter. You can expect to see McFarland as the back up who can start around 10-15 games for the Chill this up coming season.