Whitehall goaltender Chace Hale takes game to another level

Marc-Andre Fleury was a popular goaltender with the Penguins, and his popularity in Pittsburgh hasn’t ceased since he moved on to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Fleury undoubtedly has influenced many area youth to begin playing ice hockey.

None moreso than Whitehall resident Chace Hale.

“I grew up watching Marc-Andre Fleury as a little kid and this brought me to become a goalie myself,” Hale said. “In recent years, I have begun to apply pieces of (Montreal goaltender) Carey Price’s style to my game.”

The 18-year-old Hale has been moving up the amateur hockey ranks at a rapid pace.

On May 27, he was selected by the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League (USHL) draft, after also signing a tender agreement with the Jamestown Rebels of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) earlier this year.

“I’m very excited to be drafted by Sioux City,” Hale said. “They are a great organization and have a reputation of producing Division I commitments and NHL draft picks.

“My immediate goals include gaining junior hockey experience and interest from NCAA Division I hockey teams. My long-term goals include getting a scholarship to play hockey and play professionally.”

The USHL is the only Tier 1 junior league in the United States; the Musketeers have more current NHL draft picks than any other USHL team and count Penguins forward Jake Guenzel among their alumni.

Hale (6-1, 179) played for the Belle Tire Hockey Club in Detroit this past season where he posted the best goals-against average — 1.26 — in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. He also was called upon to dress for the USA Hockey 18U National Team.

“Working with Rick Ice, my goalie coach at Belle Tire, and David Lassonde, the U.S. National Team Development Program goalie coach, helped my elevate my game and attract USHL interest,” Hale said.

Ice grew up in the Detroit area where he played hockey for 15 years.

“Chace has many strengths as a goaltender,” Ice said. “Two of his standout attributes are his skating ability/edge work and his ability to stay level-headed in high-pressure situations. As a coach it’s great to see someone with a lot of skill, but when you add that level of calmness in big games it sets him apart from many goaltenders.

“I have been working with Chace for just this past 2020-21 season. Lucky for me he already had a solid foundation. The couple of details we worked on he picked up quickly and ran with it.

“We promote completion in our program, so in this environment he was able to make long strides in his development.

“He definitely has taken his game to another level.”

Hale also has worked with Shane Clifford, goalie coach for Sioux City who runs the Shane Clifford Goalie School in Pittsburgh.

The Whitehall teen is a recent graduate of 21st Century Cyber Charter School, where he was ranked No. 1 in his academic class of 300-plus students. The 21st Century Cyber Charter School is a public school comprised of students throughout the state.

Hale, whose birthday is on Valentine’s Day, aspires to play hockey in college and major in computer science.

“Chase is a pretty even keel guy for the most part,” Ice said. “Off the ice he is friendly and personable, but even in the heat of competition in practice or a game he keeps things light. His ability to do this is something I wish more goaltenders had. We know every game we’re getting someone who can slow the game down and be stable in the net. It’s a huge advantage for us as a team but also for Chace moving forward onto higher levels of hockey.

“The future looks bright for Chace. With his abilities and his character, I think he would be an fantastic addition to any college program. We like to tell our players the goal is to get a college scholarship, then any level of professional hockey after that is icing on the cake. I think he has the ability to eventually get there. I know I believe in him.”

Moving forward, Hale soon will be in his 14th season of playing hockey.

“I started when I was 5,” he said. “I played one year of forward, one year of defense, and worked my way back to my favorite position (goaltender) in my third season at 7 years old. I moved to Michigan and lived with a billet family to play hockey when I was 15.”

In North America, billet families offer room and board to junior ice hockey players who leave home to join elite teams in other towns. Coaches often are involved with matching a player to a family. The objective of a billet family is to provide a “home away from home” for young players during the season.

Outside the rink, Hale plays golf and was a member of the Baldwin varsity golf team in ninth grade. He also enjoys playing tennis.

Hobbies include video games such as NHL21 and MLB The Show, watching Formula 1, biking and hanging out with his friends.

“Chace was a pleasure to work with and be around,” Ice said. “Every day, he showed up ready to put in the time. Our season was not normal due to covid. We had a lot of traveling and practicing in different rinks, but he never complained.

“On top of all of that, he was a great teammate. He always cheered on his goalie partner and went out of his way to have that bond with his partner — something I will always remember working with him. I wish him nothing but the best going forward. I am excited to see where he takes his career.”

Hale already has enjoyed success in his ascending career, starting back in his youth hockey days.

“My favorite memories include winning a PAHL championship in the South Hills Amateur Hockey Association, playing with the National Team Development Program, training with NHL stars like Jack Hughes, Dylan Larkin and Kyle Connor, and making great friends along the way,” Hale said.

“My advice to young hockey players is to always work your hardest and don’t be afraid to stand out. Most importantly, have fun.”