Steve’s youth hockey started at age five at the Brick Hockey Club where he became a goalie at age six. He played his youth hockey for the Brick Hockey Club, Philadelphia Little Flyers and the New Jersey Junior Devils. During his youth career, his teams played in the USA Hockey Nationals three times, in 1984 (Pee Wee), 1986 (Bantam) and in 1990 (Junior). Steve’s high school career began in 1987 where he was the starting goaltender all four years.

His high school athletic accomplishments include:

*First Team All-State Goalie in Ice Hockey two consecutive years (1989 & 1990); the first ever to achieve this honor and currently only one of two to achieve this honor in the state of New Jersey
*New Jersey Interscholastic Hockey League – National B Conference – Most Valuable Player (1989 & 1990)
*New Jersey Interscholastic Hockey League – National B Conference – First Team All-Conference Goalie (1989 & 1990)
*New Jersey Interscholastic Hockey League – National B Conference – Second Team All-Conference Goalie (1988)
*New Jersey All Star Hockey Team Selection to compete in the National Chicago Showcase Ice Hockey Tournament (1989 & 1990)
*Toms River Board of Education Athletic Achievement Award (1989 & 1990)
*All Ocean County First Team Ice Hockey Goalie (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)
*Toms River North Ice Hockey Team Most Valuable Player (1989 & 1990)
*Toms River North Ice Hockey Team Captain (1989 & 1990)
*Hockey Night In Boston Mid-Atlantic Team (1989)
*Hockey Night In Boston All Star Team, New York Mid-America (1989)
*Individual School Records: Most Career Shutouts – 12, Most Shutouts in Season – 4 (twice), Most Saves in a season – 590
*Recognized by NJ.com as one of New Jersey’s top 10 high school hockey goalies of all-time (“Top 10 N.J. high school hockey goalies of all-time,” NJ.com, by Richard Greco, February 9, 2016)

After high school, Steve took a post graduate year playing varsity ice hockey at South Kent School in South Kent, CT. He then went on to play varsity ice hockey at Williams College from 1991-1994. Steve graduated from Williams College cum laude with a Bachelors Degree in Economics and later attended DePaul Kellstadt Graduate School of Business with a Masters Degree in Accountancy. He later received his CPA credential and has enjoyed an over 25 year career in commercial real estate. He currently works at M&J Wilkow, a commercial real estate owner and operator in Chicago.

Steve currently resides in Lake Forest, Illinois, with his wife, Claudia, and four kids, Casey, Brynne, Ryan and Marty. Steve has coached his kids in ice hockey and lacrosse for several years and served on the board for the Highland Park Falcons Hockey Club for six years.

Steve Hippel