NEW ULM — The New Ulm Steel announced changes to their front office personnel late last week.

Brad Stepan will now oversee the operations of the NA3HL New Ulm Steel as well as the NAHL (North American Hockey League) Chippewa Steel, said Kelly Kasik, who owns both franchises.

“He [Stepan] is overseeing both operations regarding hockey decisions,” Kasik said. “He is my guy in the ground for Minnesota and Wisconsin. He will help both of the coaches [Chippewa and New Ulm] make hockey decisions on the players. We made this decision so we can have both franchises running in the same direction.”

Kasik said that she understands that in most cases, the General Manager of a franchise lives in that city to be a face of the team.

“Right now I am not worried about that but in the future we will have to figure out if giving that [GM] role to Curtis Doell [Steel head coach] or to Rachel [Ludewig, Steel Business Manager] is right,” Kasik said. “But right now Brad and Curtis have built a relationship and they are working very hard together to make this season successful.”

This is the second major change that Kasik — in her first year as owner of both New Ulm and Chippewa Steel — has had to make in a span of two months.

First, Zach Stepan who coached the New Ulm Steel last season, left to become an assistant coach for the NAHL Aberdeen Wings on August 4.

Kasik hired Doell to replace Stepan.

Now she has to restructure her front office.

“I am happy for Zach and his opportunity to move up,” she said. “That is what this whole league is about in advancing for not only the players but also the staff and the coaches. His leaving did leave me in a little bind with the season just around the corner and especially with me living in California and new to the hockey world. It threw me some challenges, but in the last month with the hiring of Brad to oversee everything, I am feeling more comfortable.”

Eric Gramentz, who was the Steel GM before the structuring, said in a statement: “It is unfortunate that after the duration of time that I have been with the Steel organization that things ended this way two days before the season opener. I wish Kasik Sports the best of luck within the New Ulm community and want to thank every sponsor that has worked with me and the Steel organization at any point for the past five seasons.”

Gramentz has been offered a scouting position with the Minnesota Bue Ox of the USPHL (United States Premier Hockey League) and work with former Steel coach Jay Witta.

Gramentz said he is considering his options at this time.