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Steelheads renew affiliation with Dallas Stars

Steelheads renew affiliation with Dallas Stars

Wednesday, June 15th

Boise, Idaho – The Dallas Stars and Idaho Steelheads announced that they have renewed their affiliation agreement, extending their partnership through the conclusion of the 2017-18 season.The Steelheads have served as the ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars since the 2005-06 season, as well as during the 2003-04 season. The Steelheads have won two Kelly Cup championships and have been to three Kelly Cup Finals since their partnership with Dallas began. Eight former Steelheads - Richard Bachman, Matt Climie, Dan Ellis, B.J. Crombeen, Aaron Gagnon, Gavin Morgan, Tom Wandell and Francis Wathier - have played in the National Hockey League with Dallas."We are pleased to renew our affiliation with the Steelheads for the next two seasons," said Director of Hockey Operations and Texas Stars General Manager Scott White. "Head Coach Neil Graham is a good, young coach who quickly built a strong rapport with his players. He gives his players every opportunity to succeed and has fostered the developmental culture we strive to possess throughout the entire organization. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Steelheads."During the 2015-16 season, four players under NHL contract with the Stars - forwards Emil Molin and Taylor Peters, and goaltenders Philippe Desrosiers and Jack Campbell - saw significant game action for Idaho. They combined to play 134 games for the Steelheads last season, with Molin earning the team’s Most Valuable Player award and Campbell earning ECHL PlayerGoaltender of the Month honors in January. Desrosiers, a second-round Stars’ draft pick in 2013, went 12-1-4 over his final 17 regular season ECHL decisions and started all seven of the Steelheads’ playoff games.Forwards Gemel Smith, Branden Troock, and Cole Ully, also under NHL contract with Dallas, combined to play 18 games in Idaho this season while on assignment from the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of both Dallas and Idaho. "We're extremely excited to renew our affiliation,” said Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham. “Dallas is a first class organization and we're very proud to assist in the development of their future players. Scott White has continually built winning teams in Texas year after year and we have really enjoyed working with Scott, Coach Derek Laxdal in Texas, as well as the entire Hockey Operations staff of the Dallas Stars.”