Home
News
Steelheads bring back Basaraba

Steelheads bring back Basaraba

Wednesday, August 10th

Boise, Idaho – Idaho Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Joe Basaraba on an ECHL contract. Basaraba will be returning for his second season with the Steelheads.

The Steelheads are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars and the American Hockey League's Texas Stars.

Basaraba, 24, joined the Steelheads last season during training camp when he was acquired in a trade with the Orlando Solar Bears. The second-year pro went on to be one of Idaho’s most effective scoring threats by season’s end, finishing the year with 32 points (12g-20a) in 47 games. The Fort Frances, Ontario native also tied for the team lead in scoring during the playoffs, notching seven points (3g-4a) in seven games against the Allen Americans.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound forward missed 25 games mid-season due to injury, but was one of the hottest scorers in the Western Conference upon his return. After rejoining the lineup on Jan. 23, Basaraba recorded 26 points (12g-14a) over the Steelheads final 32 games, tied for the team lead in points over that stretch.

Basaraba enters his third full professional season. He has played 118 professional games, 96 of them in the ECHL with the Steelheads and the Cincinnati Cyclones. Basaraba has scored 63 points (26g-37a) in the ECHL. He also recorded an assist in 22 American Hockey League games with the San Antonio Rampage during the 2014-15 season.

Basaraba was a third-round selection (69th overall) of the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning pro, he played four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, winning a National Championship in 2011 and serving as captain during the 2013-14 season.