Boise, Idaho – Idaho Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced that former Vancouver Canucks forward Kellan Lain has agreed to terms on a contract for the 2016-17 season.
The Steelheads are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars and the American Hockey League's Texas Stars.
Lain, 27, will play his first season in the ECHL after playing 104 games in the AHL during the past four seasons. Lain also skated in nine NHL games during the 2013-14 campaign for the Canucks, tallying a goal and 21 penalty minutes during that time.
In his AHL career with the Utica Comets, Iowa Wild, Oklahoma City Barons and Chicago Wolves, Lain has scored 23 points (9g-14a).
The native of Oakville, Ontario is coming off a season limited by injury. He scored three points (2g-1a) in 16 AHL games split between Iowa and Utica.
The Steelheads acquired Lain’s ECHL rights from the Quad City Mallards at last season’s trade deadline in exchange for future considerations. The Steelheads traded defenseman Andrew Panzarella to the Mallards at the end of the season to complete the deal.
Lain is the second Steelheads’ addition this off-season with prior NHL experience, joining former Calgary Flame forward Bryce Van Brabant up front.
Lain played three seasons of Division I college hockey at Lake Superior State University. In 108 college games, Lain totaled 39 points (21g-18a) and served as an alternate captain in his final season.