Boise, Idaho– Idaho Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced that the team has agreed to terms on with defenseman Jake Newton 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.
Newton returns to North America for his seventh season of professional hockey after spending the past two years in Europe. The San Jacinto, Calif. native has played 281 games in the American Hockey League, ECHL, Central Hockey League and in Europe since turning pro in 2010.
Newton spent the 2015-16 campaign in the Finnish Elite League with Sport Vaasa, scoring 24 points (9g-15a) in 58 games on the blue line. Newton was in Italy the prior season, notching 52 points (24g-28a) in 39 games for HC Gherdëina to lead all defensemen in both categories.
The 27-year-old has played one season in the ECHL during his career, skating for the Ontario Reign during the 2013-14 season and collecting 29 points (12g-17a) in 36 games. Newton registered seven points in 11 games in 2011-12 with the Allen Americans, then of the CHL.
In 97 career AHL games with the Syracuse Crunch, Lake Erie Monsters, and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Newton has amassed 20 points (5g-15a).
Newton played one season of Division I college hockey in 2009-10 at Northeastern University, where he recorded 22 points in 34 games and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
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