Steelheads bring back defenseman Sweetman

Boise, Idaho – Idaho Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Eric Sweetman on a contract for the 2018-19 season.

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

Sweetman totaled 27 points (10g-17a) in 65 games for the Steelheads last season during his first professional campaign, along with four points (1g-3a) in 11 playoff games. The 24-year-old finished the season eighth in scoring among ECHL rookie defensemen, fifth in goals and tied for second with a +22 rating. Sweetman was named the Steelheads’ Defenseman of the Year.

The rookie blue-liner saw his numbers surge after the midpoint of December. Sweetman totaled three assists and a minus-1 rating through his first 21 games, but after Dec. 16 he went on to post 24 points (10g-14a) with a +21 rating in 44 games.

Sweetman played four years of college hockey at St. Lawrence University before turning pro, appearing in 146 games from 2013-17 and collecting 64 points (16g-48a) and a +39 rating. He was named to the ECAC’s Second All-Star team in 2014-15 and 2015-16, and he served as an alternate captain in each of his final two seasons at St. Lawrence.