Kudla, Murphy join Steelheads

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads have agreed to terms with defenseman Patrick Kudla and forward Wade Murphy on contract for the 2022-23 season.Kudla played 50 games with HK Dukla Trencin in Tipos Extraliga (Slovakia) during the 2021-22 season, posting 22 points 4g-18a) with 22 penalty minutes. The Guelph, Ontario native served as an alternate captain while ranking fourth on the team in scoring as well as leading HK Dukla defensemen. He made his professional debut with HC Nove Zamky in the same league during the 2018-19 campaign and boasted a career-best 26 points (5g-21a) in 54 games. In four European seasons including two years with HC Litvinov in the Czech Extraliga from 2019-21, Kudla owns 60 points (14g-46a) with 82 penalty minutes in 166 games.The 26-year-old played one collegiate season at the University of Guelph in 2017-18 and totaled 12 points (1g-11a) in 20 games following a 38-point (8g-30a) season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League. Kudla was selected in the sixth round (158th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.Murphy spent the 2021-22 campaign with HK Olimpija Ljubljana (ICEHL) and put together 23 points (5g-18a) with 61 penalty minutes in 38 games. The Victoria, British Columbia native spent the last three seasons in Europe with the latter two between Narvik Hockey and Vålerenga in the Eliteserien (Norway) in 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. In his time overseas, he tallied 84 points (27g-57a) with 208 penalty minutes in 106 games including a career-best 46 points (15g-31a) in 2019-20. Murphy began his professional career with the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs and played 120 games over three seasons from 2016-19 between Manchester, Worcester, Greenville, Kalamazoo and Maine, combining for 51 points (17g-34a) with 117 penalty minutes in 120 games.The 28-year-old played three collegiate seasons between the University of North Dakota from 2013-15 and Arizona State University in 2016-17, totaling 24 points (9g-15a) in 66 games with his best year coming in his final season with 20 points (9g-11a) in 31 games. He was selected in the seventh rounnd (185th overall) by the Nashville Predators in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.