Rookies Haiskanen and Pastujov join Steelheads

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads have agreed to terms with defenseman Cody Haiskanen and forward Michael Pastujov on contracts for the 2022-23 season.Haiskanen completed his collegiate career at Cornell University in 2021-22, earning six points (1g-5a) with a +4 rating in 30 games while serving as one of the team’s tri-captains. The Fargo, North Dakota native played four seasons beginning in the 2017-18 season and earned 18 points (4g-14a) with 38 penalty minutes in 105 collegiate games while aiding the Big Red to two ECAC regular-season championships in 2017-18 and 2019-20.Prior to his collegiate career, the 25-year-old played with his hometown junior team, the United States Hockey League's Fargo Force, in 2016-17 and also earned a Manitoba Junior Hockey League championship in 2015-16 with the Portage Terriers.Pastujov finished his graduate season at the University of Michigan during the 2021-22 season, tallying 26 points (11g-15a) and adding a +15 rating in 42 games while serving as an alternate captain and helping the team to a Big Ten championship. The Bradenton, Florida product totaled 72 points (35g-37a) in 147 career collegiate games and was an alternate captain during his final two campaigns.The 22-year-old also played two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2015-16 and 2016-17, and he was a member of the gold medal-winning 2017 U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup team while leading the tournament with six assists. He is the younger brother of Nick Pastujov, who played with the Kansas City Mavericks in 2021-22.