Steelheads re-sign Kudla

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads, ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced that the club has re-signed defenseman Patrick Kudla to a contract for the 2023-24 season. 

Kudla enters his sixth professional season, second with Idaho, after tallying 50 points (8g-42a) in 59 games last season along with 13 points (1g-12a) in 20 Kelly Cup Playoff games. His 50 points tied for third amongst ECHL defenders while his 42 assists were second. He had a big impact on the power-play tying for first amongst Idaho skaters in assists (18). 

The 27-year-old played four games last season in the American Hockey League, skating one game with the Colorado Eagles and three games with the Tucson Roadrunners. Prior to joining the Steelheads, the Guelph, Ontario native played his first four pro seasons in Slovakia and Czech Republic. During the 2021-22 season he played 50 games for HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia) where he totaled 22 points (4g-18a). In four combined seasons overseas from 2018-22 he accumulated 68 points (16g-52a) in 183 games.  

Prior to professional hockey, he spent one season at the University of Guelph during the 2017-18 season recording 12 points (1g-11a) in 20 games. During the 2016-17 campaign he skated for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League, leading all Saints blueliners in scoring logging 38 points (8g-30a) in 58 games. He played one season in the Ontario Junior Hockey League where he led all league defenders in scoring producing 66 points (13g-53a) in 50 games with the Oakville Blades en route to being named the league’s Best Defenseman and a First All-Star Team selection. He was selected in the sixth round (158th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes.