Former MVP Crone joins Steelheads

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads, ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced that the club has signed forward Hank Crone to a contract for the 2024-25 season.

Crone, 26, enters his third professional season, first with Idaho, after spending the last two years primarily with the Allen Americans where he was named ECHL Most Valuable Player during the 2022-23 season leading the league in points (105) and goals (49) in 69 games, becoming the first rookie to lead the league in scoring since 2011-12. In addition, the Dallas, Texas native was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team, Rookie of the Year and All-ECHL First Team. Last season, he was under an American Hockey League contract with the Chicago Wolves where he tallied one assist in three games while also collecting 55 points (17g-38a) in 40 games with Allen.

In parts of two seasons in the ECHL Crone has accumulated 160 points (66-94a) in 109 career games with 11 points (2g-9a) in 16 Kelly Cup Playoff games. During the 2022-23 season he led all ECHL skaters in power-play points (39) and finished third in goals (16). Last season, he had the longest points streak in the league (18 games, 31 points, 12/8-1/15) and the second longest goal streak in the league (7 games, 8 goals, 12/29-1/10).

Prior to professional hockey, he played four seasons of collegiate hockey with Boston University (2017-18), University of Denver (2019-21) and Northern Michigan University (2021-22) registering 81 points (26g-55a) in 111 career games. Crone helped the Boston University Terries to the Hockey East championship during the 2017-18 campaign. He spent parts of four seasons in the United States Hockey League skating with the Omaha Lancers and Fargo Force appearing in 232 career games recording 179 points (62g-117a).