Baum returns to Steelheads

Action photo of Jeff Baum of the Idaho Steelheads

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads, ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced that the club has signed defenseman Jeff Baum to an contract for the 2026-27 season.

Baum, 30, enters his sixth professional season, and second in North America, after making his ECHL debut last season with the Steelheads. He collected 17 points (1g-16a) over 55 games during the campaign, also appearing in two Kelly Cup Playoff games in Idaho’s opening round series against the Allen Americans.

Prior to last season, Baum spent four seasons with the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League. During his tenure with the Giants, he captured the EIHL regular-season championship and was an EIHL Cup Champion three times (2022, 2023 and 2025).

Baum served as an alternate captain in his last season overseas notching 18 points (5g-13a) in 51 games. Across his four seasons with Belfast he appeared in 239 career games, accumulating 68 points (15g-53a).

Prior to professional hockey, Baum played three seasons of collegiate hockey at American International College from 2018-21, helping the Yellow Jackets to three American Hockey Association regular-season championships and two AHA Tournament championships.

He spent the 2017-18 season at Providence College. In juniors, after two seasons in the North American Hockey League with the Wichita Falls Wildcats from 2014-16, he spent his last year of junior hockey in the United States Hockey League, serving as an alternate captain with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2016-17.