Transaction Alert: 3/27/2008

The Idaho Steelheads announced today that defenseman Ethan Graham has been assigned to the team from its American Hockey League affiliate, the Iowa Stars, and defenseman Michael Beynon will sign an ECHL contract to join Idaho for Friday?s game in Stockton.Graham, 25, began the 2007-08 season in Iowa where over the course of 47 games he registered five points (1g-4a) in 47 games. The 6-2, 185-pound defenseman missed ten games after suffering a shoulder injury in the season opener at San Antonio. He spent six games with Idaho in late January before being recalled from loan on Feb. 5. The Xenia, OH native was a member of Michigan State University?s 2007 National Championship team and was that year was voted MSU?s Most Outstanding Defenseman after finishing 2nd in scoring (13 pts.) among Spartans? defensemen in 2006-07. As a member of the 2002-03 Lincoln Stars, he won the Clark Cup (USHL) and led the team?s blue-liners with 29 points. He played two seasons with current Steelheads? forward John Snowden while with the Lincoln Stars (2001-03). Beynon, 24, has just finished up his collegiate career with Union College (NY), fresh off of a quarterfinals series loss to Cornell in the ECAC tournament. The fourth-seeded Dutchmen lost two games to fifth-seeded Cornell in a best of three series, but wrapped up the season with a 15-14-6 record, the best finish since the 1996-97 season (16-13-3). The 6-3, 210-pound Beynon, who served as assistant captain in his senior year and in 2006-07, has 7 goals and 33 assists for 40 points in 141 games with the Dutchmen.In other news: defenseman Chad Brownlee was released from the team effective Mar. 24. Brownlee had appeared in 35 games with the Steelheads this season, scoring one goal and two assists.Both Graham and Beynon are expected to play in the Steelheads game Friday night. Goaltender Steve Silverthorn will get the start in goal after being assigned to Idaho from Iowa last week marking his first appearance in a Steelheads sweater since Jan. 5. Following tomorrow?s game in Stockton, Idaho travels to Fresno for a Saturday contest. Games can be heard by tuning in to ESPN Radio 1350 KTIK the Ticket with Joe O?Donnell calling the action. All home and road games can also be watched through a link on the Steelheads website provided by B2 Networks for $6 a game.- www.idahosteelheads.com -