Steelheads, Stars renew affiliation

Boise, ID (8/31/12) ? The Idaho Steelheads, in conjunction with the Dallas Stars and Texas Stars, announced Friday that the three organizations have renewed their affiliation for the 2012-13 season. Idaho (ECHL) and Texas (American Hockey League) are the primary development affiliates of the NHL?s Dallas Stars. It will be the fourth consecutive season that the three teams have been affiliated together. ?Over the years, we have had a very positive relationship with the Idaho Steelheads organization,? said Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk. ?We look forward to continuing the development of our prospects in Idaho as they take the necessary steps to become productive members of the Dallas Stars.? Among the former Idaho Steelheads who have gone on to skate at the NHL level in Dallas ? G Richard Bachman, G Matt Climie, F Francis Wathier, F Aaron Gagnon, and F Tom Wandell. A number of key players from each of Idaho?s championship teams, 2004 and 2007, were assigned to Idaho by the Stars organization. Dan Ellis (?04) and Steve Silverthorn (?07) were each property of the Stars when they won ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP with Idaho. Bachman helped backstop the 2010 team to the ECHL Western Conference championship, earning second-team All-ECHL honors along the way. ?We appreciate our relationship with the Stars,? Idaho Steelheads President Eric Trapp said. ?They?ve supplied us with support and a number of outstanding players through the years that have helped us bring championship hockey to Boise.? Since joining the ECHL in 2003, Idaho and Dallas have been affiliated all but one season. The two teams linked up with Texas prior to the 2009-10 season. The Stars are bringing their training camp to Boise?s CenturyLink Arena in September for Project Filter NHL Training Camp, concluding with an NHL exhibition game between the Stars and Minnesota Wild on September 25 in downtown Boise. Tickets are nearly sold-out. Fans are encouraged to call the CenturyLink Arena box office soon to secure their seats to just the second NHL game ever played in the state of Idaho.