Ralph reels in first two players

Boise, ID (7/3/13) - Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Ralph announced Wednesday that the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads have agreed to terms with defenseman James Isaacs and forward Grand Blakey.Isaacs, a third-year pro out of Victoria, BC, re-joins the Steelheads after spending the second half of the '12-'13 season in Idaho. The 23-year-old came to Idaho after opening the season in the Southern Professional Hockey League and quickly proved that he belonged by finishing the season in the top 15 among ECHL rookies in plus/minus rating (plus-15), including a pair of games where he chipped in a plus-4. He added a third plus-4 game in Game 1 of Idaho's first-round playoff series against Colorado, the highest single-game plus/minus rating of any Idaho player during the 2013 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.Ralph on Isaacs: "He was a stable player for us during a very difficult stretch last season after the NHL lockout ended. He can play in any situation and he's doing all the right things off the ice to prepare for the season."Blakey, 24, is entering his first professional season after wrapping up his college career at Mercyhurst University (NCAA). As a senior, Blakey notched 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 41 games and led the team - finishing 8th nationally - with five game-winning goals. He wrapped up his college career with 96 points and a plus-34 rating in his four seasons at Mercyhurst.Ralph on Blakey: "Grant is a great skater who sees the ice really well. He is a natural centerman who can play power play or penalty kill and the thing that really impresses me is how hard he competes whenever he's on the ice."The two will join the Steelheads for training camp beginning in early October. Idaho opens the season at Utah on October 18. The home opener at CenturyLink Arena is October 23 against the San Francisco Bulls.Season Tickets for the 2013-14 season are already on sale! After finishing the regular season with 45 wins and nearly 100 points in the standings, you won't want to miss any of the action next season when the Steelheads take theice. Full-season packages begin at as little as $275 per seat. Partial-season packages are available as well. Contact the team's front office at 208-383-0080 and ask to speak to an account executive today.