Boise, ID (09/24/15) – Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced a new addition to his coaching staff on Thursday, hiring Gord Baldwin as Assistant Coach of the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. Baldwin will make his coaching debut for the Steelheads after playing eight seasons of pro hockey.
Baldwin, 28, is a former third-round NHL draft pick of the Calgary Flames in 2005. He played defense for the Steelheads for 26 games during the 2012-13 season, registering 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) and posting a +11 rating before being called up to the AHL’s Texas Stars. He returned to Idaho at the end of that season and added three assists in 13 playoff games.
“Hiring Gord was a no-brainer,” said Graham, who played alongside Baldwin as a player-coach during the 2012-13 season. “Gord was the first call I made and I couldn’t be happier that he agreed to come aboard. He’s a huge piece in building the ‘family atmosphere’ we want between this team and the community. He’s a leader and a strong character person.”
After leaving the Steelheads in 2013, Baldwin played the past two seasons with the Sheffield Steelers of the Elite Ice Hockey League in England. Baldwin’s eight-year career also included stints with the Quad City Flames and Abbotsford Heat in the AHL, the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL, and one season in the Czech Republic. Baldwin tallied 19 goals and 104 points in 436 career games.
“It’s a different transition going from playing to coaching right away, but I’ve taken a lot from the coaches I’ve had in the past and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Baldwin, who will give particular focus to the team’s defensemen. “I’m excited for the players to get here and to teach them, build them, and develop them both as players and people.”
The Steelheads open the regular season on Friday, October 16, at home against the Rapid City Rush. It is the first of 36 home games, each of which will be played at CenturyLink Arena. Individual game tickets go on sale Monday, September 28th at the CenturyLink Arena box office.
Season tickets are on sale now with full-season packages starting as low as $275 per seat for all 36 home games. Partial-season packages are also available. Contact the Idaho Steelheads at 208-383-0080 for more information or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com.
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