Steelheads acquire rights to All-Star defenseman

Boise, ID (9/1/2015) – Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced Tuesday afternoon that the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads have acquired the rights to defenseman James Martin from the Fort Wayne Komets in exchange for the rights to forward Alex Belzile.

Martin, 24, was an ECHL All Star last season, ending the campaign with 41 points (9 goals, 32 assists) and a plus-4 rating at the ECHL level.  He also appeared in seven games with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League, the highest level of minor-league hockey in North America.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native has won hoisted championship trophies while in major junior hockey (Kootenay, WHL, 2011) and pro hockey (Alaska, ECHL, 2014).  In all, Martin has appeared in 197 games at the pro level, 155 in the ECHL and 42 in the AHL.

Belzile, also 24, collected 69 points in 63 games last season with Idaho, including 28 goals.

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.

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.