Steelheads add defenseman Zach Bell

Boise, ID (2/19/16)— Idaho Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced on Friday that the team has added defenseman Zach Bell, reassigned to Idaho from the Orlando Solar Bears by the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. In exchange for Bell, the Steelheads have traded the ECHL rights for defenseman James Martin to Orlando.

Bell, 23, is in his third professional season and playing on an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies. The St. John’s, Newfoundland native has played 33 games with the Solar Bears this year, his first season in Orlando, scoring two goals and five points to go along with 68 penalty minutes. Bell has tallied five goals and 13 points in 75 pro games over parts of three seasons with the Solar Bears and Ontario Reign.

Prior to turning pro, Bell played five seasons in the OHL, the first four with the Brampton Battalion and the final season with the London Knights. Bell played 274 games in the OHL, scoring 20 goals and 82 points and racking up 306 penalty minutes.

Martin, 24, has spent this season with AHL Toronto. He has three assists in 12 games.

The Steelheads and Wichita Thunder face off at 6:05pm MT Saturday night at Intrust Bank Arena, with Idaho looking for its fifth win in the past six games. The game can be heard on 1350AM KTIK and viewed on ECHLTV.