Boise, ID (8/11/16) – Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced on Thursday that the Idaho Steelheads have agreed to terms with defenseman Joe Faust on an ECHL contract.
Faust, 24, is entering his third professional season. The Bloomington, Minnesota native was a fourth-round draft pick (114th overall) of the New Jersey Devils in the 2010 NHL Draft, playing parts of two seasons in the American Hockey League with the Albany Devils and finishing the 2015-16 campaign in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder.
“Joe is a very good defenseman with an excellent pedigree,” said Graham. “He’s a strong skater with a powerful shot.”
Faust recorded two goals and ten points in 38 games last season with Adirondack, as well as two assists in 11 playoff games. Faust also appeared in eight games for Albany last season. He spent the entire 2014-15 season with the AHL Devils and tallied a goal and four points in 26 games.
The 6-foot, 210-pound blue-liner has totaled three goals and 14 points in 72 professional games. Prior to turning pro, Faust played four seasons of Division I college hockey at the University of Wisconsin. Between 2010 and 2014, Faust played in 136 games for the Badgers, scoring six goals and 22 points. He was a teammate of current Steelheads forward Jefferson Dahl for all four seasons at Wisconsin, where they teamed up to win conference championships in 2013 and 2014.
“Joe is a high-character person,” said Graham. “He will fit our team culture and represent the Steelheads well, both on and off the ice.”
Faust becomes the second defenseman to agree to terms with Idaho this summer, joining returning defenseman Zach Bell on the back end.
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