Boise, ID (9/15/16) – Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced on Thursday afternoon that the team has agreed to terms with former Calgary Flames forward Bryce Van Brabant on an ECHL contract for the 2016-17 season.
Van Brabant, 24, joins the Steelheads for his third full professional season and first in the ECHL. The Morinville, Alberta native has played in 120 professional games, spending the past two seasons with the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate in Adirondack and Stockton. Van Brabant played in six NHL games with Calgary in 2014, immediately following his junior season at Quinnipiac University.
The 6-foot-3 power forward played 62 games last season with AHL Stockton, notching seven goals and 16 points to go along with 51 penalty minutes. Van Brabant has scored 16 goals and registered 32 points in 114 career AHL games.
“Bryce is a big, powerful forward who uses his size well to protect the puck and win battles in the hard areas of the ice,” said Graham. “He’s a high-character player who leads by example and will be used in all areas of the game. We’re very excited to bring him to Boise.”
Van Brabant signed an NHL contract with the Flames after being suited by several NHL teams coming out of college. In three seasons at Quinnipiac between 2011 and 2014, Van Brabant totaled 24 goals, 42 points, and 212 penalty minutes in 115 games.
Van Brabant helped Quinnipiac reach its first National Championship game in school history in 2013. He was also the first alumnus of the Quinnipiac program to appear in an NHL game.
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