Steelheads agree to terms with defenseman Jake Newton

Boise, ID (9/8/16) – Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced on Thursday that the Steelheads have agreed to terms on an ECHL contract with defenseman Jake Newton for the 2016-17 season.

Newton, 27, returns to North America for his seventh season of professional hockey after spending the past two years in Europe. The San Jacinto, California native has played 281 games in the American Hockey League, ECHL, CHL, and in Europe since turning pro in 2010.

Newton spent the 2015-16 campaign in the Finnish Elite League with Sport Vaasa, scoring nine goals and collecting 24 points in 58 games on the blue line. Newton was in Italy the prior season, notching 24 goals and 52 points in 39 games for HC Gherdëina to lead all defensemen in both categories.

“Jake is a big, smooth skating defenseman,” said Graham. “He sees the ice very well and brings a lot of offense from the back end.”

The 6-foot-3 defender and former property of the Anaheim Ducks has played just one season in the ECHL during his career, skating for the Ontario Reign during the 2013-14 season and collecting 12 goals and 29 points in 36 games. Newton registered seven points in 11 games back in 2011-12 with the Allen Americans, then of the CHL.

In 97 career AHL games with the Syracuse Crunch, Lake Erie Monsters, and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Newton has amassed five goals and 20 points.

“He adds a lot of experience and he’s going to be a big part of our team,” said Graham.

Newton played one season of Division I college hockey in 2009-10 at Northeastern University, where he recorded 22 points in 34 games and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.

The newest Steelhead is the sixth defenseman to joins the roster for next season.