Steelheads trade for All-Star defenseman Aaron Harstad

Boise, ID (2/8/17) –Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced on Wednesday that the Steelheads have acquired All-Star defenseman Aaron Harstad from the Norfolk Admirals in exchange for forward Brady Vail.

Harstad, 24, is in his second professional season after a four-year career at Colorado College. A seventh-round draft pick (187th overall) of the Winnipeg Jets in 2011, Harstad has scored two goals and collected 12 points in 33 games this season with the Admirals and was Norfolk’s lone representative at the ECHL All-Star Classic. Harstad was a member of the Tulsa Oilers during his rookie campaign last season, where he had two goals and eight points in 14 games for Tulsa.

The 6-foot-2 native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin has played 31 games in the American Hockey League over the last two seasons, appearing in 26 with the Manitoba Moose last season and five with the St. John’s IceCaps following his senior season at Colorado College. Harstad has collected four assists and 28 penalty minutes in the AHL. In 127 games at Colorado College, Harstad totaled nine goals, 30 points, and 106 minutes in penalties.

Vail will head to the Admirals after the Steelheads had acquired him Tuesday in a trade that sent forwards Travis Ewanyk and Colin Mulvey to the Fort Wayne Komets. Ewanyk appeared in 46 games this season with Idaho, scoring 16 goals and collecting 37 points.