Steelheads add rookie forward Avery Peterson

Boise, ID (8/23/18) – Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced on Thursday that the Idaho Steelheads have agreed to terms with forward Avery Peterson on an ECHL contract for the 2018-19 season.

Peterson, 23, begins his professional career after helping the University of Minnesota-Duluth win a National Championship last season. A sixth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2013, Peterson notched six goals and eleven points in 30 games during his senior season for the Bulldogs.

“Avery is a big forward with a heavy shot,” said Graham. “He was a key contributor on a national championship team, and he knows the details and habits it takes to win the big game.”

A Grand Rapids, Minnesota native, the 6-foot-3 Peterson spent time with both the University of Nebaraska-Omaha and Minnesota Duluth during his college career, transferring to UMD after the 2015-16 season. Between the two schools, Peterson totaled 24 goals and 48 points in 108 NCAA games and also won a conference title with UMD in 2017. His best individual season came during his freshman campaign at Nebraska-Omaha, when he had eleven goals and 21 points in 39 contests.  “Avery is a big forward with a heavy shot,” said Graham. “He was a key contributor on a national championship team, and he knows the details and habits it takes to win the big game.”

“All I’ve heard are good things about Boise and the Steelheads organization,” said Peterson. “Everyone I’ve spoken to has had great things to say. I’m really looking forward to getting out there soon and getting my first taste of pro hockey.”

Peterson played high school hockey in Minnesota at Grand Rapids High, and split time between high school and the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. Prior to being drafted by the Wild, he posted 23 goals and 54 points in 23 high school games and a goal and four points in eight USHL games during the 2012-13 season.

In 2013-14, Peterson collected 35 goals and 65 points in 25 high school games and six goals and 21 points in 27 USHL games. He received the 2014 Mr. Hockey Award, presented to the best player in Minnesota high school hockey.

Peterson is the eleventh forward announced by the Steelheads this off-season.