Boise, ID (8/9/18) – Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced on Thursday that the Idaho Steelheads have agreed to terms with defenseman Keegan Kanzig on an ECHL contract for the 2018-19 season.
Kanzig, 23, will hit the ice in October for his third full professional season. A third-round draft pick of the Calgary Flames in 2013, Kanzig spent the 2017-18 season in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades, appearing in 63 games and notching five assists. Kanzig posted a plus-22 rating for the Everblades, tied for ninth-best among ECHL defensemen, and 106 penalty minutes.
“Keegan is a big, physical player who adds toughness and leadership to the lineup,” said Graham. “He will be a key piece to our penalty kill, and he has the ability to play a heavy game against other teams’ top players.”
A native of Althabasca, Alberta, Kanzig also appeared in nine playoff games for the Eastern Conference champion Everblades, collecting 20 penalty minutes in post-season play. The 6-foot-7 defenseman has appeared in 103 regular season ECHL games over the past two seasons with Florida and the Adirondack Thunder, totaling a goal, ten points, 171 penalty minutes, and a plus-32 rating.
“I’m excited to join such a high-quality organization,” said Kanzig. “I’m looking forward to a successful season in Idaho.”
Kanzig has also appeared in nine American Hockey League games, appearing with the Stockton Heat late in 2015-16 and during the 2016-17 campaign and totaling two assists and 21 penalty minutes at the AHL level.
He played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League, appearing in 319 games with the Victoria Royals and Calgary Hitmen between 2011 and 2016. Kanzig totaled 19 goals and 59 points in the WHL, along with 565 penalty minutes and a plus-44 rating. He earned 166 penalty minutes in 2014-15 to lead the league.
Kanzig is the third defenseman announced by the Steelheads this off-season, joining Eric Sweetman and Brady Norrish.
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