BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads have signed defenseman Mitch Versteeg to a Standard Player Contract (SPC) for the 2021-22 season, Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Everett Sheen announced on Tuesday.Versteeg, 33, played 19 games with Ferencvárosi TC - Telecom in the Hungarian Erste Liga during the 2020-21 season, posting four goals and four assists for eight points with 27 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating as well as seven points (3-4—7) in 11 playoff games in route to the Erste Liga Championship. The Lethbridge, Alb. native has played in Europe since the 2013-14 season with two non-consecutive years in the Deutsch Elite League (DEL) 2 with three teams, one season with the Nikko Icebucks in the Asia League in 2014-15, and four seasons with HK Nitra in Slovakia from 2016-17 through 2019-20. He posted a career-best 22 points (5-17—22) with HK Nitra in 2019-20 through 55 games.
The 6-foot-1 defenseman began his professional career in the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings and Trenton Titans, settling in Kalamazoo for two seasons starting in 2009-10 and in Trenton for parts of two seasons beginning in 2011-12 before going back to Kalamazoo early in the 2012-13 campaign. Over his ECHL career, Versteeg tallied 73 points (24-49—73) with 312 penalty minutes and a plus-22 rating through 231 career games.In his 12-year professional career, he owns 194 points (58-136—194) through 560 games with 995 penalty minutes a plus-34 rating.Prior to his professional career, Versteeg played parts of three seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) from 2006-07 through 2008-09, tabbing 41 points (12-29—41) through 148 games with 297 penalty minutes and a plus-19 rating. His best year came in his final season in 2008-09, boasting 28 points with 125 penalty minutes in 68 games. He is the younger brother of two-time Stanley Cup Champion Kris Versteeg, and the two briefly played together at HK Nitra in 2019-20.
The Steelheads open a three-game weekend against the Rapid City Rush on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7:05 p.m. and return to Idaho Central Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7:10 p.m. against the Adirondack Thunder. Single-game tickets are available for all home games during the 2021-22 regular season by going to idahosteelheads.com or calling 331-TIXS! Make sure to secure your FloSports subscription for the 2021-22 season to lock in all Steelheads games and more on ECHL TV.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers