BOISE, ID – The Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads), proud ECHL (@ECHL) affiliate of the Dallas Stars (@DallasStars), and Steelheads Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Everett Sheen announced today that the club has signed defenseman Brady Keeper to an ECHL contract for the 2026-27 season.
Keeper, 30, enters his second ECHL season after notching five points (2G, 3A) in seven games with the Rapid City Rush last season.
The Steelheads acquired Keeper’s ECHL rights from the Rush in June in completion of a future considerations trade that sent defenseman Jaden Shields to Rapid City.
Prior to his ECHL debut last year, the 6-foot-2 blueliner previously spent time in the AHL and NHL, picking up 31 points (10G, 21A) in 129 AHL contests from 2019-2024 with the Springfield Thunderbirds, Syracuse Crunch, Abbotsford Canucks, and Laval Rocket.
His three NHL contests came with the Florida Panthers from 2018-2021, with two regular-season appearances and one in the postseason, coming in Game 2 of the Qualifying Round in 2020 against the New York Islanders.
Prior to professional hockey, Keeper played two seasons at the University of Maine, posting 44 points (13G, 31A) in 73 games for the Black Bears, leading the team in plus-minus rating (+17) in his first season while leading the club in shots (101) in his second year.
The Cross Lake, MN native also played parts of four junior seasons with the OCN Blizzard of the MJHL, collecting 133 points (52G, 81A) in 160 games with 21 points in 22 playoff contests for the team.
The Idaho Steelheads kick off their 29th season on October 16th at New Mexico and will host the Allen Americans on October 23rd for their home opener. Call the Steelheads Front Office at 208-383-0080 for Steelheads ticket packages for the upcoming season. Stay up to date with all things Steelheads on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram throughout the summer.
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