ECHL: Idaho Steelheads Re-sign Pair of Defenseman

The Idaho Steelheads have announced that they have re-signed 6’4″ defenseman Reece Harsch and 6’1″ defenseman Lynden McCallum for the 2024-25 season.

Harsch’s Junior Career

Reece Harsch started his junior career in the WHL during the 2015-16 season. While in the WHL, he played for the Seattle Thunderbirds, Saskatoon Blades, and Winnipeg Ice. Harsch played in 240 WHL games in five seasons where he had 20 goals and 63 assists for 83 points. He had 125 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -12. He played in the WHL playoffs three seasons, two with the Thunderbirds and one with the Blades. Harsch played in a total of 33 playoff games where he had zero goals and two assists for two points. He had six penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -10. Harsch and the Seattle Thunderbirds were the WHL Champions in the 2016-17 season.

Harsch then spent the next two seasons in USports at the University of Manitoba, but he only played in one of the seasons as the 2020-21 season was cancelled due to COVID. In his 15 games at Manitoba, Harsch had two goals and ten assists for 12 points with four penalty minutes.

Harsch’s Professional Career

After completing his junior career, Harsch signed in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks to continue his 2021-22 season. He appeared in five games but did not have any points or penalty minutes and had a plus/minus of -3. Harsch was then sent down to the ECHL where he finished his season with the Toledo Walleye. He played in seven games with the Walleye where he had zero goals and three assists for three points. He had zero penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.

Harsch then went overseas for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons where he played for the Fife Flyers in the EIHL. In his two seasons with the Flyers, Harsch played in 60 games where he had four goals and 11 assists for 15 points. He had 40 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -27.

Harsch then came back to the ECHL where he finished his 2023-24 season. He spent time with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Jacksonville Icemen, and Idaho Steelheads. Harsch played in a total of 37 ECHL games where he had four goals and five assists for nine points. He had 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +5. With the Steelheads, Harsch played in four games where he had one goal and one assist for two points. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. Harsch also played in eight playoff games with the Steelheads where he had one goal and two assists for three points. He had four penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.

The 2024-25 season will be Harsch’s third season in the ECHL and second season with the Idaho Steelheads.

McCallum’s Junior Career

Lynden McCallum started his junior career in the WHL during the 2017-18 season. McCallum spent his entire junior career with the Brandon Wheat Kings playing in a total of four seasons. He played in 132 games where he had 43 goals and 24 assists for 67 points. He had 70 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +6. In the 2020-21 season, McCallum had the most goals in the WHL with 21 and he was also an assistant captain for the Wheat Kings.

McCallum’s Professional Career

McCallum started his professional career in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights in the 2021-22 season. He played in 20 games with Henderson where he had one goal and four assists for five points. He had eight penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -7. McCallum also spent time in the ECHL with the Fort Wayne Komets. He played in 36 games with the Komets where he had 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points along with 29 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. McCallum played seven playoff games with Fort Wayne where he had one goal and one assist for two points. He had zero penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. In the 2022-23 season, McCallum played for the Savannah Ghost Pirates. In 19 games, he had three goals and seven assists for ten points. He had 13 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -6.

McCallum then joined the Idaho Steelheads for the 2023-24 season where he played in 22 games. McCallum had six goals and five assists for 11 points with 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -11. In the playoffs, McCallum had one goal and one assist for two points in ten games. He had zero penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2.

The 2024-25 season will be McCallum’s fourth professional season and second season with the Idaho Steelheads.