The Idaho Steelheads have announced that they have re-signed 6’2″ forward Sam Sternschein and 5’10” forward Jade Miller for the 2024-25 ECHL season.
Sternschein’s Junior and Collegiate Career
The Syosset, New York native, started his junior career in the 2014-15 season playing in the USHL. In his three seasons in the USHL, Sternschein split his time between the Tri-City Storm, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, and Lincoln Stars. In 110 games, Sternschein had 27 goals and 20 assists for 47 points. He had 86 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. In five playoff games, Sternschein had one assist and a plus/minus of -1.
Sternschein spent four of his collegiate seasons at Penn State and spent his fifth season at Boston College. In 136 collegiate games Sternschein had 28 goals and 27 assists for 55 points. He had 57 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -20. In the 2019-20 season, Sternschein and Penn State were the NCAA B1G Regular Season Champions.
Sternschein’s Professional Career
After completing his junior and collegiate careers, Sternschein started his professional career in the ECHL. In his three ECHL seasons, Sternschein has played for the Jacksonville Icemen, Reading Royals, Wichita Thunder, Toledo Walleye, and Idaho Steelheads. Sternschein has played in a total of 46 ECHL games, where he has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. He has 19 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -4. With the Idaho Steelheads in the 2023-24 season, Sternschein played in 13 games where he had one goal and three assists for four points with four penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +3.
Sternschein should be a great forward for the Steelheads. He has a lot of speed and is able to carry the puck well. Sternschein is also able to read the puck well, knowing when he should get his shot off fast or to hold the puck for a second or two longer. He has a great shot that he is not afraid to use and is able to score quite a bit or allow for a teammate to pick up his rebound.
The 2024-25 season will be Sternschein’s second season with the Steelheads and fourth season in the ECHL.
Miller’s Junior and Collegiate Career
Jade Miller, the Minto, North Dakota native, started his junior career in the 2014-15 season with the Austin Bruins in the NAHL. In two seasons with the Bruins, Miller played in 107 games where he had 35 goals and 45 assists for 80 points with 179 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +10. In 26 playoff games, Miller had three goals and six assists for nine points. He had 16 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +3. In the 2015-16 season, Miller was named to the NAHL All-Central Division Team.
After his junior career, Miller went to the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) to play four seasons of Division I hockey. In 127 games, Miller had nine goals and 25 assists for 34 points with 38 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +28. miller and UMD were the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Champions in the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons, and they were the NCAA Frozen Four Champions in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
Miller’s Professional Career
Jade Miller started his professional career in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays after completing his collegiate career. Miller has spent his ECHL career playing for the South Carolina Stingrays and Idaho Steelheads. In 203 games played, Miller has 35 goals and 45 assists for 80 points. He has 179 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +10. In 26 ECHL playoff games, he has three goals and six assists for nine points with 16 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +3. Miller played in 36 games with the Steelheads in the 2023-24 season, where he had six goals and seven assists for 13 points. He had 37 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.
Jade Miller is a smaller forward with a lot of speed. He is able to be up in the rush a lot to either score a goal or help set up his team for a goal. Miller is also able to crash the net to get traffic in front of the opposing goaltender or to pick up rebounds. He is also not afraid to lay a hit to make a play or to pick the puck off of other guys’ sticks.
The 2024-25 season will be Miller’s third season with the Idaho Steelheads and fifth season in the ECHL.
