ECHL: Idaho Steelheads Sign a Forward and Defenseman

The Idaho Steelheads have announced that they have signed 5’11” defenseman Jeff Baum and 6’2″ forward Robbie Holmes.

Jeff Baum’s Career

Jeff Baum started his junior career in the EHL, where he spent a season playing with the New York Bobcats. In 40 games, he had three goals and 15 assists for 18 points. From there, he spent two seasons in the NAHL with the Wichita Falls Wildcats, where he had 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 81 games. Baum ended his junior career with one season in the USHL, where he played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, serving as an alternate captain in his lone season. In 58 games, Baum registered two goals and ten assists for 12 points.

After his junior career, Baum started his collegiate career playing Division I hockey at Providence College. After just one season at Providence, Baum entered the transfer portal, landing a spot at American International College, where he spent his final three seasons of his collegiate career. Throughout his four collegiate seasons, Baum played in 89 games, scoring three goals and recording 12 assists for 15 points.

Baum then started his professional career, but he decided to start it overseas in Europe. He spent four seasons in the EIHL, playing with the Belfast Giants and serving as an alternate captain in his fourth season. In 193 games, Baum registered 14 goals and 47 assists for 61 points. In the 2024-25 season with the Giants, Baum played in 51 games, where he had five goals and 13 assists for 18 points.

Jeff Baum has been a shutdown defenseman throughout the majority of his hockey career. But the past few seasons, he has started to find more success in his offensive game, while still developing his defensive game. Once Baum settles into the style of play in the ECHL, he could be a major threat on the ice, both offensively and defensively.

Robbie Holmes’ Career

Robbie Holmes spent his junior career in the WHL, where he played for the Regina Pats and Everett Silvertips. In 231 WHL games played, Holmes registered 51 goals and 62 assists for 114 points.

Holmes signed in the ECHL with the Kansas City Mavericks, where he played in one game before starting his collegiate career playing USports at Mount Royal University in the 2021-22 season. Holmes spent all four seasons at Mount Royal, serving as an alternate captain in the 2024-25 season. In 88 games played at Mount Royal, Holmes registered 41 goals and 37 assists for 78 points. In the 2024-25 season at Mount Royal, Holmes played in 19 games, registering 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points.

Robbie Holmes is an offensive forward with a lot of speed. He can get up and down the ice and is also able to cut to the front of the net to play in the crease when needed. Holmes can score from almost anywhere on the ice, making him even more of a threat. The 2025-26 season will be Holmes’ rookie season, so it may take him some time to adjust to the style of play in the ECHL, but he should be a pretty good forward for the Steelheads once he settles in.