The Idaho Steelheads have announced that they have signed forwards Connor MacEachern and Thomas Caron and have re-signed defensemen Trevor Zins and Romain Rodzinski.
Connor MacEachern’s Career
Connor MacEachern is a 5’10” forward from Brooklin, Ontario. He spent his junior career in the OJHL with the Cobourg Cougars (2016-18) and in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms (2018-19). With the Cougars, MacEachern played in 96 games where he had 26 goals and 40 assists for 66 points with 54 penalty minutes. In 23 playoff games, he had seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points with eight penalty minutes. With the Phantoms, MacEachern played in 62 games, where he had 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points. He had 58 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +10. After completing his junior career, Connor MacEachern joined Penn State, where he played Division I college hockey for four seasons. In 130 games at Penn State, MacEachern played in 130 games where he had 31 goals and 46 assists for 77 points. He had 70 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +10. MacEachern and Penn State were the B1G Regular Season Champions in the 2019-20 season. In the 2022-23 season, MacEachern was an assistant captain for Penn State and received an Honorable Mention on the B1G All-Star Team.
After completing his collegiate career, MacEachern joined the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL, where he finished his 2022-23 season and also spent part of his 2023-24 season. In nine games with the Barracuda, MacEachern had one assist and a plus/minus of +1. MacEachern also spent part of his 2023-24 season in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder. In 15 games, MacEachern had two goals and five assists for seven points. He had four penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -10.
The Steelheads did not lose a whole lot of players from last season, but they did lose a few key players. Picking up a player like MacEachern could help fill some of the holes left by players leaving. MacEachern is a forward who is willing to use any space he is given on the ice. He is also very patient and willing to hold the puck a little longer to help get the goalie out of position to help his team score.
The 2024-25 will be MacEachern’s second season in the ECHL and first season with the Idaho Steelheads.
Thomas Caron’s Career
Thomas Caron is a 6’2″ forward from Candiac, Quebec. The 24-year-old spent his junior career in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts (2017-18, 18-21) and in the QJHL with the Granby Inouk (2017-19). Caron played in 146 QMJHL games, where he had 31 goals and 41 assists for 72 points. He had 209 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -43. In seven QMJHL playoff games, Caron had 21 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. In the 2019-20 season, Caron was the QMJHL’s most penalized player with 115 penalty minutes, and he captained the Remparts in the 2020-21 season. Caron played in 34 games in the QJHL, where he had 18 goals and 28 assists for 46 points. He had 91 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +22. In nine playoff games in the QJHL, Caron had three goals and one assist for four points. He had eight penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0.
Caron then joined the Manitoba Moose, where he spent the 2021-22 season and parts of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. In 55 AHL games, Caron has five goals and five assists for ten points. He has 50 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -5. Caron spent part of the 2022-23 season in the ECHL with the Trois-Rivieres Lions and part of the 2023-24 season with the Norfolk Admirals. In 62 ECHL games, Caron has nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points. He has 87 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -25. In the 2023-24 season, Caron played 12 playoff games with the Admirals, where he had three goals and three assists for six points. He had eight penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +2.
Thomas Caron can forecheck incredibly well and can lay heavy hits. Caron is not scared to drop his gloves to stand up for himself or his teammates. He has an incredible shot that is able to get past goalies, and if he is not the player shooting, he is in front of the net to pick up the rebounds. Caron does rack up a lot of penalty minutes, but he should be a great player for the Steelheads.
The 2024-25 season will be Caron’s fourth professional season, third ECHL season, and first season with the Steelheads.
Trevor Zins’ Career
Trevor Zins is a 6’0″ defenseman from St. Michael, Minnesota. The 26-year-old spent his junior career in the USHL with the Cedar Rapid RoughRiders (2015-17), NAHL with the Topeka Roadrunners (2016-17), and the BCHL with the Trail Smoke Eaters (2017-19). In the USHL, Zins played in 72 games, where he had one goal and eight assists for nine points. He had 30 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -31. With the Roadrunners in the NAHL, Zins played in nine games where he had six assists. Zins played in 99 games in the BCHL where he had 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points. He had 86 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. He also played in 23 playoff games in the BCHL, where he had two goals and ten assists for 12 points. He had 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0.
After completing his junior career, Zins started his collegiate career playing Division I hockey. He started at St. Cloud State, where he spent two seasons but did not get to play any games. Zins then transferred to the University of St. Thomas, where he spent the final two seasons of his collegiate career. In 69 games at St. Thomas, Zins had four goals and 15 assists for 19 points. He had 28 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -37.
Zins then joined the Indy Fuel in the ECHL to continue his 2022-23 season, as well as to start his 2023-24 season. In 30 games with the Fuel, Zins had one goal and two assists for three points. He had 16 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -8. During the 2023-24 season, Zins was traded to the Idaho Steelheads, where he finished his 2023-24 season. In 34 games, Zins had three goals and six assists for nine points. He had 12 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +13. He also played in nine playoff games with the Steelheads, where he had one assist and a plus/minus of +2.
Trevor Zins has not had the smoothest transition to professional hockey, as he has yet to spend a whole season with a single team. Zins has shown that he can be a pretty good player and having some consistency with staying on one team could really help Zins have a breakout season. Zins does have the skill to be an incredible player, and maybe the 2024-24 season will be where he really starts to shine.
The 2024-25 season will be Zins third season in the ECHL and second season with the Steelheads.
Romain Rodzinski’s Career
Romain Rodzinski is a 6’1″ defenseman who was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, but raised in Blainville, Quebec. The 22-year-old spent his junior year in the QMJHL (2018-23) and the QJHL (2022-23). In the QMJHL, Rodzinski played for the Quebec Remparts, Cape Breton Eagles, and Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Rodzinski played with Thomas Caron during his time with the Remparts in the QMJHL. In his five QMJHL seasons, Rodzinski played in 178 games, where he had eight goals and 39 assists for 47 points. He had 87 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -61. He played in 18 QMJHL playoff games, where he had one goal and four assists for five points. He had 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -3. Rodzinski played 27 games in the QJHL with the Terrebonne Cobras where he had 14 goals and 42 assists for 56 points. He had 35 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +45.
After completing his junior career, Rodzinski spent a season playing USports with Concordia University. In five games, he had four assists with 20 penalty minutes. Rodzinski then signed with the Idaho Steelheads to complete his 2023-24 season. In 40 games with the Steelheads, Rodzinski had three goals and ten assists for 13 points. He had 31 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -7.
Rodzinski has an incredible shot from the blue line that can find the back of the net, but he can also play a pretty physical game at times. He is not afraid to get in on the action and to stand up for his teammates if needed. Rodzinski had a great season with the Steelheads in the 2023-24 season and could have an even better season if he continues to build upon his success from last season.
The 2024-25 season will be Rodzinski’s second professional season and second season with the Steelheads.
