ECHL: The Idaho Steelheads Add a Pair of Americans

The Idaho Steelheads have announced that they have signed 6’0″ defenseman Jake Johnson and 5’10” forward Jordan Steinmetz for the 2025-26 season. Idaho now has eight defenseman and nine forwards signed for the 2025-26 season.

Jake Johnson’s Career

Jake Johnson started his junior career in the USHL where he spent two seasons playing for the Sioux Falls Stampede and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Johnson played in 105 games while in the USHL where he had four goals and 26 assists for 30 points.

Johnson then went on to start his collegiate career playing Division I hockey at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He spent four seasons at RPI but only played in three after RPI did not play in the 2020-21 season due to COVID. Johnson then entered the transfer portal for his final season, landing a spot at Quinnipiac University. Johnson played in 146 collegiate games registering seven goals and 38 assists for 45 points.

After completing his collegiate career, Jake Johnson started his professional career, signing with the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL. In his three ECHL seasons, Johnson has played for the Komets and Tahoe Knight Monsters. In 107 ECHL games, Johnson has nine goals and 33 assists for 42 points.

Jordan Steinmetz’s Career

Jordan Steinmetz started his junior career in the NAHL where he spent one season playing with the Janesville Jets. In 55 games played, he had nine goals and ten assists for 19 points. He then spent one season in the USHL with the Sioux City Musketeers. In 60 game with the Musketeers, Steinmetz registered eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points.

Steinmetz then started his collegiate career playing Division I hockey at St. Lawrence University, where he captained the team in his senior season. After four seasons at St. Lawrence, Steinmetz entered the transfer portal. He found himself a spot at Minnesota State University Mankato where he served as an alternate captain in his lone season. In 154 collegiate games, Steinmetz registered 18 goals and 28 assists for 46 points.

After completing his collegiate career, Steinmetz signed overseas for the 2024-25 season. He joined the Snackpoint Eaters Limburg in the CEHL and played in a total of 32 games. He registered 25 goals and 17 assists for 42 points with 18 penalty minutes. Steinmetz also registered seven goals and seven assists for 14 points with ten penalty minutes in 12 playoff games.

Both Steinmetz and Johnson are still early on in their careers allowing for a lot of room to still grow and develop. Both players have shown that they can produce and find success in their respective positions and will be able to add to the Steelheads on both offense and defense.