It’s no secret that the Idaho Steelheads were an entire wagon this season. From breaking records to insane goaltending to their Kelly Cup Finals run, this team was something special. Let’s start breaking the Steelheads’ incredible season down:
Steelheads Records:
The Steelheads shattered some ECHL records and one of their records.
- The Idaho Steelheads had a record-breaking 41 sellouts this season in the Idaho Central Arena. The arena holds 5,002 people for ice hockey games: 41 games, sold-out in Boise, Idaho.
ECHL Records:
With the Steelheads’ strength, it was no surprise that this team broke some records this year in the ECHL.
- Most Wins in the Regular Season with 58
- Most Regular Season Points with 119
- Most Home Ice Wins with 32
- Most Road Wins with 26
- Most Goals Scored with 290
- Fewest Goals Allowed with 183
- Steelheads recorded 11 shutouts in the regular season.
Coach and Player Awards:
- 5 players on the Steelheads, plus Head Coach Everett Sheen, earned awards during this season.
- Coach Everett Sheen- John Brophy Coach of the Year
- Owen Headrick- ECHL Defenseman of the Year
- Cody Haiskanen and Matt Register were Co-Recipients of the AMI Graphics Plus Performer of the Year for a +/- score of +53
- Matt Register and Owen Headrick – All ECHL First Team
- Adam Scheel- All ECHL Second Team
Playoffs:
The Steelheads clinched a berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and took off on an incredible run that ended in Florida on June 9th, 2023. The Florida Everblades became the 2023 Kelly Cup Champions.
- 1st Round- Utah Grizzlies
- The Steelheads started this series out with 2 losses against the Grizzles. Idaho then went along in this series to collect 4 straight overtime wins in playoffs, the 2nd time it ever happened.
- 2nd Round- Allen Americans
- The Steelheads overtook this series 4-1 with 1 shutout.
- In that Shutout, Goaltender Adam Scheel, who played nearly every game during this playoff run, saved all 37 shots made against him.
- It is important to note that one game had to be moved to a different date for public safety due to a shooting at a mall nearby.
- 3rd Round- Toledo Walleye
- The Steelheads packed up and headed to Toledo, Ohio, for this round after playing 2 games at home, both of which were won against the Walleye.
- The Steelheads get to Toledo, where the Walleye haven’t lost on home ice in playoffs, and the Steelheads haven’t lost on the road in playoffs. All that changed in Game 3. Toledo overtook the Steelheads for a win.
- Toledo winning Game 3 pushed the series to Game 5. Idaho swept Games 4 and 5, ultimately leading them to win the Western Conference Finals and sending them to the Kelly Cup Finals.
- The Steelheads packed up and headed to Toledo, Ohio, for this round after playing 2 games at home, both of which were won against the Walleye.
- Kelly Cup Finals- Florida Everblades
- Despite being swept in 4 games this series, Idaho did not take this series lying down.
- Remi Poirier did come in for Games 3 and 4 of the series to relieve Adam Scheel. Poirier was sent back during the Toledo Walleye series from the Texas Stars after their AHL Playoff Run.
- Important Note: The Steelheads and Everblades did not meet each other at all during the season until the finals.
- Despite being swept in 4 games this series, Idaho did not take this series lying down.
Trades/Signings During the Season-
10/30/2022– Forward Zane Franklin
11/15/2022– Defenseman Casey Johnson
11/18/2022– Forward Justin Ducharme loaned from Texas Stars
2/21/2023– Goaltender Josh Boyko
3/18/2023– Defenseman Demetrios Koumontzis
4/5/2023– Goaltender Dylan Wells
- Remi Poirier and Adam Scheel were reassigned multiple times to the AHL with Texas.
- Owen Headrick received a call up to Texas
- Patrick Kudla received a call up to Tucson and Colorado
- Jack Becker received a call up to Ontario
- Darren Bradey received a call up to San Jose
- Jordan Timmons was traded to Reading
Idaho had an incredible run, and in the ECHL, with such rapid movement, a team can change instantly. Still, with the power that Dallas has in their organization, the Steelheads could make another run next season.
