Idaho Steelheads
| Idaho Steelheads | |
 |
|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Home ice | Qwest Arena |
| Based in | Boise, Idaho |
| Colors | blue, black, silver |
| League | ECHL |
| Head coach | Derek Laxdal |
The Idaho Steelheads are a minor league ice hockey team in Boise, Idaho. They were originally part of the West Coast Hockey League, but survived the jump from the WCHL to the East Coast Hockey League in 2003 after the ECHL absorbed the league. Since the 2005-06 season the Steelheads have been affiliates of the NHL Dallas Stars and the AHL Iowa Stars. Home games are played at the 5,000-seat Qwest Arena in downtown Boise.
The team was founded by Diamond Sports Management in 1996, headed by Cord Pereira.
The Steelheads are named for a species of seagoing rainbow trout native to Idaho streams and rivers and popular with local anglers. The fish was a secondary element in the team's original logo, which was in use through the 2005-06 season. The current Steelheads logo, however, does not include a fish. Instead, it consists of a mountain scene with the wordmark, but the fish is in Idaho's alternate logo.
The Steelheads began play as a WCHL expansion team in 1997. The team reached the league finals in 2001 and 2002, but were defeated by the San Diego Gulls and Fresno Falcons, respectively.
The Steelheads play in the West Division of the ECHL's National Conference. The Steelheads won the 2004 Kelly Cup in their first season in the ECHL, defeating the Florida Everblades in the Kelly Cup Finals.
The Steelheads hosted the 2007 ECHL All-Star Game in Boise.
On May 15, 2007, the Steelheads advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals by defeating the Alaska Aces 3-2 in game 5 of the ECHL National Conference Finals.
Before defeating the Alaska Aces four games to one in the National Conference Finals to reach the Kelly Cup Finals, Idaho beat both the Stockton Thunder and Las Vegas Wranglers four games to two in the 2007 ECHL National Conference Quarter Final and Semi Final rounds, respectively.
During the 2006-07 regular season, the Las Vegas Wranglers (106 points) and the Alaska Aces (105 points) finished with the 1st and 2nd most points in the league, respectively. In defeating both the Las Vegas Wranglers and the Alaska Aces in the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Steelheads (90 points) defeated the top two teams in the league on their way to the Kelly Cup Finals.
On May 31, 2007 the Steelheads won their second Kelly Cup championship by defeating the Dayton Bombers four games to one. The Idaho Steelheads became the fourth team to win multiple ECHL championships joining the Toledo Storm, the Hampton Roads Admirals and the South Carolina Stingrays.
Championships
| Year | League | Trophy |
|---|---|---|
| 2003-2004 | ECHL | Kelly Cup |
| 2006-2007 | ECHL | Kelly Cup |
External links
| Preceded by Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies |
Kelly Cup Champions 2003-04 |
Succeeded by Trenton Titans |
| Preceded by Alaska Aces |
Kelly Cup Champions 2006-07 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| ECHL |
| 2007-08 teams: Alaska Aces | Augusta Lynx | Bakersfield Condors | Charlotte Checkers | Cincinnati Cyclones | Columbia Inferno | Dayton Bombers | Elmira Jackals | Florida Everblades | Fresno Falcons | Gwinnett Gladiators | Idaho Steelheads | Johnstown Chiefs | Las Vegas Wranglers | Mississippi Sea Wolves | Pensacola Ice Pilots | Phoenix RoadRunners | Reading Royals | South Carolina Stingrays | Stockton Thunder | Texas Wildcatters | Trenton Devils | Utah Grizzlies | Victoria Salmon Kings | Wheeling Nailers |
| Trophies and Awards: Patrick J. Kelly Cup | Seasons |
| Related Articles: NHL | AHL | CHL | IHL | SPHL | MAHL | World Cup |
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