The Idaho Steelheads are just over a month away from their season opener, and the team is in line for another strong season. The Steelheads, who are members of the East Coast Hockey League and an affiliate of the Dallas Stars, open their season on Oct. 17 and are scheduled to play on the road against the Tahoe Knight Monsters.
The Steelheads finished their 2024-25 campaign with a record of 37-25, along with nine overtime losses and one shootout loss. They went on to be swept by the Kansas City Mavericks in the Mountain Division Semifinals during the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Despite falling short last season, an opportunity to climb the mountaintop this year is well within their reach, especially with their roster of talented players.
“A guy to look out for is Brendan Hoffmann,” Steelheads broadcaster Cam McGuire said. “It was his first season with us last year and he definitely had a big year.”
Hoffmann, a 23-year-old forward, is entering his fourth professional season. He led the team in goals last year with 25, and finished fourth on the team in points with 50 in 68 games.
McGuire added that Nick Canade is also projected to be an impact player in the upcoming season.
“He can do everything,” McGuire said. “He can score, he can hit, he can fight and he can play anywhere in the lineup. He’s a Swiss Army knife.”
The 5’9”, 165 lb Canade is entering his fifth season with the club. He amassed 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) last season, on top of a whopping 100 penalty minutes. The feisty lefty also led the team with six fighting major penalties.
“Ty Pelton-Byce is another guy where you kind of always know what you’re going to get,” McGuire said. “His offensive ability is second-to-none.”
Pelton-Byce, a native of Madison, Wisconsin, led the Steelheads with 61 points last season. He also led all ECHL skaters with 13 power-play goals. The Steelheads’ offensive firepower has played a significant role in their home game sellout streak and has been a huge reason why Idaho Central Arena has become a demanding place to play for visiting teams.
For years, the Steelheads have consistently brought out massive crowds to their home arena and have garnered unwavering support from their fanbase. The on-ice success of the Steelheads undoubtedly plays a huge role in this, but the support and loyalty that the fans feel for the players, regardless of results, is what truly keeps them coming back.
“The content that we produce really helps connect the fans with the team,” Steelheads Videographer Olin Nordahl said. “Whether it’s a fun ‘mic’d up’ segment or a funny promotional video, we’re really able to bridge the gap between the fans and the players on a more personal level.”
When it comes to fan attendance and engagement, the bridging of this gap has proven beneficial as the Steelheads have sold out 69 consecutive home games and accumulated over 23,000 Instagram followers.
“Idaho Central should be one of, if not the hardest arena to play in in the league,” McGuire said. “Based off of the fan support and consistent sellouts every single night, it’s definitely a tough place to play for other teams.”
The multitude of promotions and interactive jumbotron entertainment featured during games is another factor in their above-par attendance. Fun gameday experiences are another way the Steelheads keep fans coming back, especially younger fans, many of which are Boise State students.
“Every game I’ve been to has been a blast,” Boise State student and Steelheads fan Ryan McDonald said. “The energy in the arena and the atmosphere that the fans create is just like an NHL game.”
Boise State students and hockey fans alike can experience this atmosphere when the Steelheads play their home opener on Oct. 24 at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise. This will be the first of 36 home games that the club will play during the 2025-26 season and it will set the tone for the rest of the year as the Idaho Steelheads hunt for a Kelly Cup Championship.
