Dallas Stars Sign Two-Year Affiliation Extension with Idaho Steelheads

The Idaho Steelheads and Dallas Stars have agreed upon a two-year affiliation extension agreement.  The press release from the Idaho Steelheads is below:

Boise, ID – The Idaho Steelheads announced Thursday that the ECHL franchise has extended its affiliation agreement with the NHL’s Dallas Stars for the 2009-2010 season.

With the exception of one season, Dallas and Idaho have been affiliated since the Steelheads joined the ECHL for the 2003-2004 season.  Idaho and Phoenix shared an agreement in 2004-2005.

This will mark the fifth season that Dallas and Idaho have worked together.

“We’re excited to stay with the Stars,” Idaho Steelheads President Eric Trapp said. “It’s been a terrific four years and the Stars organization has been wonderful to us.”

Two players have played for Idaho and Dallas in the same season and both were goaltenders—Dan Ellis in 2004 and Matt Climie in 2009.  Forwards BJ Crombeen and Tom Wandell have also climbed the affiliation ladder from Idaho to Dallas.

The Steelheads also announced that the Texas Stars, a new franchise in Austin, TX, will be the team’s American Hockey League affiliate.  “The A,” as it is called, is hockey’s top level of minor-league play.  Idaho played without an AHL affiliate last season.  The Steelheads have had past AHL affiliations with Utah (now in the ECHL) and Iowa.

Two former Steelheads forwards, Aaron Gagnon and Warren Peters, have already signed two-way contracts between Dallas and Texas.