Dallas Renews Affiliation with Idaho Steelheads for Two More Years

(Credit: Idaho Steelheads)

The Idaho Steelheads will continue as the ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars organization for the coming two years. There was no doubt the affiliation would continue next year with training camp in Boise in just a few months.

Idaho is a strong competitor in the ECHL, currently owning professional hockey's longest playoff streak at 21 straight seasons. Idaho has advanced to the Kelly Cup Final three times when affiliated with Dallas, winning twice. The last time they won was under the leadership of Derek Laxdal, now the Texas Stars head coach, in 2007.

Here's the release:

The Dallas Stars announced today that the club will renew its affiliation with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads through the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.

The Steelheads have served as Dallas' ECHL affiliate since the 2005-06 season, and previous to that, during the 2003-04 campaign. Idaho has reached the Kelly Cup Finals three times as an affiliate of the Dallas Stars, winning the Kelly Cup twice (2004 and 2007). The club has also qualified for the postseason in each of the last 21 seasons, marking the longest active postseason streak in professional hockey. The Steelheads finished second in the Mountain Division and fourth in the Western Conference in 2017-18 with a record of 44-20-5-3, while also advancing to the second round of the postseason.

"We are thrilled to renew our affiliation with the Steelheads for the next two seasons," said Dallas Stars Assistant General Manager and Texas Stars General Manager Scott White. "The Steelheads organization, under the direction of Head Coach Neil Graham, continues to promote the type of developmental atmosphere we seek to maintain, and we couldn't be happier to extend our partnership with them."

The Stars will hold the team's 2018 Training Camp at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, ID., the home of the Steelheads. Camp will run from Sept. 14 - 16, and will mark the first time that the Stars will be holding their training camp in Idaho. The three-day training camp will culminate with a Victory Green vs. White Intrasquad Scrimmage on Sunday, Sept. 16.

The Texas Stars will continue to operate as Dallas' top development affiliate in the American Hockey League.