ECHL Idaho Steelheads

All-Star Hay gets a call up, Ethan Graham is reassigned and John Snowden returns to Idaho

Published on January 24, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


BOISE, Idaho¾The Idaho Steelheads today announced that defenseman Darrell Hay has received a call up from the American Hockey League's (AHL) Grand Rapids Griffins, Idaho's AHL affiliate the Iowa Stars have reassigned defenseman Ethan Graham to the Steelheads and forward John Snowden has been signed to an ECHL contract.

The veteran Hay, who competed in last night's ECHL All-Star Game in Stockton, boarded a plane this morning to join the Griffins in Milwaukee. The 27-year-old, playing in his eighth professional season this year and fourth with Idaho, spent a couple of seasons in the AHL playing with the Manitoba Moose in 2001-02 and 2002-03. As a member of the Idaho Steelheads in 2003-04, he was called up to the team's then - AHL affiliate Utah for 10 games. Hay, 6-0 and 205-pounds, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, 9th round (271st overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. His career spans the WHL (Western Hockey League), IHL (International Hockey League), ECHL, AHL and a season in Germany. A member of the Steelheads' 2004 and 2007 Kelly Cup Championship teams, Hay becomes one of just 15 individuals to have his name engraved on the Kelly Cup twice, joining teammate Lance Galbraith.

Graham, 25, has appeared in 31 games with Iowa this season, registering 1 goal and 2 assists along with 26 penalty minutes. The 6-2, 185-pound blueliner missed ten games after suffering a shoulder injury in the season opener at San Antonio before he picked up his first professional point with an assist in the Stars' loss to Manitoba on December 4th, and scored his first professional goal at Quad City on December 19th. The Xenia, OH native played four seasons with the Michigan State University Spartans where he helped the team to a National Championship over Boston College in April of 2007. Graham led defensemen on the team with 12 assists and was voted Most Outstanding Defenseman. Prior to joining the Spartans, Graham played two years with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL); a team that won the Anderson and Clark cups.

Snowden, a free agent returning from Germany, had a short stint with the Steelheads during the team's 2003-04 training camp. The 25-year-old played in three preseason contests against the Texas Wildcatters that year in Boise before joining the Wildcatters roster where he played for two seasons and tallied 105 points (57g-46a) in 143 games played. With the Rosenheim Star Bulls this season, the 6-0, 205-pound right wing scored 55 points (26g-29a) in 38 games. His career also includes a season each with the ECHL's Greenville Grrrow (2005-06) and Reading Royals (2006-07), three AHL games with Utah and Norfolk. In 1998-99 and 1999-2000, Snowden was a member of the US National Under-18 Team (NAHL), moving to the US Jr. National Team during the 1999-2000 season. He then played three seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL from 2000 to 2003, two of those seasons with Ethan Graham.

In other notes:

Yesterday, the team placed defenseman Travis Wight on the 3-day injured reserve list and goaltender Peter Vetri was placed on waivers.

The Steelheads are traveling to Fresno for a game against the Falcons on Friday, then take on the Condors in Bakersfield on Saturday. The team returns home for a rare Tuesday-Wednesday set against Stockton. Tickets for home games can be purchased via www.idahosteelheads.com (using the print-at-home feature), by calling 331-TIXS or from the Qwest Arena box office.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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