The Idaho Steelheads announced this week that forward Jens Richards has inked a deal to wear their jersey for the 2026‑27 ECHL season, marking the player’s first full professional campaign.
Richards, a native of Callaway, Minnesota, arrives after a four‑year stint at the University of Vermont where he compiled 46 points in 121 games, including a senior season that saw him reach double‑digit scoring for the second time in his college career.
From College to the Pro Ranks
During his senior year, Richards posted 10 points — four goals and six assists — across 24 games, underscoring his ability to contribute offensively in key moments.
Prior to college, he honed his skills in the NAHL with the Austin Bruins, recording 54 points in 100 appearances, and later added a brief taste of professional hockey with the Fort Wayne Komets, appearing in seven games and logging a +2 rating.
The move to Idaho represents a strategic step for a player who has already tasted the intensity of ECHL competition during a short stint with the Komets, and who now hopes to build on that experience with a more sustained role.
A Familiar Affiliate
The Steelheads, an ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, have long cultivated talent that can transition to the AHL and NHL, and the organization sees Richards as a promising piece of that developmental pipeline.
General manager and coaching staff have expressed confidence that his blend of size, work ethic, and offensive instincts will complement the team’s depth and provide additional scoring options.
Fans can look forward to seeing Richards in the Steelheads’ colors when the season opens, as the club aims to contend for a playoff berth and further solidify its reputation as a feeder team for the Stars.