Idaho Steelheads Secure Brady Keeper for 2026‑27 Season
The Idaho Steelheads announced this week that they have inked veteran defenseman Brady Keeper to a contract that will carry him through the 2026‑27 campaign, a move that underscores the club’s intent to blend stability with fresh talent.
At 30 years old, Keeper arrives after a season that saw him split time between the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush and a previous stint with the Steelheads, bringing a blend of professional polish and playoff savvy to a blue‑line that has been seeking depth.
Keeper’s lone ECHL appearance last year yielded five points — two goals and three assists — in seven games, a modest but telling contribution that helped the Rush navigate a competitive stretch before he was dealt back to Idaho in a transaction that also involved forward Jaden Shields.
Beyond the ECHL, the defenseman has compiled a respectable résumé in the American Hockey League, logging 31 points across 129 games for outfits such as the Springfield Thunderbirds, Syracuse Crunch, Abbotsford Canucks and Laval Rocket between 2019 and 2024.
His NHL résumé includes three appearances with the Florida Panthers and a postseason debut in Game 2 of the 2020 Qualifying Round, experiences that should prove valuable as the Steelheads aim to push deeper into the playoff picture.
Keeper’s collegiate years at the University of Maine were marked by 44 points in 73 games, a +17 plus‑minus rating and a team‑leading 101 shots, statistics that helped the program capture attention and laid a foundation for his professional trajectory.
The trade that delivered Keeper back to Idaho also referenced future considerations, a clause that signals the organization’s long‑term view of his development and the possibility of an NHL call‑up down the line.
Looking Ahead
With the contract in place, the Steelheads’ coaching staff is already mapping out how Keeper’s defensive reliability and occasional offensive spark can be woven into a lineup that hopes to contend for a championship in the coming season.