The Idaho Steelheads [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/steelheads-leading-scorer-from-last-season-returns]and Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Everett Sheen announced today that the club has signed defenseman Sam Jardine to an ECHL [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/]contract for the 2025-26 season. The 31-year-old Jardine brings a wealth of experience to the Steelheads, including Kelly Cup Champion experience. He played parts of six seasons in the ECHL highlighted by capturing the Cup in 2017 with the Colorado Eagles and in 2019 with the Newfoundland Growlers. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound left-shot blueliner was named to the ECHL First All-Star Team during the 2020-21 campaign, finishing fourth among all league defensemen. He produced 44 points (3-41-44) in 67 games for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/o-hara-and-modry-re-sign-with-swamp-rabbits]. All told, Jardine has appeared in 234 career regular-season ECHL games, notching 94 points (13-81-94) while skating in 44 playoff games recording 15 points (3-12-15). During that span, he played for Indy [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/rookie-defenseman-signs-with-indy-fuel], Colorado, Orlando [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/solar-bears-name-new-head-coach-and-general-manager], Newfoundland, and Greenville. The Lacombe, AB native has also played parts of five seasons in the American Hockey League [https://thehockeynews.com/ahl/], most recently appearing in 14 games with the Calgary Wranglers. He tallied three assists during the 2023-24 season. Jardine has skated in 85 career AHL games, registering 16 points (4-12-16) suiting up for Calgary, Toronto, San Antonio, and Rockford. Prior to turning pro, Jardine played three seasons of NCAA hockey at Ohio State University from 2012-15. He accumulated 32 points (3-29-32) in 97 career games where he served as an alternate captain during the 2014-15 campaign. Jardine was selected in the sixth round (179th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks].
