Faceoff Factor

Kelly Cup Champs Make Big Announcement

Paige Gagne | Minor Leagues (ECHL, AHL, etc)

Aug 1, 05:58 PM | Hype this story!

The Boise Steelheads of the ECHL made two huge signings Tuesday, according to team officials.

Veteran defensemen Darrel Hay and veteran forward Lance Galbraith have re-signed for another year. Both players were a huge part of both Kelly Cup Championship teams in 2004 and 2007.

“We’re excited to bring back two of our leaders for the upcoming season,” said Steelheads Head coach Derek Laxdal. “Galbraith was our leading scorer in last season’s Kelly Cup Championship run and Hay was our leader in the back end and they’re coming back ready to build another championship team.”

The 27-year-old Hay started training cap with Idaho’s AHL affiliate the Iowa Stars, but eventually found his way back to the ECHL, he had an exceptional season last year

Not only did he win the Kelly Cup, but he was voted top defenseman by his teammates. He was also voted to his first ECHL All-Star team, where he captained the National Team.

The native of Kamloops, BC embarked on his hockey career in the WHL with the Tri-City Americans in 1996. In 1996-97 Hay was the Scholastic Player of the year, and in 1997-98 was voted Top Defenseman and MVP.

Hay was selected in the 9th round (271st overall) by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Since then Hay has been allover the country in different leagues. He started with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL in 2000, then in the same season, he played for the Kansas City Blades of the IHL. Hay returned to the ECHL in 2001-03 playing for the Columbia Inferno and helped the team get to the Kelly Cup Finals. During his time with the Inferno Hay was called up to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. In 2003 the Steelheads signed Hay, and he was called up to Idaho’s AHL affiliate (at that time) the Utah Grizzlies for 10 games.

Last season Hay had 41 points (9+32) and 47 penalty minutes in 65 regular season games and had nine assists and 12 penalty minutes in 16 Kelly Cup Playoffs games.

Galbraith, standing at 5’10” 195 pounds, had an average of more than one point a game during both the regular and post season last year. Galbraith has played in six pro seasons, last year being his best scoring 64 points (24+40) in 59 regular season games and had 27 points (11+16) in 21 playoff games.

Galbraith did not break his own career high of 314 penalty minutes, he set with the Steelheads in 2003-04, recording a “mere” 238 this year, which still managed to rank him 5th overall in the ECHL.

The feisty forward was called up to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL, where he scored three points in seven contests.

Galbraith was voted by his ECHL teammates as the Most Inspirational last year.

In 2005-06 Galbraith was in Fort Wayne with the Comets of the UHL. In 52 matches he scored 46 points (23+23) and led the Comets in penalty minutes with 255.

The native of Brampton, Ontario was voted, by the team, the Unsung Hero, and was voted Fan Favorite in the 2003 season. Again in the 2004 season he was voted Most Inspirational and tied with veteran Scott Burt for the Fan Favorite.

Galbraith has traveled around the country and throughout leagues as well since becoming a professional hockey player. In 2001 he played in the AHL for Norfolk and Springfield. Then he moved on to Syracuse in 2002, before going to Utah in 2003. Galbraith spent some of that time in the ECHL playing with Augusta in 2002 and Dayton in 2003. In 2002 he attended the Calgary Flames training camp.

Galbraith played in the OHL for five seasons with the Ottawa 67’s. He was one the most popular players in team history, and helped the team win the Memorial Cup in 2000-01. As of right now he holds the 67’s record for most games played (297) and most penalty minutes (960).

Only one other player has more all-time penalty minutes with Idaho and that is Jeremy Mylymok. Mylymok leads with 894, Galbraith is second with 730. Maybe this season Galbraith will break yet another record.