By Matt Stefano
On Wednesday, the ECHL announced that former Soo Thunderbird and current Idaho Steelheads defenceman Owen Headrick has been named the ECHL Defenceman of the Year for the 2022-2023 season.
In 61 games played this season, Headrick recorded 15 goals, 39 assists and 54 points.
“This season has been incredible,” said Headrick, who helped lead the Steelheads to their best regular season in franchise history with 58 wins and 119 points. “We have a tight knit group and it’s fun coming to the rink to play with these guys. I’m also hoping we can keep it going in the playoffs to try to win the Kelly Cup.”
Headrick, who is from Garden River, Ontario, also became the first defenceman in Steelheads history to win the ECHL Defenceman of the Year Award.
“It’s an honour,” Headrick said. “The Steelheads organization has been one of the best in the past twenty years in the ECHL and the fans and the city of Idaho are great. We have a special group here in Idaho and my teammates have helped me out all year long.”
Back in 2015, Headrick was a member of the Soo Thunderbirds, where he helped lead the T-Birds to a Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy and was also named the 2015 NOJHL Playoff MVP.
During that same year (2015), Headrick also helped lead the T-Bird to a Dudley Hewitt Cup title.
“I have a lot of great memories playing with the Soo Thunderbirds,” Headrick said. “Obviously winning the NOJHL and the Dudley Hewitt Cup were very special moments and we had a very close team. I still look back at the that team as some of the funnest times I’ve ever had playing hockey, and I was also able to learn and develop on the ice. Playing with the Thunderbirds helped me grow both as a player and a person, and the coaching staff (Which was that time Jordan Smith, Ryan Maunu, Kyle Brick and Jeremy Rebek) helped me prepare and get ready for the next level.”
(Photo of Owen Headrick with the T-Birds back in 2015 credit to Jim Egan)
