Steelheads Take Step Forward, but Playoff Exit Leaves Questions
Steelheads rediscovered their playoff presence, but a surprising postseason exit highlights the razor-thin margin between progress and disappointment.
The 2025–26 season for the Idaho Steelheads was, in many ways, a step back into relevance and a reminder of how thin the line is between progress and disappointment. After missing the postseason the year prior, Idaho returned with purpose. From opening night through the final weeks of the regular season, the Steelheads looked like a team determined to reestablish itself in the Mountain Division conversation.
And they did just that. 🚨 PELTON-BYCE 🚨 another POWER PLAY GOAL for TPB. 3-2 with 7 minutes left in the 2nd 🍏 Pearson, Adams pic.
twitter. com/vFLt6PCbj2 — Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads) April 29, 2026 Idaho finished the year with a strong 40–21–7 record, powered by balanced scoring and a system that emphasized structure without sacrificing offensive creativity. Night after night, contributions came from throughout the lineup.
It wasn’t just one star carrying the load, it was a collective effort. Players like Kaleb Pearson and Liam Malmquist helped drive the offense, while depth pieces such as Francesco Arcuri and Ty Pelton-Byce ensured the Steelheads remained difficult to match up against. When one line cooled off, another found a way to produce.