High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.During the 2003 04 season and since the 2005 06 season the Steelheads have been an affiliate of the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars. The Texas Stars have been Idaho's AHL affiliate since the 2009-2010 season. Home games are played at the 5,000-seat Qwest Arena in downtown Boise.The team was founded by Diamond Sports Management in 1996, headed by Cord Pereira. The Steelheads currently play in the West Division of the ECHL's National Conference.