The Idaho Steelheads hockey team opened its training camp Monday and Tuesday at CenturyLink Arena in Downtown Boise. The ECHL team will practice again from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday. The practice is open to the public.

Day 2 update

After a day to get acclimated to camp, new coach Brad Ralph wanted to see his players take a step forward Tuesday. They delivered, he said.

“Intensity was better, action was better,” Ralph said. “I really liked the effort.”

Roster addition

Gord Baldwin, a 25-year-old defenseman, joined the team late Monday. The 6-foot-5 blueliner, the eighth defenseman in camp this week, played professionally in the Czech Republic last season.

He has played 234 games at the AHL level, one step up the hockey ladder from the ECHL, after being a third-round draft choice of the NHL’s Calgary Flames in 2005.

“Gord brings a lot of size and experience on the back end,’’ Ralph said. “We’ve already seen his intelligence in practice and we’re expecting a lot of good to come from him, both on and off the ice.”

Player of the day: Defenseman Scott Fletcher

The third-year pro from Detroit got everyone’s attention with a big, clean hit along the boards during an open-ice drill late in practice Tuesday. The 24-year-old is known for his physical play, totaling 373 penalty minutes as a professional.

Preseason games

• Idaho at Utah, 7 p.m. Friday, Eccles Ice Center, Logan, Utah

• Utah at Idaho, 7:10 p.m. Saturday, CenturyLink Arena (closed to the public, for season ticket holders only).

Season opener

• Utah at Idaho, 7:10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, CenturyLink Arena

Tickets

• Regular-season, single-game tickets went on sale Monday, and prices start at $13.50. More ticket information at 331-8497 or idahosteelheads.com.